L'Etoile, 1886 - 1957, Lowell, Massachusetts

Today I am working on extracting and translating a few obituaries that I think were published in the Franco-American newspaper L'Etoile.  The word étoile, in French, means star. From the personal collection of Susan Johnson nee Mayotte, the obituaries  I have are .jpg copies of  originals that were clipped out of a newspaper. The text is all in French, so I'm only guessing that they were published in L'Etoile. However, the years of death (1934 & 1938) for the persons the obituaries were written for fit the dates of publication  for this newspaper (1886 to 1957). Also, I believe it may have been the only French newspaper published in Lowell at the time these obituaries went to print. So the likelihood that they were published in L'Etoile, in my opinion, is high. 

L'Etoile is available on microfilm at the Boston Public Library. Also, the Library of Congress states that the Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque in Manchester, NH, has copies of the original newspapers. Where is this Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque? Do they mean the ACGS? I'll have to look into this as Manchester is certainly closer to me then Boston.

Update: After a bit of  research  I am led to believe that L'Institute Canada-American is now called the Association Canado-Americiane. The ACA is a Franco-American fraternal benefit society and, according to their website, they are located at 52 Concord Street in a historic building in downtown Manchester, NH. The ACA shares the building with The Franco-American Centre and I think it is here that I will find those original copies of L'Etoile. I'm going to call them in the morning to confirm this information. Also, I do believe I will be able to find copies of L'Etoile at the Center for Lowell History, located at 40 French St. in downtown Lowell. I have submitted a query asking them if the collection is complete and if the copies are originals or on microfilm, as I would really prefer to view original copies over microfilm.

Boston Public Library remote access to historical newspapers?!

Where the heck have I been? It seems that there is no more remote access to the BPL's historical Boston Globe or NY Times database. I have been able to search these databases but I am unable to retrive and read the search results. I also noticed that Heritage Quest isn't listed as an electronic resource anymore. What the heck?! I did a little research on the matter and I think that the BPL restricted these databases due to a contractual conflict with EBSCO. Something about letting MA residents that live outside of Boston obtain e-cards. Well, that just stinks. Why didn't anyone tell me about this?! Lol..what do I do now? As far as I know the Pollard Memorial Library and the MVLC do not have remote access to these databases'!! Any ideas?

Lieut. Harriman Promoted to Captain, 1909, Divison 13, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

In my genealogical search of the Harriman family I came across this article in the Boston Daily Globe archives. The archive is made available, for free, through the Boston Public Library.


Published in the Boston Daily Globe 3 Sep 1909, pg. 16

LIEUT HARRIMAN PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN
Sergt. George H. Guard Becomes Lieutenant and Patrolman John C. Murphy a Sergeant

Police Commissioner O'Meara in a general order last night appointed one captain, one lieutenant and on sergeant of police. The appointments were not unexpected, as they have been anticipated ever since the death of Capt. William J. Lowery of division 12.
The new superior officers are: Lieut Joseph Harriman of division 15, Charlestown, appointed to the rank of captain and assigned to division 13.
Sergt George H. Guard of division 4, Legrange st, appointed to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to division 15.
Patrolman John C. Murphy of division 16 appointed to the rank of sergeant and assigned to division 4.
In the same order the commissioner transferred Capt George W. Wescott from division 12, City Point, to fill the vacant by the death of Capt Lowery.
All the promotions and the transfer of Capt Wescott take effect tomorrow morning at rollcall.
The promotion of Lieut Harriman is a popular one among the men of the department. He is known as a quiet, retiring officer, fair in his judgement and unflinching in performing his duty. He was made a lieutenant in the general shakeup in March 1908, having been promoted from the rank of sergeant while at division 9.
"Joe" Harriman as he is commonly known, was born in Wiscasset, Me, 48 years ago, March 29, 186 (sic), he was appointed a patrolman and promoted to sergeant Feb 6, 1893. From July 29, 1901 until his appointment to the lieutenancy in March 1908, he was attached to division 9.
Sergt. George H. Guard, who has been appointed lieutenant is a Boston man, having been born in this city July 27, 1863. He enlisted in the regular army and was made a sergeant of calvary July 6, 1888, he was appointed on the force as a reserve officer and sent to division 10, where he was made a regular patrolman Jan 10, 1889.
Later he was made a member of the mounted squad and on May 1, 1898 he was sent to division 16. He was appointed sergeant Oct 25, 1899, and transferred to division 14. Since then he has been attached successively to divisions 16, 12, 9, 11 and 4. In 1904 he was one of the police officers investigated by the commission in the connection with the "Tech riot" of Nov 2, but was exonerated. He is a fine horseman and one the most efficient men on the force.
John C. Murphy, who has been appointed to replace Sergt Guard, was born in Elmira, NY, 33 years ago. He came to Boston in 1895 and was appointed to the force March 7, 1903, being attached to division 12 as a patrolman. Jan 1, 1904 he was transferred to division 16, and May 7, 1907 was made a special officer. In this position he has done good work.

Captain Joseph Harriman was the father of Alfred C. Harriman who married May Wright, daughter of Joseph A Wright and Marie 'Mary' Boudreau, on 11 Aug 1914 in the state of Maine. For more information please search the label Harriman and or Wright.