Our publication All in the Same Boat: Twentieth-Century Stories of East Cambridge, Cambridge, Massachusetts is a collection of more than 125 oral histories that explore the tightly knit neighborhood of East Cambridge from the perspective of its residents.
Anna Scolles’ birthday, ca. 1949
Manuel Rogers, Sr., behind the soda fountain at the Paradise Spa, 352 Cambridge St, 1931
The book, illustrated with historic and family photographs, offers a vivid picture of the diverse cultures that coexisted in East Cambridge during the 20th century and examines the social, economic, and political changes in this rapidly evolving neighborhood.
Day of Portugal Parade, June 1990
To hear stories of those who lived, grew up in, immigrated to, and built their lives in East Cambridge, stop by our office or click here and obtain your own copy of this rich oral history book! For more information, email us at histcomm@cambridgema.gov.
Cover of All in the Same Boat: Twentieth-Century Stories of East Cambridge, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2005)
Our publication Common Cause, Uncommon Courage: World War II and the Home Front in Cambridge, Massachusetts is the product of a four-year effort to record the experiences of more than 125 Cambridge veterans and home front participants. These recollections are told by soldiers in combat, nurses in hospitals in Europe and the Pacific, women who worked at the Charlestown Navy Yard and other defense industries, and servicemen’s families who waited for loved ones to come home. Five POWs, a Holocaust survivor, and an Italian Jewish refugee tell stories of uncommon courage and determination to persevere and survive in extraordinary circumstances. A narrative of the war in the European and Pacific Theaters accompanies the oral histories, and more than 250 photographs, some from the National Archives and FDR Library, are included as well.
Cover of Common Cause, Uncommon Courage: World War II and the Home Front in Cambridge, Massachusetts (2009)
The following passage comes from the section “Prisoners of War (POWs)” where Private First Class Armando DeVito shares his experience during the Battle of the Bulge:
“When we went out of the Ardennes, we had hardly any equipment left, and we were waiting for air support, which we didn’t get. We were in this gully with German Tiger tanks all around us, and we didn’t have much ammunition left. We were trying to dig in to keep low. All we had were rifles—no heavy equipment. We were all facedown. We didn’t dare move, because they were all around us.”
To learn the conclusion of DeVito’s harrowing journey and hear about the efforts of many other Cantabrigians during this conflict, stop by our office or click here and obtain your own copy of this rich oral history book! For more information, email us at histcomm@cambridgema.gov.
Page from POW Francis Cunningham’s record of Red Cross parcel received, ca. 1944
Join the Cambridge Black History Project as they celebrate their oral history narrators. Gather for an afternoon of refreshments and conversation as we pay tribute to our rich storytelling tradition. Connect with your community during an afternoon of conversation and refreshments!
Cost per person: Free Date: November 8, 2025 Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm
We hope to see you on this special occasion celebrating Cambridge oral histories. Lift Every Voice is a great opportunity to connect with the Cambridge Black History Project and the community. Please RSVP here: https://cambridgepl.libcal.com/event/15516112.
