The Lowells of Old Newbury
Name:
The Lowells of Old Newbury
Date:
March 11, 2018
Event Description:
Museum of Old Newbury Announces Program: The Lowells of Massachusetts
Newburyport MA – February 15, 2018: The Museum of Old Newbury is pleased to announce the launch of its spring lecture series on Sunday, March 11, at 2 pm, with an illustrated lecture: The Lowells of Massachusetts by author Nina Sankovitch. The program will be held in the sanctuary of the First Religious Society, 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport with a book signing and reception to follow.
The Lowells of Massachusetts - An American Family is an epic and compelling biography of one of America's preeminent families. Nina Sankovitch weaves a rich tapestry of the generations beginning with Percival Lowle who was among Newbury's 17th century settlers and ending with the death of poet Amy Lowell in 1925.
The Lowell’s family story is a story of American history as well as Massachusetts history. Throughout three centuries, this remarkable family helped to shape this country from 18th century patriots, lawyers and judges, to industrialists, Civil War soldiers, preachers, poets, and scientists. The Reverend John Lowell (1704-1767), first minister of Newburyport, was the pastor of the Third Parish Church (now the First Religious Society) for 42 years until his death. His son John Lowell, known as the “Old Judge”, was a lawyer, jurist, and selectman with a substantial and gracious home on High Street.
Charlotte Gordon of the Washington Post has this to say of Nina Sankovitch: “She travels briskly through three centuries, from the Lowells’ arrival in Puritan New England, through the War of Independence, the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, the suffragettes and the advent of modern American poetry. She captures the historical backdrop with fascinating details at the same time that she presents a startling array of Lowells, remarkable for their grit, intelligence and dedication to this country.”
Sankovitch is the author of three books of non-fiction, and has written for the New York Times, as well as serving as a contributing blogger to The Huffington Post and blogging about books, letters, and life on www.readallday.org. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, Sankovitch grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and currently lives in Connecticut with her family.
Susan Edwards, Executive Director of the Museum of Old Newbury says: “We are thrilled to be holding this program at the First Religious Society and are grateful for their support. Although the Pleasant Street building post-dates Reverend John Lowell’s ministry, there is a strong link between the church and the Lowell family.
Funding for this program is made possible in part by a grant from the Institution for Savings and by a grant from the Newburyport Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Admission is free, although reservations are requested. To make a reservation, call 978-462-2681 or email info@newburyhistory.org.
The Museum of Old Newbury preserves and interprets the history of “Old Newbury” which includes Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury from pre-settlement to the present.
