Douglas Armsden Photograph Project
Douglas Armsden in his studio at 240 Whipple Road, Kittery, Maine, c. 1940s.
Between 2018 & 2021, the Athenaeum received the photograph collection of prolific photographer Douglas J. Armsden (1918-2009). Born in England and raised in upstate New York, Armsden and his family settled in Kittery Point, Maine. Armsden’s work captured the essence of the mid-20th century Seacoast region of New England and beyond. His work included wedding photography, family portraits, early documentation of historic houses, commercial and scenic images of Maine and New Hampshire, and editorial work for local newspapers and magazines such as New Hampshire Profile and Down East.
This collection also includes Armsden’s years of service in World War II documenting the Pacific Theater, and his daily life with his wife, Alice Decatur, and their three daughters as well as family and friends in their “little piece of heaven” along Fernald Cove in Kittery Point.
The photographic images in the collection include print photographs, color transparencies, 35 mm film, and both medium- and large-format negatives.
When cataloged, this single collection will double the Athenaeum’s entire photographic collection!
In 2018, the archival supplies for the collection were estimated to cost over $6,500. We received generous donations from members of the Athenaeum, the local community, and Seacoast businesses. In 2019, we were awarded a $1,500 grant from the Rosamond Thaxter Foundation, and on Sept. 8, 2020, the Athenaeum held a Bake Benefit at the Portsmouth Flatbread Company. For every pizza sold between 5 and 9 p.m., a portion of the proceeds went towards purchasing archival supplies. Combining all of these efforts, the Athenaeum raised the necessary funds needed to preserve the initial Armsden donation. Thank you!
While we met our goals for the 2018-2019 material, subsequent Armsden material was donated in late 2020 and 2021. We need an additional $2,500 for archival supplies.
If you would like to contribute to preserving this collection, click on the “Armsden Donate” button to go to PayPal. Remember, you don’t have to be a PayPal member to use PayPal. You can donate as a guest.
If you would prefer to pay by check, please make it out to to the Portsmouth Athenaeum with “Armsden” in the memo line and mail it to “Portsmouth Athenaeum, P.O. Box 366, Portsmouth, NH 03802.”
Thank you for your support!
Preserve Local History
Does Armsden Sound Familiar?
You may have come across Armsden’s photographs already in our collection. During his lifetime, Armsden donated a collection of negatives (P15 Armsden Photograph Collection). These invaluable historic images depict mid-20th century Portsmouth and other Seacoast locales. While there are duplicates in both collections, the images in P15 are an example of what the new complete Armsden collection will offer.
The existing P15 collection will also be reprocessed. Click here to view the P15 collection.
ARMSDEN PROJECT IN THE NEWS
FEATURED IMAGES BY ARMSDEN
![For #nationallobsterday🦞 we are traveling back to 1953 and walking down to Dan LaCava & Sons wholesale fish and lobster pound off Mechanic Street in the South End.
The photographs were taken by local commercial photographer Douglas Armsden (1918-2009) as part of the featured article "Winter Lobstermen" in New Hampshire Profiles, February 1953.
Seated in front of the business is owner Dan LaCava, left, with fisherman Louis Pento.
Born in Italy, Daniel LaCava (1893-1971) was described by Profiles as "one of the finest lobstermen on the coastline." His wholesale business supplied lobsters to hotels and restaurants all along the east coast, and his lobster pound served as headquarters for individual fishermen by supplying them with bait, gear, and gasoline.
Dan and his wife, Grace Galvagno, raised their family on Mechanic Street. According to Profiles, son Sam "learned the trade from his father, Dan— learned it well enough, incidentally, to retire from active fishing in his early thirties and buy out the wholesale firm of Dan LaCava & Sons."
Many of the photos here feature Louis F. Pento (1924-2002), a mid-twenties, father of three who was described as "a big man, his hands toughened to a mitten of callouses from constant contact with ropes." The son of Italian immigrants, Louis grew up in the Puddle Dock neighborhood (now mostly @strawberybankemuseum). Later in life, he owned the North End Lobster Pool, the China Sea Lounge, and the Starlight Club, formerly the Italian-American Club, on State Street.
[Armsden Photograph Collection, P15.512]
As you may know, in the last few years, we have received an additional 25,000 to 30,000 images by Douglas Armsden. While we have previously processed Armsden images (P15) in this Profiles article, there are more found in this new collection. We still need to purchase archival supplies for preserving this new, expansive collection. On our website, you can learn more about the Douglas Armsden Photograph Project and donate. Link in bio.😊🙏
#lobsters #southend #italianamerican🇮🇹 #lacavaandsons #danlacava #louispento #DouglasArmsden #collectpreserveshare📖
#localhistory #PortsmouthNH
#nh #Maine #seacoast❤](https://i0.wp.com/portsmouthathenaeum.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1)
For #nationallobsterday🦞 we are traveling back to 1953 and walking down to Dan LaCava & Sons wholesale fish and lobster pound off Mechanic Street in the South End.
The photographs were taken by local commercial photographer Douglas Armsden (1918-2009) as part of the featured article "Winter Lobstermen" in New Hampshire Profiles, February 1953.
Seated in front of the business is owner Dan LaCava, left, with fisherman Louis Pento.
Born in Italy, Daniel LaCava (1893-1971) was described by Profiles as "one of the finest lobstermen on the coastline." His wholesale business supplied lobsters to hotels and restaurants all along the east coast, and his lobster pound served as headquarters for individual fishermen by supplying them with bait, gear, and gasoline.
Dan and his wife, Grace Galvagno, raised their family on Mechanic Street. According to Profiles, son Sam "learned the trade from his father, Dan— learned it well enough, incidentally, to retire from active fishing in his early thirties and buy out the wholesale firm of Dan LaCava & Sons."
Many of the photos here feature Louis F. Pento (1924-2002), a mid-twenties, father of three who was described as "a big man, his hands toughened to a mitten of callouses from constant contact with ropes." The son of Italian immigrants, Louis grew up in the Puddle Dock neighborhood (now mostly @strawberybankemuseum). Later in life, he owned the North End Lobster Pool, the China Sea Lounge, and the Starlight Club, formerly the Italian-American Club, on State Street.
[Armsden Photograph Collection, P15.512]
As you may know, in the last few years, we have received an additional 25,000 to 30,000 images by Douglas Armsden. While we have previously processed Armsden images (P15) in this Profiles article, there are more found in this new collection. We still need to purchase archival supplies for preserving this new, expansive collection. On our website, you can learn more about the Douglas Armsden Photograph Project and donate. Link in bio.😊🙏
#lobsters #southend #italianamerican🇮🇹 #lacavaandsons #danlacava #louispento #DouglasArmsden #collectpreserveshare📖
#localhistory #PortsmouthNH
#nh #Maine #seacoast❤
We are phoning it in for #throwbackthursday to Market Square in April 1956.☎️
A banner hangs across Market Square as part of a massive marketing campaign by New England Telephone and Telegraph Company alerting Seacoast residents to a major phone system change to DIAL calling. No more "hold, please while we connect you" operator assistance for most local calls. Just "Dial 2 letters, 5 digits" with your rotary phone. Simple. Until you misdial on that rotary phone and have to start all over.😑 Everyone's phone number changed overnight on April 15, 1956.
Proprietor Sherry Wood writes about the big switch for the April "At the Athenaeum" @seacoastonline. We can connect you to Sherry's fabulous article on another line. 👉Link in bio.📞
2. An unidentified telephone repairman stands with Frank and Grace Reda of Holly Lane on Pleasant Street. [The couple was recently identified thanks to Sherry's article 🥰.]
3. One of several Portsmouth storefront windows announcing the change in 1956. For Portsmouth, you would dial GE (for Geneva) and then the number. In Kittery, you would dial first ID (for Idlewood) and Rye Beach was WO (for Woodlawn)...Rye Beach might have been the trickiest to dial. New England Telephone had a disclaimer warning customers to be careful not to mistake the letter "O" with number 0. But who else can relate and still d0es that from time t0 time?🙋♀️🙋♂️
4. & 5. Article and ad from New England Telephone in Portsmouth Herald announcing the change on April 14, 1956. Courtesy of newspaperarchive.com.
5. & 6. Ads from New England Telephone touting the convenience of multiple household lines (the stair graphic is a relatable 💎). Courtesy of newspaperarchive.com.
The three photographs are from the P15 Armsden Photograph Collection and were taken by commercial photographer Doug Armsden (1918-2009) of Kittery Point, Maine. [P15.536]
If you would like to donate to our current Armsden Photograph Project with materials given between 2018-2020, there is a link in bio.
#newenglandtelephoneandtelegraph #dial #rotary #2letters5digits #DouglasArmsden #portsmouthherald #collectpreserveshare📖
#localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast❤
Happy #nationallibraryweek!
This #throwbackthursday pic shows the Reading Room during the 1950s taken by commercial photographer Douglas J. Armsden (1918-2009) of Kittery Point, Maine. Did you know this room was used as a reading room even before the Athenaeum acquired the space in 1823? Original owner the New Hampshire Fire & Marine Insurance Company used this as their Reading Room starting in 1808, offering their subscribers the usage of newspapers and other periodicals.
[Armsden Photograph Collection, P15.019]
Membership libraries were first created in the 18th century for the mutual edification of their members and to elevate the educational resources available in the community. The name “Athenæum” was used by a number of societies established during the 19th century to describe institutions with broader aims than just a library. The term is derived from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, and the classical temple of the arts and sciences named to honor her.
While there were once hundreds of membership libraries across America, there are now fewer than twenty left, and we're one of them, right here in your Seacoast community!
The Portsmouth Athenaeum Research Library is open to the public and ready to help navigate your journey through local history. Search our online catalog or make an appointment for in-person research by phone 603-431-2538 or email info@portsmouthathenaeum.org.
Find more info on our website. Link in bio.
#readingroom #marketsquare #DouglasArmsden #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast❤
Thar be the weekend ahead of ye. 🐳🏴☠️
Ahoy. Um, d-d-did we do that right? No? Argh...or maybe at this point our pirate talk is more of an ugh, but we can't help ourselves when reading this postcard map for the indelible Yoken's Restaurant. #ArchivesYouAreHere
Produced in 1952 by the Georges & Hartford advertising agency, the postcard shows how all roads (and bellies) led to Yoken's on the corner of U.S. Route 1 (Lafayette Road) and Peverly Hill Road. And when you saw the iconic neon whale sign, who couldn't resist a salty sea captain impression of "Thar She Blows!"
[PC0310]
The "Good Things To Eat" restaurant was owned by Harry E. Yoken (1898-1972), the son of Russian immigrants, and as the postcard advertises this was "one of the finest eating establishments on the entire Atlantic Coast."
Built in 1947, the popular restaurant would later expand with a conference center becoming for generations along the Seacoast the site of countless business and social events, family gatherings and class reunions.
The establishment closed in 2004, and the sprawling building was demolished; however, the historic neon sign was saved, restored, and eventually re-introduced in 2015. Restoration was made possible by @newburyportbank and 4 Amigos LLC. The sign, now at Yoken's Common, once again serves as a Seacoast landmark for landlubbers and those salty sea captain impressionists.😏⚓
👋We've included a c. 1960s night shot of the sign by prolific commercial photographer Douglas Armsden (1918-2009) from the P15 Armsden collection [P15.246]. As you know, we are currently processing thousands of additional Armsden negatives donated by his daughters between 2017-2020. We are still in need of funds to properly archive this "treasure chest" of local history. If you'd like to donate, click the link in our bio.🌟
Here's luck 'n fair wind t' ye weekend!🍍
#yokens #tharsheblows #lafayetteroad #usroute1 #DouglasArmsden #ArchivesHashtagParty #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast❤
Traditionally, #BlackFriday is known for big crowds and long lines in search for holiday deals.
For #flashbackFriday we are going back nearly 60 years for the grand opening of a King's self-service department store in the Lafayette Plaza on Route 1 in Portsmouth, NH. The store opened on Wednesday, November 1, 1961, and reported that thousands had attended the opening. Judging by the photographs, we believe it!😲
With ample free parking onsite, there was also free bus service on the half hour from Market Square from Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ads in the Portsmouth Herald ran an opening sale where you could buy a Melmac 45 pc. dinner set from Westinghouse for $11, a Newport bath scale by Detecto for $2.51, and a Revere whistling tea kettle for $2.48.🍽️⚖️☕🎁
The photographs were taken by commercial photographer Douglas Armsden of Kittery Point, Maine. [Armsden Photograph Collection, P15.464.]
In the parking lot image, you can see Bowl-O-Rama in the distance (though cropped in this version). Today, the Lafayette Plaza is home to several businesses including Margaritas, Planet Fitness, Ethan Allen, and Harbor Freight Tools.
Whether online or in-store, we wish you all success and safety in your holiday purchases.
#kings👑 #lafayetteplaza #route1 #DouglasArmsden
#collectpreserveshare📖
#localhistory #portsmouthathenæum #nh #maine #seacoast❤️
Welcoming the season 🍂 ahead in style.💅💃🎩
This appears to be four generations of one family in historical fashions in the gardens of @moffattladd on Market Street, c. 1940s. The girl in the top hat is a whole vibe.🥰
This photographic print comes from the new Douglas Armsden photograph collection. Armsden (1918-2009) was a prolific commercial photographer from Kittery Point, Maine. Judging from a few other shots, we believe this was taken in the Moffatt-Ladd gardens. There is no identifying information on the back. As we work to process the 25,000+/- Armsden negatives, we will match up the prints (such as this one). This one just happened to catch our eye.👀 The original envelopes for the negatives often have more information...but not always. In time, we should find the answer unless you recognize the people.🕵️🕵️♀️
The Armsden collection was donated by Douglas Armsden's three daughters in the loving memory of their father.♥️
And tonight, please consider dining at @flatbreadportsmouth for our Armsden & Archives bake benefit (second photo). From 5 to 9 p.m., for every pizza sold, a portion of the proceeds will go towards the purchase of archival supplies for the Armsden collection. Dine in, carry out, or delivery--just bring your appetite for history! And no need to dress up, but we hear a top hat always completes an outfit.🍕🎩💫
#douglasarmsden #kitterypoint #moffattladd #fourgenerations #women♀️ #mothers #daughters #grandmothers #greatgrandmothers #marketstreet #fundraiser #flatbreadportsmouth #community #thankyou🙏 #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast♥️
#happyfriday🎶
Here's to the long weekend! While the bulk of material in the new Douglas Armsden (1918-2009) photograph collection appears to be commissioned work--Armsden's personality can still be found throughout the collection.
An example of this comes from these four negative proofs set to video. Armsden, of Kittery Point, Maine, referred to these as the 'Bridge of Life" series, and he used the four French suits found when playing bridge to take a humorous approach on the stages of life: in love (❤️), engaged (♦️), married (♣️), and dead (♠️).
On the reverse of these proofs, we find handwritten notes as Armsden planned to perfect each image such as a "little dodging will bring ring out." On the back of the "Spades" image, he wrote: Gotta reshoot this. (Watch on a gravedigger?)💀
Armsden cataloged these c.1940-images as "IM-28 Series of Hands" with no further information beyond the reverse of the proofs. As part of his cataloging system, the IM stood for "Ideal Miscellaneous." Not sure what the "ideal" exactly meant to Armsden, but with 25,000+/- images, we have time to figure it out.⏳
Whether the images were for personal use or perhaps a photography challenge--these experimental shots inject a little humor into the processing and offer us an opportunity to glimpse the man behind the lens.📷
We have been sharing various unprocessed images from the new Armsden collection leading up to Tuesday, Sept. 8th fundraiser @flatbreadportsmouth from 5 to 9 pm. Bring your appetite for history and pizza!🍕We hope you can make it. Thank you for your support!
Link in bio for more on the Armsden Photographic Project.
We hope you have an IDEAL long weekend! #happylaborday
Video: Photographic Collections Manager James Smith
Music: Ice Tea
Musician: Not The King. 👑
#douglasarmsden #photographer #photographcollection
#hands #bridgeplayer #funfriday
#kitterypoint #nonprofit #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast❤
Welcome to the weekend! We'll have what she's having!💃🕺
This feel-good image of an unidentified party reveler was captured during the 1951-reception of the Lorenz-Taylor wedding by prolific commercial photographer Douglas Armsden (1918-2009). #thisvibe🥰 #goals
Robert Lorenz (1930-2013) of Kittery, Maine, and Bernice "Bunny" Taylor (1932-2010) of Milford, NH, were married on Sept. 25, 1951 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Kittery. The wedding reception was then held at Robert's parents' house on nearby Laurel Avenue. You can see the happy couple in the next photo.☺️👰💒
Robert, a graduate of Traip Academy, was stationed in the US Air Force. Eventually, he and his wife, Bunny, and their five children would travel the world while he served his country. Settling in Florida, Robert and Bunny were married for nearly 60 years.♥️💍♥️
This is one of 25,000 images in the new Armsden collection, and we are sharing a range of these unprocessed images leading up to the fundraiser @flatbreadportsmouth on Sept. 8, 2020. It's getting closer ⁉️ #soexcited
From 5 to 9 p.m., a portion of the proceeds for each pizza sold will go towards purchasing archival supplies for these fantastic images. Plus, the delicious pizza could also make you dance!🍕😋
For more information on the Douglas Armsden photograph collection, link in bio.
#DouglasArmsden #lorenztaylorwedding #kitterymaine #laurelavenue #weddings #receptions #justdance #fridayfeels #fundraiser #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast♥️
Strike up the band! #happyfriday🎺🥁🎶
We are here in Market Square for the opening ceremonies of Portsmouth's Jubilee Week, August 1968. #flashbackfriday #52yearsago
This image comes from prolific commercial photographer Douglas Armsden (1918-2009), and we've used #pannify to get a little closer to the action with Moulton's coffee shop and Eberle's stationery store in the background. We've also included the original negative to capture the open pavement of Market Square as well as another view of the event.
According to the "Portsmouth Herald" on Saturday, August 3, 1968, Jubilee Week officially started with the opening ceremonies at 1 p.m. with the Coast Guard band concert to follow, documented here in Armsden's photograph. That year, the Coast Guard training ship "Eagle" was docked at Port Authority and opened for tours. Jubilee events also included a 10-mile road race, a Miss Universe-New Hampshire pageant, baseball games, junior sailboat race ⛵, antique auto parade, #CoastGuard search and rescue demonstration, a firemen's muster, a "water thrill" show, softball, horseshoe pitching, banjo sing-a-long🪕, clambake, and concerts. And that was just the weekend!!🤯 #thatsalot
Festivities happened every day of the week based off the day's theme. Monday was Marine Corps Day followed by Colonial Portsmouth Tuesday, Army Wednesday, Downtown Merchant Thursday, a food day Friday, and Air Force Saturday. Jubilee Week concluded with a dance at the Wentworth-by-the-Sea.💃🕺
These Armsden images come from an additional 5,000 negatives recently donated to the collection. The unprocessed Armsden collection now is estimated to be about 25,000+ images, essentially half the total of the current photographic collection. [Where did the mind-blown emoji go?😉] Don't forget our Bake Benefit at @flatbreadportsmouth on Sept. 8, 2020. For every pizza sold, a portion of the proceeds will go towards the Athenaeum's Armsden fundraising project. For more information, check our bio.🍕
#marketsquare #JubileeWeek #1968 #moultons #eberles #DouglasArmsden #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #PortsmouthNH #nh #maine #seacoast❤