Autumn 2017 contents News and events for Proprietor Profile 2 Proprietors, Subscribers & Friends The Making of the Bicentennial Book 3 of the Portsmouth Athenæum Arcana: "Elite Company" 4 the portsmouth athenæum 9 market square Portsmouth Program Series 2018 5, 6 p.o. box 848 From the Secretary's Desk 8 portsmouth, n.h. 03802 Athenæum 603. 431.2538 newsletter Events: Oct. 2017 – Jan. 2018 9 www.portsmouthathenæum.org Website User's Guide Back cover Q Who's Who? Two Exhibits Recently, the Athenaeum was fortunate he moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Cap Off to acquire a pair of portraits painted by Jacob’s brother, uncles and cousins were Joseph G. Cole in 1829, when he was also Proprietors, as were six of Mary’s Athenaeum's busily preserving for posterity the brothers and many of her nephews and Bicentennial Year likenesses of more than four dozen nieces. Another clue is that the paintings Athenaeum Proprietors and their were found in Eastern, Ohio, not too The Dec. 23, 1981 collapse of the Foye family members. far from where the Sheafes lived in Building on Market Square—and the Pottsville. If you have any information subsequent renovation that created The sitters in the pair of portraits about the identities of these individuals, the Portsmouth Athenaeum's current were not identified, but based on please contact our curator, Elizabeth space—could be seen as the fall and rise facial resemblance to other identified Aykroyd. of our membership museum and library, portraits, they are believed to be Jacob according to Proprietor Richard Candee. Sheafe V (1784-1848) and his wife, We are greatly indebted to Deborah Mary Haven Sheafe (1789-1839). and Tom Child, who drove out to "In the last nearly 40 years we've gone Russellville, Ohio to retrieve the portraits. from an accidental survivor of the 19th Sheafe purchased Share 65 from the The paintings will need conservation, century to a modern research library," estate of his brother-in-law, Joseph but they are currently on display in the said Richard Candee, who is co-curating Haven, and surrendered it in 1837 when 1805 building. "Treasures of the Athenaeum Part IV, 1980-2017: Renewal, Growth & A Public Research Library." The exhibit runs through Nov. 11 in the Randall Gallery at 9 Market Square.

The Foye building, adjacent to the structure the Athenaeum has occupied since 1823, was undergoing basement renovations when its brick walls partially caved in.

"It took two years from the time the

These Joseph G. Cole portraits painted in 1829 are believed to be Foye building collapsed to the full Jacob Sheafe V (1784-1848) and his wife, Mary Haven Sheafe (1789-1839). continued on page 7 You have known so many iconic Proprietor Proprietors. How have they influenced Profile: you and your relationship to the Athenaeum? For several decades Joe Copley kept the Athenaeum going. Peter Randall He was there several days a week, greet- ing visitors, answering inquiries, and You studied history at the University acquiring books, manuscripts, photo- of New Hampshire, from which you graphs and artifacts. From him I got graduated in 1963. What was your first a love for the Athenaeum and a belief contact with the Portsmouth Athenaeum? in its importance as an institution. During the 1970s when I was Editor (1888-1988), and a longtime member This has led me to serve as a board of New Hampshire Profiles magazine, of the New Hampshire Historical member, vice-president and a curator I got to know Joe Copley and he urged Society, so joining the Athenaeum was of three exhibits. Joe Sawtelle helped me to become a Proprietor, which I a logical extension of my interests. me and many others to see the big finally did in the 1980s. Several of the 13 books I have written picture. He thought the Athenaeum have used Athenaeum material. could be so much more than it was. He What has kept you engaged with the was instrumental in the acquisition of Athenaeum over the years? I have always Tell us about your work with the the Foye building and its subsequent had a love of history beginning when Portsmouth Marine Society. When reconstruction, and he single-handedly I was in grade school. For me the best Joe Sawtelle moved to Portsmouth increased the endowment from a few birthday gift was one of the Landmark he became interested in maritime thousand dollars to several hundred series of histories. I’m a past president history. He was also interested in pub- thousand dollars. He also donated two of the Seabrook Historical Society, lishing and he produced a book about condominium units, one of which is the author of the history of Hampton Portsmouth’s clipper ships. He was not the Randall Gallery. Without Joe's pleased with the quality of this book. leadership, the Athenaeum simply Portsmouth Athenæum Newsletter Meanwhile I met Joe and he offered would not be what it is today. is published three times yearly. me space for my fledgling publishing Deadlines for articles are March 1, company in his office building. As a What's your favorite object in the Ath- July 1 and October 1. book collector Joe acquired, and was enaeum's collection? As a long-time impressed by, the Marine Research photographer, I am impressed with the Contributions and queries may be Society publications about maritime Athenaeum’s large photography collection. directed to Publications Committee Salem, Mass. He thought there was Chair/Editor Sherry Wood at enough maritime history in Portsmouth How did you come to be a Thursday [email protected]. to do the same series of books. Joe volunteer? When I retired from my editor: solicited donations from a hundred publishing business, I finally had time Sherry Wood associates and a publishing fund was to be a volunteer. Over the years as a created for the Portsmouth Marine publisher I have scanned thousands of designer: Society with me as the editor and book photographs, so I thought that I could Susan Kress Hamilton producer. By the time I retired, we had offer that skill to the Athenaeum. We contributors: published 31 titles with several written have some 28,000 images but not all of Robin Silva, Tom Hardiman, Dick by Proprietors Ray Brighton and them have been scanned into the catalog. Adams, Sherry Wood, Ann Beattie, Richard Winslow III, and others by I am slowly working through the pho- Don Margeson, Doug Aykroyd. Richard Candee, John Bardwell and tographs and I’m always thrilled to see Woody Openo. images of local scenes from times past.

2 THE MAKING OF THE BICENTENNIAL BOOK

As most Portsmouth Athenaeum this book will give you fresh insights. Newsletter readers know, one of the And it's beautifully illustrated." Athenaeum’s many undertakings to celebrate our bicentennial this year has In November 2014, the committee been to publish a book, Portsmouth settled on a unifying theme for the book: Athenaeum: The Story of a Collection the objects in the collection of the Through the Eyes of Its Proprietors, 1817- Athenaeum and the Proprietors who 2017. If we may say so, it’s a handsome had donated them. By Spring 2015, the thing. committee had identified about 20 collec- tion items as promising essay subjects. The clothbound book begins, Appeals went out to the Athenaeum The book, with bookplates created by appropriately enough, with a list of membership for essay writers. Over 18 committee member Doug Aykroyd, Proprietors and their share numbers as months, the list of writers grew. Several was ready for distribution in time for of Jan. 1, 2017. Within, 73 images leap chose a subject from the committee’s list, the June 21st toast in honor of the vividly from its 113 glossy pages, thanks while others picked a subject on their own, Athenaeum's 200th birthday. "At all to the design work of Proprietor Susan each choice reflecting the volunteer stages,” Wood says, “serendipity ruled. Kress Hamilton of Phineas Graphics. author’s personal interest. And the rest is history—our history." The project was overseen by the Athenaeum’s Publications Committee All members of the Publications After completion of the project, under the leadership of Sherry Wood, Committee—Chairman Wood, Dick Publications Committee member Dick who also served as the book’s editor. Adams, Jeff Hopper, Peggy Hodges Adams praised Editor Wood for her Kimberly Alexander, Doug Aykroyd skilled leadership of the committee’s As Publications Committee member and Don S. Margeson—contributed meetings on the bicentennial book, for Margaret "Peggy" Hodges writes in the essays. Other essayists were James shaping the form it would take, for introduction, the book is "a lively miscel- L. Garvin, Tom Hardiman, Ursula getting agreement on authors and lany, in the truest sense of the term: 22 Wright, Elizabeth Rhoades Aykroyd, subject matter coverage, and for achieving essays by 21 authors—all Proprietors or Gerald W.R. Ward, Jane Molloy Porter, consensus on any number of editorial Athenaeum staff." Topics range from the Sandra Rux, Pat Breslin, Susan Kress and production details. Athenaeum building itself, to the objects it Hamilton, Richard M. Candee, Robin houses: curiosities brought back from the Silva, Ronan Donohoe, Capt. Rodney For the committee, the capstone of the South Pacific; the fire buckets gracing the K. Watterson, USN (Retired) and book project is to make sure all 400 Pro- first-floor hallway; the ancient antlers over Deborah M. Child. prietors claim their complimentary copy; the Reading Room fireplace; poet Celia so far, about a third of Proprietors have Thaxter's hand-decorated china on the "Everyone met the submission deadline done so. "We'd like to get this work of many Mezzanine; the rare books on its shelves of October 1, 2016," Wood said. "Then hands into your hands," declares Editor and even the bookcases themselves. the editing began." By December 21, Wood. Proprietors can pick up and sign 2016, the text and images (photos from for their copy at the Athenaeum or have "I learned so much editing the essays David J. Murray of ClearEyePhoto.com, it mailed to them for $7 (see Secretary's for the book," said Wood, who has Leeanne S. Wood, Doug Aykroyd and Notes, page 8). Additional copies may be been volunteering at the Athenaeum the Athenaeum collections) were in purchased for $50.The bicentennial book since 1998. "And the tone isn't stuffy Hamilton's hands. By March of this year, is made possible in part by the Donald or scholarly—though there is plenty page proofs were being reviewed by H. Margeson Fund. Anyone wishing to of scholarship. Even if you think you Wood, committee members Hodges and maintain the fund for future publications know every inch of the Athenaeum, Margeson and Keeper Tom Hardiman. is welcome to make a donation.

3 Arcana dick adams Elite Company It used to be asserted that the England. Founded in 1797 by word “unique” did not allow for merchants and professionals, it was comparison: something was either ...to promote learning designed to be a ready source of one-of-a-kind or it wasn’t. Modern information that could otherwise grammarians take a more permissive and advance useful largely be gleaned only from stance and sanction usages like knowledge among our conversations and newspapers in “virtually unique” and “almost crowded and noisy coffeehouses. unique.” constituents and the Its founding proprietors would doubtless be pleased to know Such describes the Portsmouth wider community by that the eight Athenaeums and Athenaeum, sharing as it does the facilitating convivial nine other membership libraries distinction of being a member- across the Atlantic all have mission supported circulating library with interchange and statements remarkably similar “Athenaeum” being part of its name to that of Liverpool and to each with only seven other institutions in intellectual discourse. other’s. Our own is a fine example, the United States. stating in part, “[we] associate to supported libraries or museums. promote learning and advance useful These eight athenaeums are in Boston, Alexandria (VA), Berkshire (MA), knowledge among our constituents Salem, Philadelphia, Portsmouth, Nantucket, and St. Johnsbury and the wider community by Newport, Providence, La Jolla, and (VT) are in the first category, while facilitating convivial interchange Seattle. Hartford’s Wadsworth Athenaeum and intellectual discourse.” and Chicago’s Athenaeum are All of the eight are housed in elegant now museums. In 1731 Benjamin Membership libraries such as ours buildings which vary considerably in Franklin founded the world’s first also share the distinctive quality size and appearance. Boston’s is the membership library in Philadelphia, of relying completely on member largest by far, while we are at the but it is now an independent support, with no public funds smaller end of the spectrum. All are research library and no longer can assisting them. Public libraries structured administratively in similar be considered a membership library. offer some of the benefits available ways, with a cap on proprietorships to membership library supporters, but with liberal public access. All The eight Athenaeums listed above chief among them ready access to have been in existence for about share distinctive attributes with books, periodicals, and various other two centuries with the exception of nine other membership libraries media. But in the main they do not La Jolla (1899) and Seattle (2016). in this country, the only significant provide the social forum that is the Boston is the oldest (1807) while difference among them being staple of a membership library’s Salem (1810), Philadelphia (1814), that nine do not have the word existence, nor do they commonly and Portsmouth (1817) are close “Athenaeum” in their names. play nearly such a significant role in behind. the intellectual and cultural lives of All can trace their mission to the their communities. Other vestigial Athenaeums exist, template established by the world’s but they are now either tax- first Athenaeum, that of Liverpool, F 4 Portsmouth Athenaeum program series 2018 Air Service to meet the challenge. Men from the small city of Concord, N.H. world war i: played a surprisingly prominent role flying for Uncle Sam in the Great War. The war to end all wars... Hear the story of New Hampshire One hundred years ago, the war to end all wars came to an end in Europe. residents who were members of the Join us in exploring how this conflict that played out on a world-wide 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division. stage affected the lives of those in our region who fought overseas and Described by the Concord Monitor as the families who remained at home working to support them. having an “encyclopedic brain,” Byron Champlin is a former journalist and The Portsmouth Athenaeum 2018 program series shines a light on independent historian who is currently World War I soldiers from New Hampshire and the East Coast, the writing a book exploring Concord as a homes of war ship builders in Portsmouth, and the women who manned microcosm of the American Experience the factories to keep our country productive during this turbulent time. in the First World War. In 2015, he was honored by the New Hampshire Each program begins at 7 p.m. in the Research Library of the Humanities Council for his work with Portsmouth Athenaeum at 9 Market Square (unless otherwise several regional organizations. noted). Reservations for each program are required as seating is limited; please call (603) 431-2538, Ext. 2. Attendance at programs is free MAY 16: In Over There: The Yankee for Athenaeum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends. Guests and Division and the Ground War in Europe, members of the public are welcome to attend the entire series by 1917-1918, HUGH DUBRULLE becoming a Friend of the Athenaeum for as little as $25 per year, tells how the 26th Infantry Division payable at the door. Admission to an individual program is $10. was assembled using National Guard The 2018 Program Series is sponsored by UBS Financial Services of units from every New England state. Portsmouth. This so-called “Yankee Division” was the first American infantry division MARCH 21: RICHARD CANDEE and New England Studies at to be transported to France as a presents Atlantic Heights, Portsmouth’s Boston University. He has served complete unit, and it spent more time 1918 War Village. At the beginning of as an architectural historian at Old on the Western front than any other World War I, the federal government Sturbridge Village for a regional survey American infantry division but one. authorized the establishment of of New England textile mills and as a Learn of the recruitment, training, and shipyards to construct freighters. Trustee and officer of the Portsmouth combat experience of this unit with a One such company was the Atlantic Historical Society. Dr. Candee has special emphasis on the 103rd Infantry Corporation of Portsmouth. been awarded Life Time Achievement Regiment, which included New Awards by both Massachusetts and After building 10 ships, the corporation Hampshire National Guardsmen. New Hampshire for his service in went out of business but the unusual Dr. Hugh Dubrulle is a professor in architectural preservation. housing development constructed for the Department of History at Saint the workers remains. Architect Walter Anselm College, with particular interests APRIL 18: BYRON CHAMPLIN Kilham designed what has been called in military history, the British view of examines Flying for America: Granite the finest industrial community of the era. the Civil War and modern European State Airmen and the War in the Air. history. His book, A War of Wonders: A Proprietor of the Portsmouth Entering the First World War woefully How Britons Imagined the American Athenaeum, Richard M. Candee underprepared to fight in an air war, Civil War is being published in 2018. is Professor Emeritus of American the United States rapidly expanded its continued on page 6

5 continued from page 5 World War I.....

SEPTEMBER 19: L'MERCHIE shape the work that their more famous War I ended in Europe. The poetry FRAZIER presents The Harlem daughters would do in the next World written during or shortly after this war Hellfighters: Powered Differently. The War. Carrie Brown is an independent expresses a wide range of emotions and contributions of the 369th Infantry scholar who holds a doctorate in helps us to gain a deeper understanding Regiment of African American American Literature and Folklore of the personal impact of that conflict. Soldiers that served in World War I, from the University of Virginia. She Join us to explore the thoughts and along with their courage, commitment works as a freelance history curator feelings of those dramatically affected and efforts, will be juxtaposed to their for museums in New England and by the “war to end all wars.” Douglas experience as black soldiers during is the author of two books and many Aykroyd is a 1969 graduate of the the period of Jim Crow segregation. articles and exhibit catalogs. Dr. Brown United States Military Academy. With that lens, the dynamics of their delights in finding connections between Many of his 23 years of service in power relationships internationally, changing technology and the evolution the Army were spent in Europe nationally and in their community will of popular culture. where, as a military historian, he had be explored to better understand the opportunities to visit the battlefields impact of their service and its reflection NOVEMBER 11: At 4 p.m., and cemeteries of WWI. He serves on contemporary society. L’Merchie DOUGLAS AYKROYD leads the as the Secretary of the Portsmouth Frazier has served as Director of program, Poetry of the Great War. One Athenaeum Board of Directors and Education and Interpretation for the hundred years ago, on the 11th day has initiated several historical projects Museum of African American History of the 11th month of 1918, World as a local Scoutmaster. for 15 years. She is adjunct faculty in Massachusetts at Pine Manor College A talk by Richard M. Candee and Bunker Hill Community College. entitled "Atlantic Heights, Portsmouth’s A fiber artist and holographer, she 1918 War Village" will be given on March 21, 2018 as part of has served the artistic community for the Athenaeum's Program Series. over 20 years as an award-winning This auction flyer for the sale of national and international visual and the homes in Atlantic Heights in performance artist and poet, and was 1925 was published by the U.S. Shipping Board and is in the recently chosen as resident City of Athenaeum Ephemera Collection. Boston, AIR artist.

OCTOBER 17: CARRIE BROWN discusses Rosie's Mom: Forgotten Women of the First World War. A full generation before Rosie the Riveter, American women rolled up their sleeves and entered war industries where they had never been welcome before. They ran powerful machinery, learned new SAVE THE DATE & PARTICIPATE • December 2, 2017 skills, and faced the sullen hostility of Spread some Athenaeum cheer! Looking for volunteers to create, donate, and/or the men in the shops. Discover their walk in the Athenaeum's walking unit for the annual Portsmouth Holiday parade. courage and hard work and the impact This year's theme is "Peace on Earth," and there will also be a food drive. First "the Great War" had on their lives. meeting is October 26 at 4:15 p.m. in the Research Library. For more information, Explore how these women helped contact James, [email protected] or (603) 431-2538.

6 continued from page 1 Pair of Exhibits...

These Portsmouth Herald images show front and back views of the Dec. 23, 1981 Foye Building collapse during a basement renovation. The subsequent rebuilding created the expanded space the Portsmouth Athenaeum occupies today. reopening of the newly expanded nearly 28,000 historic images, as well as a look back at highlights from the 72 Athenaeum," Candee said. "By 1985 broadsides and ephemera. exhibits that have been presented in we suddenly had all this space and the Randall Gallery since its inception a new purpose, to reach out to the "The exhibit features a slideshow of 22 years ago. There will be a sampling community to provide a safe repository about 40 historic images, a minuscule from many of the favorites, including for manuscripts, paintings, prints and sampling of all the prints, daguerreotypes, paintings, portraits, posters, photographs ephemera." cabinet cards, glass-plate negatives, and other artifacts. Most of the material stereocards, Polaroids and slides from will be drawn from the Athenaeum’s Candee and Athenaeum Proprietor the ever-expanding collection that is collection, with a few items on loan. Deborah M. Child as well as Photo- available online," Smith said. graphic Collections Manager James "The breadth of topics covered in exhibits Smith selected a cornucopia of objects A Show of Shows over the years is impressive, and we for the exhibit—from the original For the final exhibit of the Athenaeum’s hope that members will enjoy this look manuscript of Isles of Shoals poet Bicentennial Year, the Arts Atheaneum back at some of the highlights," said Joan Celia Thaxter'sSandpiper and her Committee has planned a change from Graf, who is co-curating the exhibit painted pottery to 1960s Theatre-by-the- our usual Proprietors’ Show. Opening with Proprietor Barbara Adams. "A Sea posters, the Smuttynose Island murder on December 1 at 5 p.m., this special Show of Shows" will close at the end of ax and a sampling of the Athenaeum's exhibit, “A Show of Shows,” will offer February 2018.

7 FROM THE one-third of the Proprietors have so special. So find something that SECRETARY’S DESK picked up their copies. In an effort interests you and find out how Douglas Aykroyd to get more copies into the hands you can help. Both you and the oakscouter@ comcast.net of Proprietors, we will mail copies Athenaeum will be better off for anywhere in the States via media your involvement. Building Restrictions. Our current mail for $7. Make sure we have fire code occupancy restrictions your correct mailing address. We ATHENAEUM AND PSO have had little impact on our daily will include your personalized book BICENTENNIAL CONCERT use of the Athenaeum’s facilities. plate. Please note that as Subscribers Still, for lectures, concerts, and become Proprietors, they will be given In collaboration with the Athenaeum, other programs, we have had to a copy of the book as well. the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra more closely manage attendance. It will hold a concert at The Music Hall is frustrating to have to turn away Athenaeum Tote Bags. I know that in Portsmouth at 3 p.m. on Sunday, someone without a reservation, many of you purchased a handsome November 5. The program includes only to find that someone with a forest green tote bag featuring the the orchestral version of Maurice reservation fails to show up, leaving image of our front doors drawn Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite," and an empty chair. Please let us know by Colonel Henry B. Margeson. “A Kennedy Portrait” which honors at the earliest possible time if your I know this because they sold out. President John F. Kennedy, born plans have changed and you no They were re-ordered and when a century ago this year. Jerome longer need your reserved seat. By the new bags arrived, we found that Meadows, the artist and sculptor the same token, please let us know they have a sturdy zipper at the top. who designed Portsmouth’s African that you need to reserve a seat as When I asked about the change Burying Ground Memorial Park, soon as possible. I found that our supplier did not will deliver the narration. At the have the un-zippered bags on hand close of intermission, Dr. William Annual Meeting. We will again and gave us the more expensive bags Wieting, chairman of the Athenaeum face our building restrictions as at no extra cost. We are passing the Performance Committee, will present we manage the annual meeting savings on to you! So buy a zippered the Portsmouth Athenaeum Prize on January 28. We are looking Athenaeum tote for yourself or for in the Humanities to a Portsmouth for an alternative location for the friends for the amazing low price of High School student. The concert meeting which will permit and $20. will resume with Samuel Barber’s promote participation by as many “Second Essay” and conclude with Proprietors as possible. As is our Volunteers. At our last new Claude Debussy’s “La Mer." tradition, the meeting will be members’ tea, I was asked how followed by a reception to welcome to get the most out of belonging Tickets–$25 for adults, $22 for our new officers and directors. to the Athenaeum. Using the seniors and $12 for students–can be library, attending programs, and obtained through the PSO website Portsmouth Athenaeum: The Story just spending time in the building or directly from an orchestra member, of a Collection Through the Eyes talking to friends are a great start. and also in person or by mail from The of Its Proprietors. We released our Becoming part of one of the Music Hall box office at 28 Chestnut bicentennial book on the 21st of committees provides a sense of St., Portsmouth 03801. For a $5 fee, June, and by all accounts it has been belonging to the Athenaeum like tickets can be ordered from the box well-received. We have even received nothing else can. Knowing that office online at www.themusichall. requests to purchase extra copies for you are helping to make the library org/purchase or by telephone at (603) family members. The cost of extra work better or taking care of our 436-2400. Seating for the concert is copies for Proprietors, Subscribers, building or collections makes you a general admission. and Friends is $50. As of now about part of what makes the Athenaeum

8 Events at the Portsmouth Athenæum OCTOBER 2017 – JANUARY 2018

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Reservations are requested since space is limited. Please call 603-431-2538x2 at least 48 hours in advance. For more current listings, check www.portsmouthathenaeum.org.

OCTOBER 19, THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 30, THURSDAY: Mike Dater will give an author's talk and book-signing John M. Lewis will speak about New Hampshire public for his new book, Mr. Obama Goes to Washington; And school funding in the context of the Claremont litigation Then What Happened, Mommy?, 5:30 p.m. in the Reading and like cases around the country. Room. This talk will deal with New Hampshire's struggle to OCTOBER 22, SUNDAY: provide sufficient funding to its public schools. It will focus Membership Libraries Group annual meeting. on the Claremont litigation which recognized the State's obligation under its own State Constitution to both NOVEMBER 3, FRIDAY: provide and fund an adequate education. It will also The Randall Gallery will be open for Art Round Town, consider how other States have dealt with the funding 5-8 p.m. challenge and the role the State Courts have played in assuring a positive constitutional right to an adequate NOVEMBER 5, SUNDAY: education, 7 p.m. in the Reading Room. In collaboration with the Athenaeum, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert at The Music DECEMBER 1, FRIDAY: Hall in Portsmouth at 3 p.m. “Your Show of Shows,” celebrating 22 years of exhibitions in the Randall Gallery opens, 5 p.m. in the Randall Gallery. Tickets—$25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $12 for students—can be obtained through the PSO website or DECEMBER 3, SUNDAY: directly from an orchestra member, and also in person or Athenaeum Holiday Gala, invitations forthcoming. by mail from The Music Hall box office at 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth 03801. DECEMBER 7, THURSDAY: Professor Thomas Carnicelli returns with more history NOVEMBER 11, SATURDAY: of the English tongue. He will speak on “Old English, the The exhibit "Treasures at the Athenaeum Part IV" closes. Language of Beowulf,” 5:30 p.m. in the Reading Room.

NOVEMBER 15, WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 11, MONDAY: Athenaeum Keeper Tom Hardiman presents, "Crowd- Holiday concert with Great Bay Sailor, 7 p.m. in the sourced Treasures: Selections from the Athenaeum's Reading Room. Collections," 7 p.m. in the Research Library. Free to Athenaeum members, $10 general admission. JANUARY 21, SUNDAY: Author Kristin Goodwillie will talk about her new The "Secrets & Treasures: 200 Years at the Portsmouth memoir, Kristin's Journey, 3 p.m. in the Reading Room. Athenaeum" lecture series is sponsored by UBS Financial Services of Portsmouth. The Athenaeum's collections are JANUARY 28, SUNDAY: largely the creation of its Proprietors and other civic-minded 199th Annual Meeting of the Proprietors of the Portsmouth locals, who for 200 years have donated books, papers, art Athenaeum, time and location to be announced. and artifacts they deemed of cultural, scientific and historical importance. Through stories of the history, ownership and JANUARY TBD: gifting of selected Athenaeum treasures, Proprietor Tom Thursday Memorial Concert honoring Proprietors who Hardiman will show how this unique collection reflects have passed in 2017. the shifting intellectual interests of Portsmouth residents over two centuries.

9 the portsmouth athenæum Non-profit Organization 9 market square US Postage Paid p.o. box 848 Permit No. 51 portsmouth, n.h. 03802 Portsmouth, NH 03801 Return service requested

Officers & Directors president: Karen Bouffard vice-president: Stephen H. Roberts treasurer: William Purinton secretary: Douglas Aykroyd past president: John R. Shaw Ronda Baker Hill David A. Borden Edward Caylor Janet Dinan Ellen Fineberg Sally Gayer Jeffrey Hopper Sandra Rux William F. Wieting Staff: keeper: Tom Hardiman librarian: Robin Silva archivist: Susan Kindstedt office manager: Patty Kosowicz photographic collections manager: James Smith research librarian: Carolyn Marvin

A User's Guide to the Athenaeum's Redesigned Website robin silva Athenaeum Librarian www.portsmouthathenaeum.org

To celebrate our Bicentennial, the representing manuscripts, objects, “Shoe Makers Ball” hosted by the Portsmouth Athenaeum has redesigned books and photographs. See pho- Portsmouth Shoe Co. and improved our website to be more tographs of paintings and furniture colorful and interactive. This includes throughout our Market Square A popular feature is the “Random Images” a more informative calendar of per- building, and even the presumed ax button that displays a full page of images formances, exhibits and events, a full used to commit the Smuttynose selected from the collection. You can lose page on membership, and a direct murders on the Isles of Shoals. yourself in viewing photographs from link to our catalog. over 150 years of Portsmouth history, View manuscripts from the 17th such as the family photos from the North One of the first online historic catalogs century to the 20th century, including End Collection. Or search for photos in the region, our catalog has been letters from the Frank Jones and of your street from as long ago as the online since 2006. It is now even Eldredge Brewing companies lamenting 1850s. more fun and informative to explore the detrimental effects of Prohibition the Athenaeum’s vaults. on local businesses. You will also find Many thanks to Proprietor Evelyn a rare 1805 Portsmouth imprint of Lamprey who designed the original Click on “Search Catalog” to search an illustrated children’s book and a website as well as this redesign and our database of over 62,000 items 19th-century dance card from the to the N.H. Charitable Foundation.