Henry K. Oliver
In 1852, the first high school class of Lawrence graduated. Much has been said about the role of Charles Storrow in the development of the school system, but Henry K. Oliver is at least as important a figure in this regard. The Oliver School – the first school for this community – is named for him. No wonder! Going back over the standard record, it is clear he is suitable for this recognition as a mayor and as a persistent and eloquent advocate for a school system to benefit the children of mill workers. This is sufficient, one might think, to distinguish him. However, there is much, much more!
Henry K. Oliver (1800 – 1885) spent 25 years as an educator for boys and then girls in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1844, he was named Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, holding a commission in the Sixth Regiment of Light Infantry. In 1848, for professional reasons that are not entirely clear, he became agent of the new Atlantic Mills in Lawrence, in which position he displayed an unusual level of sympathy for the working and living condition of the operatives. Perhaps due to this, he was eventually fired in 1857. In this position, he revealed an irascible side, particularly in the impatience he manifested toward Charles Storrow as the dam, canal and initial mills were being built.
He lived in Lawrence during this time and became passionately involved with the growth of the town and then city, especially with his contributions to education. He served as a School Committee member beginning in 1853, was Superintendent of Schools after leaving the Atlantic Mills, and was elected Mayor in 1859. With Charles Storrow, Daniel Saunders, Jr., and George Packard, he served on the Committee for Relief after the Pemberton Mill collapse and fire in 1860.
He later served as State Treasurer until 1867. For the two years following, he was appointed to thState Education Department to investigate the laboring conditions of children in factories. In 1871 he was named first head of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor. In this role, he produced a report in which he examined at long length the conditions of labor through history throughout the world. In spite of the name of his office, he didn’t actually do much with statistics. He surveyed people across the State – municipal officials, mill workers, mill executives and others- to develop a picture of the conditions of work and living in Massachusetts.
It was clear that his heart was in the right place: he deplored the treatment of workers and sought to improve it. However, the report was made up of individual stories and not much in the way of useful or persuasive numbers and facts. He was replaced in 1874.