The Athenæum is a non-profit member-supported organization, established in 1816 and incorporated the following year with “the purpose of promoting learning and diffusing useful knowledge.” For nearly two centuries, the Athenæum has made its resources available to scholars, genealogical researchers, and curious browsers in pursuit of knowledge. In recent years, the Athenæum has greatly expanded its public outreach. In 1986, the Joseph P. Copley Research Library (now Shaw Research Library) opened, providing regular public hours and professional staff to maintain and make available the library’s superb collections. In 1996, the Sawtelle family generously offered a space for insightful and engaging exhibitions on regional subjects. Named in honor of Sawtelle’s friend Peter Randall, the Randall Gallery holds exhibitions open to the public at no charge.

Friends of the Athenæum help support our efforts to benefit the community, providing outstanding exhibits on regional subjects, holding provocative lectures and educational programs, and maintaining public access to the Athenæum’s vast collection of books, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, and artifacts, to encourage research on scholarship in subjects of regional interest.

Benefits of becoming a Friend of the Athenæum starting at $25 per year include the following:

♦ Subscription to the Athenæum’s triannual newsletter, with up-to-date information on events and activities, as well as our weekly email of upcoming events, recent acquisitions, and spotlights on local history.

♦ Free admission for one person to the lecture series

♦ Advance notice of lectures and programs

♦ Invitation to exhibit openings in the Randall Gallery

Your contribution is tax-deductible, and your support is greatly appreciated!

Complete the two-step membership process below.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Please fill out the Friend of the Athenaeum online form and then choose your payment option.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make the check payable to the Portsmouth Athenæum and mail to the following address:

PORTSMOUTH ATHENAEUM
P.O. BOX 366
PORTSMOUTH, NH
03802