The Early Years The star we all know as Donna Summer was born as LaDonna Adrian Gaines on New Year's Eve, 1948 in the Boston neighborhood of Mission Hill. Her family's address at the time was listed as 25 Woodrow Wilson Court in the 1948 Boston City Directory, putting the home by Orchard Park in…
Queer Lit Review: July 2025
Hello and welcome to the July 2025 edition of the Queer Lit Review! This month we have a teen girl falling for the guy at the record store, a trans teen rooming with an old flame, and two business rivals working together. These titles may be available in other formats or languages. Check our catalog…
Explore Additional Research Resources
Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Massachusetts has access to a wide range of free, high-quality digital resources through the Boston Public Library (BPL), many of which can serve as alternatives to those no longer available through statewide systems. This information was compiled to guide staff from other libraries and institutions as…
5 Best BPL Online Resources for High School Students
Anyone who lives or works in Massachusetts can get a library card at the Boston Public Library. This means students, teachers, and librarians across the state have access to our databases! Check out some highlights below, and if you're looking for more, learn about additional research resources in this blog post. Best for Test and…
Resources for Immigrants
June is Immigrant Heritage Month! This is an especially important celebration because Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts couldn't be what they are today without immigrants. The Boston Mayor's office even designated 2025 as the Year of Belonging to celebrate newcomers. At a time when immigrant communities are more vulnerable than ever, any recognitions and…
Genealogy: Using Historic Immigration Records to Research Your Ancestors
The United States is a country built by immigrants. The beginning of European settlement in what is now the U.S. also marked the beginning of immigration here. The origins of these immigrants have changed over time, from English to Irish to German to Chinese to Eastern European to Italian to Asian to Hispanic. Many came…
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