Date: Saturday, May 7, 2016
Location: Everett Mills, 15 Union Street, Lawrence
Proposal Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2015
Contact(s): Susan Grabski, Lawrence History Center, director@lawrencehistory.org ; Professor Robert Forrant, UMass Lowell, robert_forrant@uml.edu
How has urban renewal shaped Lawrence, Massachusetts and other industrial cities since the Second World War? This symposium will focus on Lawrence and other mid-size industrial cities affected by federal and state urban renewal programs, the tear-down of aging housing stock, highways being constructed through neighborhoods, and the destruction of long-established immigrant communities.
Background: Following the Second World War, and continuing into the early 1970s, urban renewal referred primarily to public attempts to revitalize aging and decaying inner cities. Efforts included massive demolitions and neighborhood clearance, and often proceeded from local, state and federal legislation. The state sometimes provided assistance in relocating residents in targeted neighborhoods. The federal Housing Acts of 1949 and 1954, and their later amendments, provided a national framework and greater financial resources for the “renewal effort”.
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, urban renewal is defined as “a strategy for redeveloping and revitalizing substandard, decadent and blighted open areas for residential, commercial, industrial, business, governmental, recreational, educational, hospital or other uses” and is guided by state law. Municipalities—through their urban renewal agencies—may undertake public actions to address these conditions and “to create the environment needed to attract and support private development and promote sound growth in designated neighborhoods.”
The Lawrence History Center has a significant Urban Renewal Collection [View Finding Aid].
Possible topic include, but are not limited to:
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We welcome papers, panels, artwork, short videos, and photo essays on, but not limited to, the topics listed above from community members, community organizations, scholars, practitioners, researchers, funding organizations, middle/high school, and undergraduate/graduate students. Individual and panel presentations welcome.
Note: We endeavor to publish select papers in an edited anthology.
Submission Guidelines
Those intending to participate should:
- Prepare proposal as an attachment in MS Word or a .pdf (300-350 words)
- Prepare a brief presenter biography (200 words)
- Include in the body of the email relevant contact information: the author(s), department(s) and affiliation(s), mailing address(es), email address(es); and phone number(s).
- Email proposal, bio, and contact information to Susan Grabski at director@lawrencehistory.org by December 4, 2015.
Deadlines
Friday, December 4, 2015 – Proposals /presenter bio(s) to director@lawrencehistory.org
Friday, January 22, 2016 – Successful applicants notified
Friday, February 16, 2016 – Applicants to confirm their participation
Friday, March 18, 2016 – Submission of draft papers/presentations due
Questions? Please contact:
Susan Grabski, Executive Director Lawrence History Center 6 Essex Street Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840 tel. 978.686.9230 email: director@lawrencehistory.org |
Professor Robert Forrant Department of History University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 tel. 978.934.2904 email: robert_forrant@uml.edu |