Location

Saint Paul’s East Side

Since 1850, the East Side has been a destination for immigrants and migrants seeking jobs, homes, and new communities. Three distinct waves of newcomers have arrived here, worked hard, established themselves, built institutions, and had an impact on the development of Saint Paul. They have received little recognition in the history books, in the city’s stories of itself, or in the wider community’s awareness. In too many cases, the pressures of assimilation led groups to lose track of their own histories, as well as to ignore the histories, often interrelated, of other groups. A central premise of the East Side Freedom Library is that it is difficult for people to work together effectively if they do not know their own or each other’s stories. It is a central goal of the ESFL to research, present, and share – with the active participation of community members – these vital and variegated stories.