While the rest of the Radio Boston producers are working hard to bring you the latest information on Boston’s working poor, I find myself pouring over a fascinating book chronicling the beginnings of the Massachusetts Industrial Age.

This week we bring you some history about the Bay State’s background in industrial innovation. Our host Jane Clayson speaks with Needham resident Dr. Chaim Rosenberg, author of Goods For Sale: Products and Advertising in the Massachusetts Industrial Age.

Tune in to learn more about the factory girls of Lowell, the mills of Lawrence, and the roots of fancy, illustrated product advertising.

Here’s a sampling of the historical images from Dr. Rosenberg’s book: