The records of the Western Massachusetts locals and district councils of the UBCJA documents the rise of unionization among carpenters in the Connecticut River Valley since the 1880s. This collection represents a merger of separate accessions for the District Councils in Springfield (MS 110), the Pioneer Valley (MS 231), and Holyoke (MS 108), along with post-merger records for Local 108. In general, each has been maintained as a distinct series.
Oral history with the Gagnon family, part of the Franco-American community in Springfield since 1953. Topics include their participation in Franco-American activities at St. Joseph’s Church, their interest in Franco-American studies, and what nationality means to them, as people with roots in America, Canada, and France.
Collection includes statutes and by-laws, minutes, administrative records, correspondence, financial records and receipts, scholarship records, publications, records of programs and events, and artifacts and ephemera.
Interview includes discussions of: Lewiston in the 1930s; Rocheleau’s Navy service; his attendance at law school; helping Muskie run for Governor; confrontations with Louis Jalbert; not being supported in the primaries; Robert Couturier; Lewiston politics in the 1960s; running for Mayor; confrontations with Denny Blais; Democratic split in Lewiston; “Ruining” the Democratic party in Lewiston; running for District Attorney; George Call in Lewiston; Mayoral appointments; racial relations in Lewiston; urban renewal money problems; trying to get Federal money redirected to Lewiston; his relationship with Ken Curtis; Ken Curtis’ role in urban renewal; help securing project funds from a New York Secretary; securing the land for Lewiston High School; meeting Ed Muskie; serving for Ken Curtis; Independence in Maine politics; supporting Nixon in 1968; getting silenced by the Democratic Party; his later political career; and Muskie’s contribution to Maine.
Interview includes discussions of: Pontbriand family history; religion in Lewiston-Auburn; the French Language in Lewiston-Auburn; Lewiston French media in the 1940s; Louis-Philippe Gagne; the Couture family; Franco-American attitudes toward marrying other groups; University of Maine, 1946-1950; getting out of the family business; getting into the ski business; Lost Valley Ski Area history; politics growing up in New Auburn; Louis Jalbert; political make-up of Auburn; trolley transportation in Lewiston-Auburn; and Pontbriand hardware store.
Interview includes discussions of: political, cultural, and economic dynamics of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; Office of Price Stabilization (OPS); first encounter with and impressions of Muskie; 1960 presidential election; Public Utilities Commission (PUC); Archives bill; Hildreth- Clauson debate; being a congressional aide to Peter N. Kyros, Sr.; Anderson bill; value of political contacts; AARP; and the Saco Bay Planning Commission.
Interview includes discussions of: family history; legislative career overview; teaching and other early jobs; family involvement in politics; childhood experiences with ethnicity; social cliques at college; anti-French professor at UMO; political activism at UMO; influences before college; summer work after high school; Floyd Powell; influences at Orono; friends at Orono; Democratic state legislators in the ‘60s and ‘70s; early memories of Muskie, dual membership in Young Democrats and Young Republicans; Chubb Clark’s loyalty test; early work for Muskie; confrontation with Howard Hughes’ aide; liaison work with Secret Service; Muskie’s ‘68 campaign; ‘70 and ‘72 campaigns; impressions of other members of Muskie’s staff; Dickey Lincoln and Allagash Waterway projects; and his work in Connecticut.
Interview includes discussions of: Lewiston political history; environmental protection work; Anti-Vietnam War movement; Democratic Convention of 1968; Civil Rights movement in Maine; Maine politicians; “English Only” Bill; Maine Commission on Legal Needs; and Muskie’s environmental work.
Interview includes discussions of: Bates College; 1954 Maine gubernatorial campaign; 1955- 1956 Governor 1st term; environmental protection; Model Cities; Boys’ and Girls’ State; the Great Depression; World War II; League of Women Voters; and legal services for the elderly.
Letter from Stewart Doty, Professor of History at the University of at Orono, to Adrien Lamontagne, Chairman of the 1986 Franco-American Recognition Dinner extending her respects to Madeleine Giguère.
Letter informing Madeleine Giguère that she is a recipient of the 1997-1998 Maryann Hartman Award for her work promoting and preserving Franco-American history in .
