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Maryellen V. Fitzgerald Cambridge 350th Anniversary Collection (pdf version available)
Donated to the Cambridge Historical Commission
By Maryellen V. Fitzgerald
In 2006
2 ½ inches
Prepared by
H. Alice Dodds
January 2007
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Description
This collection, primarily of photographs, records the events and activities surrounding the 350th Anniversary Celebration of the City of Cambridge, 1980-1981, as seen through the eyes of the donor of the collection, Maryellen V. Fitzgerald.
The 350th Anniversary Celebration was sponsored, financed and directed by the Cambridge City Council. The Council appointed a committee, of ever changing, ever growing members, to oversee the undertaking, and named Ann Roosevelt to be its chairman. A lifelong resident of Cambridge, Mrs. Roosevelt is the wife of James Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Maryellen Fitzgerald was named Coordinator of the celebration, with Betty Mahoney as her Assistant; office space was made available for them in City Hall.
Three major events were planned for the 350th Anniversary. Two of these were Founders Day events. The first of these events was held on Saturday, October 4, 1980, when a small flotilla of ships came up the Charles River, the founders disembarked, proceeded up John F. Kennedy Street (Boylston Street) to Winthrop Square and reenacted the establishment of Newtowne in 1630. The second Founders Day event was a large parade on Sunday, October 5, 1980, led by Thomas P. O’Neill, resident of Cambridge, Congressman from the Eighth District, and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. This parade started in the parking lot of Lechmere Sales on First Street, proceeded on Cambridge Street and Prospect Street to Mt Auburn Street, and then up to Winthrop Square. An unexpected strike of all city workers on the day of the parade called for crisis management by Ms. Fitzgerald, who saved the situation by bringing in the Cambridge Auxiliary Police Force and the foremen of the Department of Public Works. All proceeded without a hitch. The third and final event was the “Salute to Cambridge” dinner at MIT’s Kresge Hall on January 17, 1981.
Scope and Content
The Maryellen V. Fitzgerald Cambridge 350th Anniversary Collection consists primarily of twenty-eight photographs. Also found in the collection are Mayor Francis Duehay’s proclamations announcing the Founders Day celebrations, several mayoral commendations including two of Ms. Fitzgerald, four publications on the history of Cambridge, a program of the final celebratory dinner, “Salute to Cambridge,” and memorabilia – two 350th buttons.
Folder List
1. Photograph #1 Mayor Francis Duehay undated
2. Photograph #2 “The Beginning” 1980
Photograph #3 “The Beginning” 1980
3. Photograph #4 Office in City Hall undated
4. Photograph #5 Parade Meeting 1980
5. Photograph #6 Dedication at Winthrop Park October 4,
1980
6. Photograph #7 Kathleen Fitzgerald October 4,
1980
Photograph #8 Kathleen Fitzgerald October 4,
1980
Photograph #9 Kathleen Fitzgerald October 4,
1980
Photograph #10 Kathleen Fitzgerald October 4, 1980
7. Photograph #11 Parade October 5,
1980
Photograph #12 Parade October 5,
1980
Photograph #13 Parade October 5, 1980
Photograph #14 Parade October 5,
1980
8. Photograph #15 Parade Reviewing Stand October 5,
1980
9. Photograph #16 Maryellen Fitzgerald undated
Photograph #17 Maryellen Fitzgerald undated
Photograph #18 Maryellen Fitzgerald 1981
Photograph #19 Maryellen Fitzgerald October 4,
1980
Photograph #20 Maryellen Fitzgerald 1981
10. Photograph #21 Mayor’s Christmas Party December 19, 1980
11. Photograph #22 “Salute to Cambridge” Dinner January 17,
1981
12. Photograph #23 “Salute to Cambridge” Dinner January 17,
1981
13. Photograph #24 Presentation of Plaques January 17,
1981
14.Photograph #25 Betty Mahoney undated
Photograph #26 Betty Mahoney undated
Photograph #27 Betty Mahoney undated
Photograph #28 Betty Mahoney undated
15. Mayor’s Proclamation Founders Day October 4,
1980
16. Mayor’s Commendations September 22,
1980;
November 4,
1980;
undated
17. Mayor’s Commendation Maryellen Fitzgerald undated
18. Design undated
19. Publication “Founding of Newtowne” undated
20. Publication “1630 Newtowne-Cambridge 1980” 1980
21. Publication “A Salute to Cambridge” 1980
22 Publication “350 Years of Cambridge History” undated
23. Program “A Salute to Cambridge” Dinner January 17,
1981
24. Letterhead with list of 350th Anniversary
Committee Members undated
25. Memorabilia 350th Buttons
26. Inter-Office
Communications Informal and Humorous undated