Manuscripts
The Athenaeum collects, preserves, and makes available photographs and manuscripts related to the history of the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire. The archives contain over 100 large manuscript collections, nearly 1500 single items and small collection manuscripts, and nearly 28,000 photographic images.
The collections include papers of many notable Portsmouth men including John Langdon, Governor of New Hampshire and member of the Continental Congress; Tobias Ham Miller, nineteenth century publisher and Congregationalist turned Universalist minister; William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence; and John Sise, nineteenth century merchant and insurance agent.
Collections of family papers include diaries, correspondence, and personal papers that highlight the lives of both men and women in Portsmouth. Among others, the Athenaeum has papers for the Pepperrell, Coues, Hill, Ladd, Parrott, Spalding, Wendell, and Treadwell families.
For scholars of women’s history, the papers of the Portsmouth Female Asylum, the Bridget Graffort Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution offer a glimpse into the lives of women through organizational involvement.
Collections related to Portsmouth businesses and private organizations can also be found at the Athenaeum including records for Green’s Drug Store, the Portsmouth Yacht Club, the New Castle Bridge Association, and the Mechanic Fire Society.
The Athenaeum is the deposit location for the records and papers of many of Portsmouth’s churches including the North Church, South Church, St. John’s Church, Temple Israel, and Central Baptist Church. Numerous historic houses and organizations have also placed their records and collections on deposit at the Athenaeum including the Portsmouth Historical Society, the Warner House Association, the Wentworth-Gardner Association and the Moffatt Ladd House.
Of particular interest to many researchers is the Athenaeum’s collection of materials related to the Isles of Shoals including materials related to Celia Thaxter. The Athenaeum owns the photograph collection of Lyman Rutledge and is the deposit location for the papers and photographs of the Star Island Corporation.
Alphabetical list of Finding Aids
Allied Theater Company Account Books (MS077)
Badger Farms Creameries (MS090)
Blue Strawbery Restaurant Scrapbook Collection (MS076)
Central Baptist Church (MS020)
Daughters of the American Revolution, Ranger Chapt (MS038)
Dondero-Foley Family Papers (MS125)
Dudley Stoddard Collection (MS107)
Durant, Barbara Laighton Collection (MS104)
Family Service Association (MS013)
Federal Fire Society (MS112)
Frost, Joseph W P (MS095)
Gardner, William Insurance Policy Books (MS097)
Gilson, Josiah P. Diaries (MS083)
Harmony Grove and Sagamore Cemetery Records (MS105)
Harris, Mary A. Collection (MS065)
Haven Family Records (MS106)
Haven, George Wallis Diaries (MS073)
Haven, Nathaniel A. Papers (MS101)
Isles of Shoals US Coast Guard Station 14 (MS086)
Kendrick, Philip H. Collection(MS113)
Moffatt-Ladd House Collection (MS018)
Langdon, John, William Whipple and Elwyn Family (MS050)
Liberty Pole Association (MS085)
MacDonald-Leonard Collection (MS084)
MacPhaedris-Warner-Penhallow (MS003)
Marvin Peirce Collection (MS072)
National Society of Colonial Dames – NH (MS087)
New Castle Bridge and Piscataqua Bridge Corporations (MS075)
New Castle Bridge Association (MS024)
New Hampshire Fire and Marine Insurance Co. (MS002)
North Church (MS036)
Octagon Club Records (MS111)
Parrott-Spalding Family (MS079)
Parsons Family Papers (MS082)
Pepperrell Family Papers (MS093)
Pontine Movement Theatre (MS116)
Portsmouth Advocates (MS109)
Portsmouth College Women’s Club (MS115)
Portsmouth Customs House Office Records (MS016)
Portsmouth Female Asylum (MS057)
Portsmouth Fire Relief (MS071)
Portsmouth Historical Society Collection (MS022)
Portsmouth Historical Society Records (MS023)
Portsmouth Hospital Collection (MS066)
Portsmouth Housing Authority (MS080)
Portsmouth Journal Papers (MS068)
Portsmouth Lyceum Records (MS089)
Portsmouth Marine Society (MS026)
Portsmouth Medical Society (MS046)
Portsmouth Police Department Records (MS033)
Portsmouth Property Records (MS081)
Portsmouth Regional Visiting Nurses Association (MS021)
Portsmouth School Department (MS032)
Rockingham Association of Congregational Christian Churches and Ministers (MS052)
Rockingham County Court of Common Pleas (MS042)
Rollins, Ichabod (MS059)
Rowe, Jefferson C. Records (MS103)
Sea Crest Village Records (MS062)
Seacoast Science Center (MS098)
Shipyard Project (MS092)
Star Island Corporation Collection (MS100)
Strawberry Bank Grange (MS114)
Tredick and Brewster Family Papers (MS019)
Turner, Peter Papers (MS096)
United Spanish War Veterans Winfield Scott Schley (MS040)
Warner Conner Family Collection (MS110)
Warner House Association (MS031)
Wendell, Andrew Peterson (MS070)
Wendell Family Correspondence (MS088)
Wentworth, Hugh Hall and Joshua Wentworth (Larkin) (MS010)
Wentworth-Gardner Association (MS043)
Wentworth Hotel – Harley Collection (MS102)
Wilson, Thomas C. Papers (MS035)
Woodbury, Charles Levi (MS014)
Woodbury Family Papers (MS094)
Fee Schedule
As a private, non-profit library the Portsmouth Athenaeum relies on the financial support of our membership, as well as those who utilize our collection. The fees assessed for photograph reproduction and use fund the administration, care, preservation, and processing of the photographs in our collection. A great deal of staff time and supplies are required for our collections to be made accessible for research and preserved for future generations.
Photocopies
Athenaeum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends: $.10 per page
All others $.25 per page
IMAGE USE FEES
Display: lecture, presentation, performance, exhibit, signs, etc.
Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: First image, gratis Up to 5 Images: $20 Additional, $5 each
Personal use (researchers, individuals, etc.): $10 per image
Commercial: $25 per image
Advertising & Non-Editorial Use: Unbound materials, postcards, posters, brochures, calendars, etc.
Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: First image $10, Additional $5 each
Personal or Commercial Use: First image $25, Additional $10 each
Commercial: $25 per image
Print media for sale: books (per print run), periodicals, clothing, calendars, CD, DVD, etc.
Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: Up to 5 images $20, Additional $5 each
Commercial: First image $25 per image, $100 Cover use
Website: 75 dpi only includes watermark and link to www.portsmouthathenaeum.org
Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: $10 per image, per year
Personal use (researchers, individuals, etc.): $10 per image, per year
Commercial: $100 per image, per year
Film / Video Broadcast TV program, commercial studio release, news magazine, YouTube, etc. Inquire about World Rights
Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: $5 per image
Personal or Commercial use: please inquire
Additional Fees: CD Rescanning or new scan
$2 per item/page
Payment is by check or cash only. If additional research is required, the first 1⁄2 hour is free, after which our standard fee of $30/hr. will be assessed.
Gifts of Research Material
The Athenæum is appreciative of donations of historic photographs, personal papers, business and organizational records, ephemera, maps, works of art, and books relating to the Piscataqua region. All contributions and gifts are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Deposits of records from other non-profit organizations, to provide proper care and public access for research, will be considered.