Life in Newburyport 1900-1950

by Jean Foley Doyle

Four years in the making, Life in Newburyport 1900–1950 reveals the blood, sweat, and tears of its citizens, and the ultimate successes they achieved during the formidable years of the twentieth century. Reassembled through news accounts, city documents, and the memories of its people, Life in Newburyport is a gift to the city and to its future generations.

Included are:

• stories of the immigrants who settled in Newburyport, the sacrifices they endured, and the contributions they made to its future generations;
• The Great War and its effect on the city as captured by Newburyport author Minnie Atkinson;
• The exploits of Andrew “Bossy” Gillis who served three sentences in jail and six terms as mayor;
• The Great Depression and the WPA’s role in relieving hardships;
• First-hand World War II accounts including Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Iwo Jima, honoring those who served and survived and those who never came home;
• Five vignettes featuring humanitarian Dr. Abby Noyes Little; healers Dr. Hurd, Dr. Snow, Dr. Daniel Leary, Sr., and Miss Burns; the Mosley family, a major benefactor to the city; noted Theosophist Mrs. Katherine Tingley; and Hanna Gillis, mother of “Bossy” and a leading entrepreneur.

About the Author

Jean Foley Doyle, a lifelong resident of Newburyport, Massachusetts, is the mother of seven and grandmother of eleven children. She graduated from Newburyport High School (NHS) in 1947 and joined the ranks of her peers who married young and started their families after World War II, thus contributing to the baby boomer generations. She stayed at home for the next nineteen years. Finally able to achieve her dream of a college education, she graduated summa cum laude from Merrimack College in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in history. In 1972, she earned her master’s degree in history from the University of New Hampshire. Returning to her alma mater, Jean taught history and international relations for thirty years until her retirement in 1999. While teaching at NHS, Jean was responsible for implementing the highly successful community service program which allowed hundreds of students to get to know and contribute to the Newburyport community. Some of the interviews in Life in Newburyport were a result of encouraging students to go out and learn about their parents and grandparents and many other residents who helped make this seaside city a unique place to call home. An avid gardener, she lives with her husband in Newbury, Massachusetts.

ISBN: 1-931807-61-2, $40.00 History, 400 pages, 7x10 Hardcover, illustrated, with index. Publication Date: September 2007.

Ordering Information

Please contact: Jean Foley Doyle, 20 Rolfe's Lane, Newbury, MA 01951 to order.
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