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Brunswick's Little Portugal: Research Guide

Learn about Portuguese immigrants who settled in Brunswick, Georgia, in the early 1900s.

Introduction

Immigrants from Portugal arrived in Brunswick after World War I, from about 1919 through the 1930s. Many settled in what is now known as the Old Town Historic District of downtown Brunswick, around Hanover Square near St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Portuguese played a major role in the fishing and seafood industry in Brunswick and surrounding communities. The Blessing of the Fleet in Brunswick arose from Portuguese culture and faith. The event, which takes place around Mother's Day, honors mothers and Our Lady of Fátima, the patron saint of Portugal. 

Selected Books

Postcard of Hanover Park in Brunswick featuring the fountain with two African-American girls and a boy. Text reads Copyright 1905 by the Rotograph Co.,

A 1905 postcard of Hanover Park, also known as Hanover Square, in the Old Town Historic District of Brunswick, Georgia. 

Selected Newspaper Articles

The following articles and more can be found in the Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive, a project of the Digital Library of Georgia, part of GALILEO, Georgia's virtual library. 

Online Resources

Portuguese-American Genealogy

Also see: Genealogy Resources 

Librarian

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Michele Nicole Johnson
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College of Coastal Georgia
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