Photographs
The Athenaeum’s Photographic Collection contains over 30,000 historic images that date from the 1850s through today. These images include prints, daguerreotypes, cabinet cards, glass-plate negatives, stereocards, Polaroids, and slides. Each of these images tells a story of Portsmouth and its environs, people, and culture. Popular subjects include the Isles of Shoals, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the 1905 Portsmouth Peace Treaty, Market Square, the North End, Wentworth-By-The-Sea and the Memorial Bridge. In addition to the Athenaeum’s collection, there are deposit collections such as the South Church, North Church, Star Island Corporation, and the Portsmouth Historical Society. Most of these images have been digitized and are found in our online search catalog.
As part of the archives, the photograph collection is stored in a climate-controlled vault.
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.
Research Assistance
Research assistance conducted by staff is free of charge for the first 15 minutes. Additional time is charged at $35 per hour. The research fee is in addition to any reproduction fees.
Please note, on-site research requests take precedence, and remote requests (via e-mail or phone) will be handled as time and staffing allow.
Photocopies
- Athenaeum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends: $.10 per page
- All others $.25 per page
Display: lecture, presentation, performance, exhibit, signs, etc.
- Proprietors, Subscribers & Non-Profits: First image, gratis Up to 5 Images: $20 Additional, $5 each
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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
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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
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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
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Personal use (researchers, individuals, etc.): $10 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 15 minutes are free, after which our standard fee of $35/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.
Building and Interior: Video and Still Photography Policy
Arrangements must be made in advance for the photographing of the Athenaeum’s interior spaces and collections. Consideration for staff time and normal use of library is essential. There may be a fee for this service.
Do you have North End images that you would like to digitally preserve? Please contact James.
PPL North End Collection
Click the image to visit the North End House History digitized collection at the Portsmouth Public Library (PPL). This collection includes the photographs and appraisal reports of approximately 176 inhabited homes in the North End neighborhood from the Vaughan Street Urban Renewal Project, c. 1967. Nearly all of these homes were demolished.