On Tuesday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Scott Molloy, URI Professor Emeritus, will speak about his book, Irish Titan, Irish Toilers which examines the life of Joseph Banigan, Rhode Isand’s first Irish-Catholic millionaire.

Joseph Banigan was a refugee with his family from the Great Famine in 1847. With a year of elementary school he became a full time child laborer but with pluck and luck climbed the ladder of success as a producer of rubber footwear along with colleagues in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He eventually became president of the US Rubber Company.  Joseph Banigan was also a generous contributor to the Catholic Church, orphanages, and other non-sectarian charities. He was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Leo XIII in 1885. Banigan also engaged another kind of knighthood: a bitter six month strike by the Irish Knights of Labor that same year at one of his rubber factories in Millville, MA.

Dr. Scott Molloy taught labor relations at the University of Rhode Island for thirty years, including labor and Irish history. The Carnegie Foundation acclaimed him the best professor in the state in 2005. He was Teacher of the Year at URI in 1996, and the Smithsonian Institution acquired his collection of 10,000 labor union items a few years earlier. He is in the Rhode Island Hall of Fame and served as the Grand Marshall of the Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade last year.

The program is part of the Go Local Converse 2020 Series exploring the industrial history of Malden and brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  For more information about this program or others in the series contact the library at 781-324-0218 or check out the library’s events calendar at www.maldenpubliclibrary.org.

Lose five pounds, Gain ten pounds back . . . sounds familiar?  It’s time to “BREAK OUT of Breaking Even!”  This program will be offered at the Malden Public Library on June 3 at 6:30 p.m.  This workshop can be used by fitness professionals and anyone wanting to lose 5 pounds to 150 pounds.  “Breaking even” is when you invest time in exercising and eating healthy but do not see results, especially long term.  You will develop skills and self awareness for long term weight loss management. The program is designed to be sustainable, flexible, and customized to fit your lifestyle and goals.  The program is free and open to all.  Presented by Malden resident Julio Salado, Coach, Educator and Personal Trainer.

What do Malden’s library, hospital, parks, and industry all have in common? The Converse family! Come find out more at Hometown Hero:  Elisha Slade Converse: A Short Documentary Film by Birukti Tsige and Felix Li on Saturday, June 1st at 2:00 PM at the Malden Public Library.

Birukti Tsige and Felix Li, Malden High School seniors, will present their award winning Hometown Hero documentary on Malden’s own Elisha S. Converse and discuss their research process. Following the presentation there will be a tour of the 1885 Converse Memorial Building, donated by Elisha and Mary Converse. Food and drink will also be served.

This presentation will kick off Go Local: Converse 2020: EXPLORING THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF MALDEN, a two-year program brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, with additional funds from the Malden Public Library.

Did you know the Malden Public Library has acquired several exciting new works of art in the last few months? On Wednesday, April 17th, explore these amazing art works and the beautiful 1885 Converse Memorial Building.  The curated tour will include new acquisitions by artists Frank Stella, Stanley Woodward, Marguerite Pearson, Nicole Wittenberg and more.  The tour will begin promptly at 6 p.m.  The event is free but limited to 25.  Register by calling 781-324-0218.

Image: Parker 2017, wax and pigment on canvas by Nicole Wittenberg

Join us for Art Night: A Celebration of Women’s History Month on Tuesday, March 12 at 6 p.m.  We’re highlighting a few of the trailblazing and talented women in the Malden Public Library’s art collection.  Come explore the art and lives of Constance Stella, Perle Fine, Yvonne Twining Humber, Doris Burdick, Marguerite Stuber Pearson, Juana Romani, and more – and explore the beautiful Converse Memorial Building Art Galleries.  The art and building tour will begin promptly at 6 p.m.  The event is free but limited to 25.  Register by calling the Malden Public Library at 781-324-0218.

Image:  Carousel by Malden born artist Perle Fine (1905-1988)

The Malden Public Library will hold a Birthday Celebration of the Library’s 140 years of service to Malden residents.  The celebration will be held on February 14th from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the historic Converse Memorial Building.  The celebration will include an exhibition of photographs, scrapbooks, and equipment from the early days of the Library; and light refreshments will be served.

The Malden Public Library began in one small room in the old Town Hall, formerly occupied by Murray & Wiley, Dry Goods Store; before moving to the Converse Memorial Building in 1885.  Image: Malden Public Library in Old Town Hall Building (1879-1885)

The 2019 Triple Threat Trivia Winner is …. Mayor’s MoTTTley Crew – two years in a row!

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers and supporters for helping with this great fundraising event.  A special thank you to our business sponsors: Breen & Sullivan Services Inc., Dunkin’ / Medeiros Family, Malden Advocate, E.E. Burns & Son Funeral Home, PEGM Malden Transportation, Shapiro & Hender Law, and Walker Mechanical Inc.