"A quest for the people who made us what we are,"-Historian Michael WoodAt Salem Maritime, we celebrate the people who shaped our history. These individuals walked the streets of Salem, worked in the counting houses, businesses, and mills, and sailed around the world on vessels that left from the city's wharves. Elias Hasket and Elizabeth Derby were members of one of the most successful merchant families in 18th century Salem. Nathaniel Hawthorne set many of his famous stories here. African-Americans, free and enslaved, worked on the ships and in the homes of Salem, and in the early 19th century some from Salem became leaders of the abolitionist movement. Polish immigrants moved to Salem for economic opportunities in the mills, and became a vital part of the 20th century makeup of the city. 
Richard Derby
Richard Derby was a wealthy, Salem merchant. His story is deeply tied to the history of enslaved people at Salem Maritime. 
Enslaved and Free People in Salem
By examining historical records, we can begin to piece together the lives, labor, and resistance of enslaved people in Salem. 
Prominent People in Polish Salem
In Polish immigrant communities, a shared identity was continually debated and involved a great deal of both conflict and celebration. |
Last updated: March 6, 2023