To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America, Special Collections is asking the community for their stories about coming to America – and to Haverhill, Massachusetts! Whether your family came over on the Mayflower, you arrived recently, or if your family was here all along, we want to hear your story.
The Special Collections Department is collecting all submissions as permanent holdings in our collections and will be fully accessible for future generations! Throughout July 2026, the Special Collections team will be highlighting submissions on social media.
Please submit your essay below by June 26, 2026. Alternatively, you may submit paper copies in person to the Special Collections Department. Adult and teen submissions will be entered into a raffle for a beach-y gift basket. All children who submit an essay get a cute, patriotic rubber duckie!
Please Note:
All languages are accepted.
All ages are welcome to participate.
There is no page or word limit.
Stories must have a connection to Haverhill, Massachusetts, and/or submitted by Haverhill residents.
Publications and copyrighted materials are not accepted.
For security reasons, we are unable to receive images or files via this webform.
Essays may be submitted in person:
– All submissions can be received in the Special Collections Department.
– Children may submit essays in either the Children’s Room or the Special Collections Department.
– Essays including illustrations and pictures are welcome!
– Maximum dimensions must not exceed legal-sized paper (8.5 x 14 inches)
Library staff will not edit or censor any part of the essays, which will be kept, in perpetuity, in Special Collections and made available for research to the general public. Be mindful about your privacy, and that of your family, in your submission.
Please contact the Special Collections Department at specialcollections@haverhillpl.org to troubleshoot issues with your submission.
More Special Collections information is always available in our corner of the HPL website: https://haverhillpl.org/special-collections/