The French of New Bedford

The French of New Bedford: The Early Years provides the most comprehensive account of New Bedford’s Franco-American communities, focusing on their history from the 1600s to the mid-1930s. The book explores their early beginnings, growth and eventual decline, caused by new immigration restrictions, the Great Textile Strike of 1928 and the onset of the Great Depression. Far from the simple extended family/parish/neighborhood ethnic narratives of other New England cities, this book reveals a far more intricate history of New Bedford’s French.

Most of the city’s French population came directly from Quebec, while others arrived from different parts of the US where their Quebec-born ancestors had settled. There were also Acadians, descendants of those who had originally lived in the Maritime Provinces until they were displaced by the British during the mid-eighteenth century ethnic cleansing. Proud of their heritage, the Acadians often remained distinct from other groups. In addition, French immigrants came from metropolitan France, as well as its overseas territories, and from the French-speaking regions of Belgium and Switzerland. 

All  formed a set of a loosely connected but diverse Franco-American communities.

The earliest French immigrants arrived when New Bedford was a thriving whaling hub. They worked in whaling-related activities at sea or on shore. As New Bedford transitioned into a textile manufacturing powerhouse, many French immigrants found work in the mills. They contributed to every stage of production, though few rose to supervisory roles. Some took pride in their craftsmanship and invented technical improvements.  Others used scrap materials to craft intricate quilts.

As the French community grew, so did the demand for services in their native language. French-speaking professionals emerged in fields ranging from medicine to trades like tailoring and carpentry. The community thrived culturally as well, with many engaging in music, entertainment and sports. Politically, the French overcame the dominance of Protestant Yankees, English and Irish migrants, to learn English, to become US citizens to participate in elections and to secure city jobs. They also served in the military, fighting in every major American conflict from the Revolutionary War through World War I. The French of New Bedford not only explores these historical movements but also delves into the daily lives, cultural practices and family histories of this vibrant community.

About The Author

Acushnet-born and raised, Alfred Saulniers left southeastern Massachusetts after graduation from Bishop Stang High School. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He then worked successively for the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. 

Saulniers had an extensive international career as an economist before returning to New Bedford in 2000. His long-term foreign residencies included Peru, Zaïre, Kenya, Morocco and Pakistan, countries where he taught and consulted. He also undertook short-term consultancies for: the World Bank, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the British Department for International Development, the United States Agency for International Development and the United States Department of Agriculture.

After his return to New Bedford, Saulniers served as the lead writer for Spinner Publication’s two volumes of the Picture History of New Bedford. 

In a pre-television era, Saulniers was raised as a native French speaker. His latest book, The French of New Bedford, The Early Years, reflects deep pride in his–and New Bedford’s—French roots.