Lowell National Historical Park News Release
Release date: Immediate
Contact(s): Phil Lupsiewicz
Phone number: 978 275-1705
Date: February 23, 2017
Release code: 17-10
Celebrate Woman’s History Month Spend an evening with the Mill Girls of Lowell
Lowell, MA.— For twenty-two years, Lowell Women’s Week has celebrated women — from the women who have come before us to the women of today. Our celebration takes place during March, proclaimed by a joint resolution of Congress in 1987 as Women’s History Month.
After a quarter century of educating schoolchildren and teachers about the American Industrial Revolution, the Tsongas Industrial History Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary with riveting historical performances. The performances are part of the expanded month-long offerings of Lowell Women’s Week for Women’s History Month.
Just one component of a series of exciting events to mark this anniversary, the free performances will be two first-person presentations by Marcia Estabrook, as escaped slave Ellen Craft, and Judith Black as abolitionist and women’s rights activist Lucy Stone. Both offer opportunities to learn about women’s and industrial history through the unique perspectives of these two individuals.
On Tuesday, March 7, from 7:00–8:30 p.m., Judith Black will portray women’s rights activist Lucy Stone. The first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree, Stone’s story is one of powerful activism and influence. Black’s performance will also be held as a part of Lowell Women’s Week and the Parker Lecture Series. Trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Black has used story to teach and entertain for 35 years.
Marcia Estabrook’s performance will take place two weeks following, on Tuesday, March 21st, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Estabrook, known for her performance in “Three Mill Girls,” will take the stage as Ellen Craft, telling the story of escaped slave Ellen Craft, as she finds her way to freedom in the north. This performance will engage the audience in the cross section between black history and women in the industrial revolution.
The Tsongas Industrial History Center is a collaborative project of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Graduate School of Education and the National Park Service at Lowell National Historical Park. The center encourages the teaching of industrial history in a hands-on way through on- and off-site educational programs for more than 50,000 students and teachers annually and through teacher professional development programs. “At the Tsongas Industrial History Center, we believe in making history come alive,” says Sheila Kirschbaum, Director. “To travel back in time by means of a spellbinding performance is a powerful way to understand the people and events of the past.”
The performances will take place at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center located at 246 Market Street, Lowell, and free parking will be available . The event is free and all are welcome but reservations are required. To register, please , please email: tihc@uml.edu or call 978-970-5080. Visit: www.uml.edu/tihc-anniversary.
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