Portsmouth Athenaeum | Portsmouth Athenaeum

Wentworth Cheswill Documents

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jul 21, 2020 | Announcements, Manuscripts

By Archivist Susan Kindstedt The Athenaeum has two documents signed by Wentworth Cheswill (or Cheswell), a biracial Revolutionary War veteran born in Newmarket, NH, in 1746. Wentworth Cheswill was the son of Hopestill Cheswill and his wife, Katherine Kennison....

Tales from the Stacks: A Swift Deaccession

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 25, 2020 | Announcements, Library, Manuscripts

In the midst of re-numbering the entire library catalog, Librarian Robin Silva has uncovered some interesting history. In October 1907, a book had been discovered in the Athenaeum’s stock room, left there anonymously. Published in 1905, the book was The...

Researching Black History in the North Church

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 16, 2020 | Announcements, Manuscripts

By Archivist Susan Kindstedt No collection at the Athenaeum provides the names of more individuals of African descent living in Portsmouth than the MS036 North Church Papers, 1640-1970 collection. Although the papers include the names of individuals, the...

The Portsmouth Bath House

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 11, 2020 | Announcements, Photographs

By Photographic Collections Manager James Smith Pictured here is the relic of the former Portsmouth Bath House in the North End, as identified in this c. 1898 photo album. [Small photograph collection, PS855] In the summer of 1804, the Portsmouth Bath House...