Global Boston is a digital project based at Boston College that chronicles the history of immigration to greater Boston since the early nineteenth century. Examining different time periods, ethnic groups, and places of settlement, the site features capsule histories, photographs, maps, documents, videos, and oral histories documenting the history of a city and metro area where immigrants have long been a vital force in shaping urban life.

We at Global Boston believe that historical and contemporary diversity has been a defining characteristic of the region and one of its great strengths. The website aims to tell the story of Boston’s major immigrant groups, showing where they have come from and why, and how they have been central to Boston’s history and development, as well as to that of their home countries. We hope to foster better understanding between recent immigrants and the descendants of those older groups depicted here, exploring both the similarities and differences in their experiences amid a changing historical context. The stories presented on Global Boston attest to the power of ordinary people to make history. We hope that new Bostonians can use history as a tool for empowerment to make their voices heard as residents and citizens of the region.