Next Thursday night, September 22 at 7:00 pm, at the Pollard Memorial Library, historian Chaim “Mike” Rosenberg, will discuss his book, The Life and Times of Francis Cabot Lowell, 1775-1817 as part of the Moses Greeley Parker Lectures. Last winter, shortly after the publication of this book, I traveled to the Needham Public Library to hear Rosenberg discuss the book. I also bought a copy and have since read it.

The story of Francis Cabot Lowell and especially “his times” as told by Rosenberg is a fascinating story that provides crucial background information on how the city of Lowell came into being. We who study this city’s history sometimes fall into a common trap of starting the story when Lowell received its town charter in 1826. But history is a great continuum and events in the years and decades that preceded an event like the formation of the town of Lowell had a direct and lasting impact on subsequent events. It is only by understanding these preceding events that we can fully appreciate the history of our city. And so I would urge everyone who has an interest in Lowell history to attend this event – again, that’s Thursday, September 22 at 7 pm at the Pollard Library.