From Whalers to Neighbors: the Portuguese of Cape Cod and the Islands with Lew White
This is a Joy of Learning lecture series.
4 sessions, Wednesday mornings, October 1st, 15th, 22nd and 29 from 10:30 to noon (does not meet on October 8th). Please register once for the whole series at this link. Ending time is approximate, based on number of questions at the end. Please register for the whole course below-we look forward to seeing you. It is advisable to attend all sessions if possible, as they build on each other.
Our long-running Joy of Learning program has changed! Instead of two larger sessions in April and October, offer individual classes throughout the year.
This series of four lectures refines the traditional story of Portuguese immigration by shining a light on its forgotten beginnings and diversity. Learn how immigration began when the Cape and Islands were still part of the British Empire (Province of Massachusetts Bay), their participation in the war of 1812 and developing local economies, and how earlier European colonization shaped their choices. These lectures expand the familiar framework of three immigration waves described in earlier lectures to include both the overlooked 1765–1840 arrivals and Cape Verdean migration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is a fresh look at how Portuguese and Cape Verdean communities became an enduring part of our region’s heritage.
About the Lecturer: Twenty-five years ago, after retiring as Chief Technical Officer in the high-tech industry, Lewis White began a second career as an independent historian. What started as a genealogical study of his own family soon broadened into a sustained exploration of Portuguese immigration to Falmouth, Massachusetts. His research then expanded across Cape Cod, the Islands, and ultimately to the wider story of Portuguese settlement in Southeastern Massachusetts.
In 2017, he created and presented a four-part lecture series on this subject, offered twice, and has since given additional talks at a variety of venues. His work has also led to the publication of a booklet and an article in a regional historical society journal. As his inquiry deepened, White turned his attention to the earliest Portuguese presence in America, especially along the New England coast. His research now examines how early European colonies took root in Southeastern Massachusetts from the perspective of how their growth shaped the opportunities, challenges, and patterns of Portuguese immigration that followed.
We are currently looking for instructors for 2026. We welcome all proposals. Number of meetings and length of classes is flexible. Classes should be ‘beginner-friendly’! If you are interested in teaching a class in the future, we want to hear from you! Please send an email to Adult Services at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org, or call 508-457-2555 x 7.