The Friends of the Millicent Library will host author Alfred Saulniers on Mon., 9/22 at 6:30 p.m. for a talk and book signing of his new work, The French of New Bedford: The Early Years, at the Millicent Library Rita E. Steele Auditorium, 45 Center Street, Fairhaven, Mass. (enter at Walnut Street doors).
Published by Spinner Publications, the book traces the history of the city’s French-speaking community from their arrival in the 1800s, drawn by jobs in the thriving whaling industry, through their cultural and economic contributions, to the challenges brought by immigration restrictions, the 1928 Textile Strike, and the Great Depression. Featuring more than 350 rare photographs, it offers an intricate portrait of a vibrant immigrant community that helped shape the city’s growth.
Saulniers, raised as a French speaker from Acushnet, earned a Ph.D. in economics and taught at leading universities before returning to the SouthCoast. He previously served as lead writer for Spinner’s Picture History of New Bedford.
Copies of the book will be available for signing, and the author will take part in a Q&A following his talk.
This event is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating registration is encouraged for this event at https://millicentlibrary.org/events-calendar
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