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"What Hawthorne Read" is the featured exhibit in the third-floor Randall Gallery.

The 2018 Program Series: “Remembering the Great War, Home and Abroad” continues as Byron Champlin examines “Flying for America: Granite State Airmen and the War in the Air.” Entering the First World War woefully underprepared to fight in an air war, the United States rapidly expanded its Air Service to meet the challenge. Men from the small city of Concord, New Hampshire played a surprisingly prominent role flying for Uncle Sam in the Great War. Hear the story of New Hampshire residents who were members of the 26th Infantry“Yankee” Division.

Described by the Concord Monitor as having an “encyclopedic brain,” Byron Champlin is a former journalist and independent historian who is currently writing a book exploring Concord, NH as a microcosm of the American Experience in the First World War. In 2015, he was honored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council for his work with several regional organizations. 7:00pm in the Research Library of the Portsmouth Athenaeum at 9 Market Square in Portsmouth, NH (unless otherwise noted.) Reservations for each program are required  as seating is limited; please call (603) 431-2538, Ext. 2.Attendance at programs is free for Athenaeum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends. Guests and members of the public are welcome to attend the entire series by becoming a Friend of the Athenaeum for as little as $25 per year,payable at the door. Admission to an individual program is $10.