Habitants in Holyoke: the Development of the French- Canadian Community in a Massachusetts City, 1865-1910 Peter Haebler
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University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Spring 1976 HABITANTS IN HOLYOKE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRENCH- CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN A MASSACHUSETTS CITY, 1865-1910 PETER HAEBLER Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation HAEBLER, PETER, "HABITANTS IN HOLYOKE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRENCH-CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN A MASSACHUSETTS CITY, 1865-1910" (1976). Doctoral Dissertations. 1118. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1118 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 - *u^to»v*v<#i#tW\m\t«*&V!i#G^^ U*h^^£*fiMr^^^T^ .3 76-23,124 HAEBLER, Peter, 1941* I HABITANTS IN HOLYOKE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRENCH-CANADIAN COMMUNITY J IN A MASSACHUSETTS CITY, 1865-1910. i University of New Hampshire, Ph.D., 1976 History, United States i Xerox University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48ioe © 1976 PETER HAEBLER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED HABITANTS IN HOLYOKE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRENCH-CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN A MASSACHUSETTS CITY, 1865-1910 by PETER HAEBLER B.A., University of Massachusetts, 1963 M.A., University of Massachusetts, 1968 A THESIS Submitted to the University of New Hampshire In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate School Department of History May, 1976 This thesis has been examined and approved. l/h^^J Thesis;director, Robert M. Mennel Asso. Prof, of History . of History Thomas M. Kemnitz, A^sst. Prof, of History Jk aid J. Wilcox/Prof, of History leooore Bgyfr. Belsky, g., Asst . Pro American International College March 11, 1976 Date Acknowledgements This dissertation could not have been completed without the cooperation and assistance of many individuals and institutions. Professor Theodore Belsky, Director of the Oral History Center, American International College, suggest ed this topic and continued to provide pertinent criticisms and helpful advice throughout the course of my research. William Dwight, Sr., Publisher of the Holyoke Transcript- Telegram, kindly provided access to the files of the Holyoke Transcript. The courtesies and good humor of the newspaper's librarian, Kay Lynch, considerably lightened an otherwise arduous task. Holyoke City Clerk James Shea and his staff, Holyoke City Messenger Edward Kelley and the staff of the Holyoke Public Library were especially helpful in matters pertaining to city records and Holyoke history. Jacques Ducharme of Stratford, Connecticut, a former editor of La Justice and author of a book on French-Canadians in New England, was most helpful in providing insights into French-Canadian life in New England and Holyoke. I am also indebted to Monseigneur Roger Vieu, Chancellor of the Diocese of Springfield, for explaining various aspects of Church law, customs and practices, as well as sharing his knowledge of French-Canadians in Holyoke. Msgr. Vieu, a Holyoke native, served as a curate at Precious Blood parish. This work was greatly aided by the assistance of the personnel of various institutions including, the University iii of New Hampshire Library, University of Massachusetts- Amherst Library, Springfield Public Library, State Library, Boston, Baker Library, Harvard University School of Business Administration, Holyoke District Court, Hampden County Superior Court, Civil Division, L'Union St. Jean-Baptiste, Woonsocket, Rhode Island and L'Association Canado-Americaine, Manchester, New Hampshire. This dissertation owes much to the guidance and help ful criticism of Professor Robert Mennel who became my thesis director following the untimely death of Professor William Greenleaf. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Carol, for the assistance and moral support that she provided. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LISTS OF TABLES vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix ABSTRACT x INTRODUCTION: IMMIGRATION STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE FRENCH-CANADIAN IMMIGRATION 1 THE FRENCH-CANADIAN MIGRATION TO NEW ENGLAND ... 21 PARTI: 1865-1885 63 MIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT AND ADJUSTMENT , . 65 DEVELOPMENT OF FRENCH-CANADIAN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 102 PART II: 1885-1910 165 PHYSICAL MOBILITY AND THE EXPANSION OF OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 167 INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION 213 THE GROWTH OF FRENCH-CANADIAN POLITICAL POWER .. 257 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 308 BIBLIOGRAPHY 319 APPENDIX 334 v LIST OF TABLES Estimated net migration of French-Canadians to New England, 1860-1900 36 Occupations of French-Canadians in Holyoke, 1871.. 67 Age and sex characteristics of Canadian textile operatives in Holyoke, 1878 68 Age and sex characteristics of Canadian textile operatives, as a percentage of the work force, Holyoke, 1878 69 Number and percentage of persons born in French Canada in selected occupations, Holyoke, 1885 71 Average annual wages of selected industries in Holyoke, 1880 73 Average weekly wages of selected jobs in the Massachusetts cotton goods and paper making industries, 1872, 1878, and 1881 75 Arrest statistics of individuals born in Canada and Ireland, Holyoke, 1874-1885 90 Number of French-Canadians naturalized, by age, Holyoke, 1868-1885 144 Voter registration of foreign-born males in the City of Holyoke and Ward Four, Holyoke, 1875 146 Number and percentage of voters and aliens, by country of birth, Holyoke, 1885 147 Number and percentage of French-Canadians, ages 5 to 15, to total Holyoke population, ages 5 to 15, 1892-1896 168 Number and percentage of French-Canadians, ages 5 to 15, to total Holyoke population, ages 5 to 15, 1897-1904 169 Residential mobility of French-Canadians and non- French-Canadians, 1880-1890 174 Place of intended departure from Holyoke of French-Canadians and non-French-Canadians, 1880-1890 175 vi 16. In-city mobility of ten year residents of Holyoke, 1880-1890 176 17. In-city mobility of French-Canadians and non- French-Canadians who disappeared from the city directories, 1880-1890 177 18. Residential mobility of French-Canadians and non-French-Canadians, 1900-1910 178 19. In-city mobility of ten year residents of Holyoke, 1900-1910 179 20. Place of intended departure from Holyoke of French-Canadians and non-French-Canadians, 1900-1910 180 21. In-city mobility of French-Canadians and non- French-Canadians who disappeared from the city directories, 1900-1910 181 22. Average annual wages of selected industries in Holyoke, 1890-1910 187 23. Average wages received by males, females and children under 16 years in selected industries in Holyoke, 1900 188 24. Number of French-Canadians engaged in selected occupations in Holyoke, 1885-1910 190 25. Membership of French-speaking Carpenters* Union, Local 390, Holyoke, 1906-1910 203 26. Number and results of strikes in Holyoke, 1899-1910 206 27. Number of union locals and union membership, Holyoke, 1904-1910 207 28. Arrest statistics of individuals born in Canada and Ireland, Holyoke, 1886-1910 215 29. Attendance at Precious Blood School, 1881-1891... 224 30. Attendance at French-Canadian parochial schools, Holyoke, 1892-1904 225 31. Attendance at French-Canadian parochial schools, Holyoke, 1905-1910 226 vii Number of work certificates issued, by age, by the Holyoke Superintendent of Schools, 1880-1910 227 Number and percentage of French-Canadians involved in ethnic intermarriages, Holyoke, 1870-1910