Citation: Nancy Beck Papers, MS147, Portsmouth Athenaeum
Size: 2.5 linear feet
Access: No Restrictions
Processed by: Roland Goodbody in 2023
Related: Theatre by the Sea, MS056; Portsmouth Athenaeum Photo Collection, PS3477-PS3491
Scope and Content
The Nancy Reynolds Beck collection includes a small amount of personal papers pertaining to her school days at Dana Hall School, Wellesley MA and Mount Holyoke College, her marriage to Dr. Peter Beck, and personal and family correspondence, and a larger amount of material documenting her long association with a number of Portsmouth organizations, the most prominent of which were Strawbery Banke Museum and Theatre by the Sea. Other organizations she was associated with were the Portsmouth Historical Society, Portsmouth Preservation, Inc.., Portsmouth Hospital Guild and the Portsmouth Public Library.
Also in the collection are materials related to Dr. Peter Beck, Nancy Beck’s husband of fifty-seven years, including over two hundred letters, mostly in German, between Beck family members, the majority either from his father to his mother or from aunts and uncles.
Note: The Theatre by the Sea material originally included in this collection has been removed and incorporated into the existing Theatre by the Sea collection (MS 056), whose contents were similarly donated to the Athenaeum by Nancy Beck.
Biographical Note
Nancy Eleanor Reynolds Beck was born in Wellesley Hills, MA in 1927 and died in Portsmouth in 2019. She attended Mount Holyoke College and Radcliffe / Harvard Graduate School. She married Dr. Peter Beck of Portsmouth in July 1959 in Wellesley MA and was managing editor at Atlantic Monthly in Boston until 1969. The couple lived at 43 Austin Street in Portsmouth until their respective deaths in 2016 and 2019.
Nancy Beck was a philanthropist and a longtime board member for many civic and cultural organizations in Portsmouth, most notably Theatre by the Sea (serving as its president), Strawbery Banke Museum (twice as president of the board ), and the Greater Piscataqua Foundation. Other organizations she helped support were Portsmouth Historical Society, Portsmouth Preservation Inc., Portsmouth Hospital and the Portsmouth Public Library.
The personal correspondence includes a significant exchange of anniversary and holiday cards between the couple. Other correspondence includes letters between Peter Beck and Consuelo Andrade-Marin, a longtime friend of the couple and someone whom Peter Beck had known in Ecuador when young.
Nancy Beck was a proprietor of the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Her share # was 294.
Related Material:
Small Photograph Collection: PS3477-PS3491
Series Listing
I. Personal Material
II. House and Garden
III. Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
A. Strawbery Banke, 1967-2019
B. Portsmouth Historical Society, 2006-2008
C. Portsmouth Hospital Guild, 1961-1974
D. Portsmouth Public Library, 1966-1968
E. Portsmouth Preservation, Inc., 1969-1976
F. South Church Unitarian-Universalist, 1955-2009
G. Black Heritage Trail, 1994-2009
H. Shoals Marine Lab, 2009-2017
I. Mothers’ Marches, 1960-1965
J. Miscellaneous Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
IV. Miscellaneous Material
V. Oversized Material
Folder Listing
I. Personal Material
Box 1
Folder 1
Dana Hall School, Wellesley MA and Mount Holyoke, South Hadley MA:
Dana Hall Commencement Program, May 28, 1944
Photocopies of various newspaper clippings, 1947-1962
Class of 1948 of Mount Holyoke College Class Bylaws
Class of 1948 reunion newsletter, March 1982.
Letter, Nancy Beck to Helen Gustafson Fifield, May 8, 1982
Class of 1948 reunion newsletter,, March 1983
Mount Holyoke Alumnae News and fortieth reunion notes (photocopy and original page), 1984
Letter dated February 3, 1988 from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley MA 150th anniversary Sesquicentennial: Committee informing Nancy that she was to be awarded a sesquicentennial award by the Alumnae Association, with a citation of her accomplishments to be read at the awards ceremony
Alumnae Biographical Questionnaire,
Sesquicentennial Banquet Program, April 30, 1988
Mount Holyoke Alumnae News (photocopy), 1989
Folder 2
Wedding, July 17, 1959: various newspaper clippings and written marriage vows
Folder 3
Atlantic Monthly Press: News articles, correspondence, 1955-1969
Folder 4
Correspondence: Nancy Reynolds Beck to Peter Beck, 1958 and undated (14 letters)
Folder 5
Correspondence: Peter Beck to Nancy, 1958 (5 letters)
Folder 6
Correspondence: Peter Beck to Nancy, 1959-1960 (8 letters)
Folder 7
Correspondence and notes: Peter Beck to Nancy, 1969 -1988 and undated (17 items)
Folder 8
Correspondence: Peter Beck to family and friends, written from the trip he and Nancy took to the Baltic, the Balkans and Switzerland, Oct-Dec 1979 (7 letters)
Folder 9
Correspondence: Peter Beck to family and friends, written from the trip he and Nancy took to the Far East and the Antipodes, May-June1982 (6 letters) [see also Box 2 F. 18 for trip itinerary]
Folder 10
Anniversary cards, Nancy Beck to Peter Beck
Folder 11
Anniversary cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 12
Valentine’s Day cards, Nancy Beck to Peter Beck
Folder 13
Valentine’s Day cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 14
Valentine’s Day cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 15
Birthday cards, Nancy Beck to Peter Beck
Folder 16
Birthday cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 17
Birthday cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 18
Greeting cards, Nancy Beck to Peter Beck
Folder 19
Christmas cards, Peter Beck to Nancy Beck
Folder 20
Birthday, anniversary and Valentine’s Day cards from Nancy’s and Peter’s mothers, from Tanti Mau, Cam and Charlotte, and Richard
Kraetke
Box 2
Folder 1
Twelfth Night guest lists and invitation cards, 1990-2001
Folder 2
Correspondence: Nancy and Peter Beck to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1967-1975
Folder 3
Correspondence: Nancy and Peter Beck to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1980-1987
Folder 4
Correspondence: Nancy and Peter Beck to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1988-1989
Folder 5
Correspondence: Nancy and Peter Beck to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1991-1994
Folder 6
Correspondence: Nancy and Peter Beck to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, undated fragments; fragment of letter from Consuelo Andrade-Marin to the Becks, undated
Folder 7
Correspondence: Justina Legoe, Peter Beck’s second cousin from Adelaide, Australia to the Becks, Jan-March 1992
Folder 8
Correspondence: Justina Legoe, Peter Beck’s second cousin from Adelaide, Australia, to the Becks, April 1992-1999
Folder 9
Correspondence to and from Franz and Sylvia Fankhauser, Bern, Switzerland, 1998-2001
Folder 10
Correspondence from and to various:
Evelyn F. and Mrs. W. G. Wendell, The Warner House Association to Nancy Beck, September 5, 1964 re gift of two bills of David Kimball, one of the former residents of the house on Austin Street (see
S1767 )
T. M. Reynolds (Nancy’s father) to Nancy Beck, June 16, 1969, Nov 6, 1969 and an undated Christmas card
Anne Walker (Peter’s aunt), NYC to Nancy Beck, March 19, 1970
Mrs. Bryant Reynolds, Alburg Library Association, Alburg VT, April 15, 1970
Nancy Beck to Mrs. Reynolds, Alburg Library Association, Alburg VT, May 26, 1970
Nancy Beck to Mrs. Reynolds, Alburg Library Association, Alburg VT, July 21, 1970
Mrs. Bryant Reynolds, Alburg Library Association, Alburg VT, July 27, 1970
Nancy Beck to Louise Prairie, Alburg VT, Sept 15, 1970
Louise Prairie, Alburg VT to Nancy Beck, Oct 20, 1970
Nancy Beck to Louise Prairie, Alburg VT, Oct 29, 1970
Richard Kraetke, Alburg Springs, VT, June 7, 1975
Hugh J. Gallen, NH Governor to Nancy Beck, Nov 1, 1982
Robert J. Hankins, Director, Division of the Arts, Dept. of Libraries, Arts, and Historical Resources, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to Nancy Beck, April 1, 1986
Portsmouth Athenaeum to Nancy Beck, July 1, 1992
Nancy R, Beck to Mayor Eileen Foley, Sept 8, 1997
Ed and Nan —- to Peter and Nancy Beck, April 23, 1998
Maryellen —, Nancy’s cousin, Feb 2001
Chris Rudolph to Peter Beck; Peter Beck to Chris Rudolph, Jan 25, 2002
Card from Florence Alley to Nancy Beck congratulating her on her Arts award, undated
Card from Jana to Nancy Beck, undated
Folder 11
Correspondence from and to various:
Peter Beck to Arlene, Peter’s cousin, May 29, 2003
Peter Bucher to the Becks, Allschwill, Switzerland, July 29, 2003
Helen & Andrea — ? to Peter and Nancy, Zurich, Sept. 22, 2003
Peter Beck to Sylwya, Oct 14, 2003
Christine Beck to Peter Beck, PB to Christine, April 12-13, 2004
Kate — in Poland to Peter Beck, May 30, 2004
Peter Beck to Kate —, Krakow, Poland, May 30, 2004
Peter Beck to Martina Kuczyinska, Krakow, Poland, May 31, 2004
Christine Beck to Nancy and Peter Beck, May 31, 2004
Nicolas —, Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Peter Beck, Jan 4, 2005
Andrea — ? to Peter and Nancy, Jan 19, 2005
Agnes — in Poland to Peter Beck, and Peter to Agnes, March 5, 2005
Peter Beck to Sibyl — , March 6, 2005
Elaine Lawrence (flight attendant) to Nancy and Peter Beck, June 6, 2005, July 3, 2005,
Peter Beck to Keith Eveland, pediatric dentist in Portsmouth, June 12, 2005
Folder 12
Letters of condolence to Nancy Beck on the death of Peter Beck, May-June 2016
Folder 13
Condolence cards to Nancy Beck on the death of Peter Beck, May 2016
Folder 14
Correspondence: Trina Margeson Ingram to Nancy Beck, May 1, 2017
Folder 15
Correspondence: Ofelia Bici de Heath to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1983-1989
Folder 16
Correspondence: Martha Koch to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, 1983-1989
Folder 17
Ligia —? to Consuelo Andrade-Marin, Rome, Italy, Oct 24, 1983-April 30, 1984
Folder 18
Becks’ itinerary to the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, 1982
II. House and Garden
Box 2
Folder 19
History of 43 Austin Street, Portsmouth NH
Abstract of title (Peter Beck bought the house in 1956)
Will of Harriet McEwan Kimball, May 3, 1913
Notebook containing a list of the house owners by date
Course paper, “The Harris-Heffenger House, 1790-1813” written by Marcy Hampton, March 20, 1973
Real estate flyer from Nancy M. Carey with a note to Nancy Beck – “just wanted you & Peter to know this is on the market” (about the Harris-Heffenger house, 53 Austin St, i.e. next door to the Becks)
Letter from Sue Sulloway to Nancy Beck, January 22, 1991 re 43 Austin St.
Letter to Marion Craig from Nancy Beck re the date the house was built, research Nancy was conducting for a course she was taking at Strawbery Banke called :The Dating Game: How To Research the History of Your Home,” January 16, 1991
Notice about above course
Background materials: How to Date A House, David M. Hart, The 8 Most Common Mistakes in Restoring Historic Houses, Morgan W. Phillips, “Insulating the Old House, Guidelines for Restoring Old Buildings, Refinishing Floors,” The Old-House Journal, Feb 1981
Folder 20
Research on former owners of 43 Austin St.
Folder 21
Research on former owners of 43 Austin St.
Folder 22
Contents of a folder originally labeled “My Garden”:
Certificates for the winning bids for two of Strawbery Banke’s silent auctions: “Strawbery Jam,” a bid for a personal landscape consultation by Cindy Brockway of “Past Designs” (and former head of the Horticulture Department at Strawbery Banke), September 16, 1989, and “Come Join The Circus,” another bid for input by Past Designs/Evergreen of Rye and Cindy Brockway.
Letter from Cindy Brockway to Nancy Beck, May 1, 1990 re a rough draft of a garden design for the Becks with a list of plant suggestions.
A year-by-year plan for planting the garden, 1989-2006
Printed handout, “Restoring Your Landscape,” from Cindy Brockway, 1996
Source list of historic seeds and plants, June 1998
Rye Ridge Greenery list of hostas plants, July 3, 1998
Soil sample analysis, UNH Analytical Services Lab, Durham NH, with accompanying note from Ann Duncan, undated
Children’s Garden Training Manual, printed sheets, undated
“Some plants I grow in the shaded garden,” Susan E. Dumaine, typed sheet
Breck’s Planting Handbook and Deluxe Perennial Tulips brochures
Newspaper articles: “An Old Time Garden In This “Old Town By The Sea” by Harriet McEwen Kimball, The Town Crier, October 1910; “Gardenia is finicky but worth the effort,” George Taloumis, The Boston Globe, May 11, 1986; “Well, the Christmas Cactus can flower in ’93,” Doug Rutley, Portsmouth Herald, February 13, 1993.
Folder 23
Material re the European Beech in the garden of 43 Austin St. and its qualification as one of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forest’s “Big Trees”, ca. 1990
Folder 24
Material re the collection of china at 43 Austin St.
III. Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
A. Strawbery Banke Museum, 1967-2019
Strawbery Banke Museum was a pioneering historic preservation effort in Portsmouth, N. H. incorporated in 1958 as one of the first institutions in the United States to utilize a federally-funded urban renewal project as a means of preserving and interpreting a historic neighborhood. Established in the old waterfront area called Puddle Dock, its purpose was to preserve the buildings already there and later to move four houses to that location. The decision was made early to use the buildings to interpret change over different centuries, rather than, as in the cases of Colonial Williamsburg and Plymouth Colony, to confine it to a specific time period.
The contents of this series pertain primarily to Nancy Beck’s tenure as president of the museum from 1994-1996. Hence, the series starts by listing her public addresses in that capacity. Her involvement with the museum dates from the early 1960s when she helped James Garvin, then the assistant director, and Dorothy Vaughan, the city librarian, produce a small booklet for a Society of Architectural Historians annual meeting held in Portsmouth. Subsequently, in 1966, the trio published the first Strawbery Banke guidebook and for ten years Nancy produced the museum’s quarterly newsletter. She became a trustee, then an overseer, and in 1991, rejoined the board of trustees, serving as its vice-president from 1992-1994. In May 1994, she became its president.
Box 3
Folder 1
Addresses as President, 1994:
Overseers Spring Meeting, May 3, 1994
Speech to kick off the Campaign for the 5th Century, held at the Sheraton Hotel, September 30, 1994
A Report to the Committee of Overseers on the State of the Museum, October 1, 1994
Dilemmas in Board/Staff Relations, New England Museum Association, Portland ME, November 2, 1994 (with Susan Davis’s introductory remarks)
Brief comments, Board of Trustees Meeting, December 1994
Remarks given to the Pitt Tavern Business Benefactors, December 12, 1994
Folder 2
Addresses as President, 1995:
Remarks testifying to the House of Representatives in Concord re HB 592, January 25, 1995
Friends of the South End Meeting at the Treadwell House, April 2, 1995
35th Annual Meeting, May 2, 1995
Report to the Committee of the Overseers on the State of the Museum, May 7, 1995
Remarks to the Board of Overseers, October 1, 1995
Remarks made before the Portsmouth City Board of Adjustment , October 17, 1995
The President’s Message, 1995 Annual Report
“How Did I Arrive in Portsmouth?” Remarks for York Hospital Auxiliary, 1995
Folder 3
Addresses as President, 1996:
Remarks made at the Strawbery Banke Museum Retreat held at the New England Center, Durham NH, February 1996
Testimony given on HB 345 before the NH Senate Ways and Means Committee in Concord, March 26, 1996
Remarks made for the Board of Overseers Meeting, May 5, 1996
36th Annual Meeting, May 7, 1996
President and Director’s Reception, May 14, 1996
Thank You Speech given to Director and Staff of Museum, May 20, 1996
Remarks made on the occasion of Jameson French, the new president of the museum, receiving an award from the National Society, September 8, 1996
Outgoing President’s Annual Report, 1996
Folder 4
Addresses 1998-2002:
Remarks made at Mount Holyoke College (and also at Dover Public Library), 1998
Easter Morning and the Struggle To Become Professional, January 29, 2002 (2 copies)
Folder 5
Overviews of the museum, 1973-1994, includes:
“Economic Benefits From Restoring and Preserving a Historic Townscape,” John Dorrer, Citizens Concerned for the Preservation of Portsmouth, 1973 (?)
“Strawbery Banke – A Brief History,” 1980?
“The Impact of Strawbery Banke on the Seacoast Economy,” Robert Puth, 1992
Description of project originally undertaken at Old York Historical Society on the colonial revival in the Piscataqua region, Sara Griffens, Summer, 1992
“The Strawbery Banke Experience: What It Is; What It Might Be: The Patrons’ Views,” Davidson-Peterson Associates, Inc., Oct 1993
Executive Director’s Message, 1993-1994
Folder 6
Overviews of the museum, 1995-1998, includes:
Fact Sheets, 1995 and 1997
“The Impact of Seven Arts and Historical Organizations on the Seacoast Economy,” Portsmouth Arts and Historical Collaborative, October 26, 1995
Community Image Survey, RKM Applied Research for Strawbery Banke, January 27-28, 1996. A phone survey of Portsmouth residents about their views of the museum.
“Population Trends, Age Distribution, Mean and Median Incomes, Travel Tendencies, etc.,” Board of Trustees, Feb 1996
“Strawbery Banke: Agent of Change, Agent of Preservation” by James L. Garvin, 1998
“Preserving the Past/Securing the Future,” 1998
Fragment of “People, Place, and Time: Telling the Three-Hundred-Year History of an Urban Neighborhood,” An Educational Plan for Strawbery Banke Museum, 1995-2005
Folder 7
By-Laws, 1998 and 2003
.
Folder 8
Mission Statement Drafts
Folder 9
Long-Range Plans, 1989-1995
Folder 10
Master Plan, October 2000
Folder 11
Master Plan, 2001-2008
Folder 12
Strategic Conversation, 1996-1998
Folders 13-14
Capital Campaigns (including Campaign for the Fifth Century)
Folder 15
Board of Trustees, 1992-1998
Folder 16
Board of Overseers , 1979-2000
Folder 17
Board of Advisors (renamed from Board of Overseers), 2001-2006
Box 4
Folder 1
Code of Ethics, 1995
Folder 2
Annual Meeting Notices, 1993-2002
Folder 3
Annual Fund Committee
Folder 4
Building Committee, 1995-2006
Folder 5
Carter Collections Center, 2006
Folder 6
Disposition of Wentworh-Winebaum House, 2006
Folder 7
Development Committee, 1996-1999
Folder 8
Policy and Planning Committee, 1990-1996
Folder 9
Policy and Planning Committee, 1997-2000
Folder 10
WARD (Waterfront Archeological Resources Development) Committee, 1995-1999
Folder 11
Personnel Material
Folder 12
Miscellaneous Budget and Financial Reports (including information on investment criteria), 1994-1997
Folder 13
Grant Application, IMS (Institute of Museum Services) General Operating Support, 1991
Folder 14
The National Council for Strawbery Banke Museum
Folder 15
Newsletters, 1990-1993 (incomplete)
Folder 16
Newsletters, 1994-2019 (incomplete)
Folder 17
Printed articles about Strawbery Banke, 1977-2008
Folder 18
Newspaper articles, 1864-2007
Folder 19
Correspondence re Revision of SBM Guidebook, 1967-1968
Folder 20
Various correspondence to and from Nancy Beck, 1974-2007
Box 5
Folder 1
Material about running non-profit organizations
Folder 2
Volunteer Recognition Awards, 1995
Folder 3
Miscellaneous Material, 1967-2006
Folder 4
Various flyers and brochures
Folder 5
Blank Letterhead and Museum Logo Folder
Folder 6
Publications, 1966-2008:
Official Strawbery Banke Guide, revised edition, 1966, includes inked suggestions for change by Nancy Beck (?), edited by Nancy Beck, 1966
Second edition of the above, 2008
The Strawbery Banke Coloring Book of Historic Portsmouth, Guild of Strawbery Banke, 1973
B. Portsmouth Historical Society, 2006-2008
In December 2007, Portsmouth Historical Society finalized an agreement with the City of Portsmouth to expand into the former Portsmouth Public Library premises on the corners of Islington Street and Middle Streets. Thus began a major effort to make the agreement viable. For the first year of the project, Nancy Beck was a trustee/ director to help launch a significant fundraising campaign to finance the renovation of the building.
Box 5
Folder 7
Trustees Orientation Notebook, June 2007, and Nancy Beck’s appointment as a director of the Portsmouth Historical Society, January 1, 2008
Folder 8
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes, Dec 2007-Dec 2008
Folder 8
Items related to the Society’s takeover of the former public library, 2009
Folder 10
Annual Reports, 2006-2008 and the Development Committee meeting agenda for Dec 30, 2008.
C. Portsmouth Hospital Guild, 1961-1974
Folder 11
Booklet, “A New Era of Service,” Portsmouth Hospital, 1959
Dedication of New Building, Sunday, February 16, 1964 with a list of trustees, administration staff, and officers
Three newspaper clippings showing Nancy Beck’s involvement in various fundraising efforts
D. Portsmouth Public Library, 1966-1968
Folder 12
Fragment from “North Country Libraries,” Sept-Oct 1966 and two newsclippings showing a photograph (incl. Nancy Beck) of the Portsmouth Public Library receiving a large collection of material on the Isles of Shoals from the Rev. Lyman Rutledge.
Newsclippings about the need for a new library and the removal of Nancy Beck as president of the board of trustees for her support of it in 1968 by City Manager Robert C. Violette.
Draft of a speech delivered by Nancy Beck (to the City Council?) in the early 2000s.
E. Portsmouth Preservation, Inc., 1969-1976
Formerly the North End Preservation Committee, a group of citizens organized itself in late 1968 into PPI, a realty development corporation, in order to save and preserve ten acres and 67 buildings, or approximately one third of the Vaughan Street Urban Renewal Area. Ultimately, it was successful in saving only 14 of the buildings and preserving them in the area known as The Hill.
Folder 13
Background descriptions of Portsmouth Preservation Inc. and its mission, a press release, undated, but likely 1969, a prospectus for Portsmouth Preservation, Inc., Jan 1969, a proposal for realty development , Feb 25, 1969, a list of shareholders, a letter to stockholders, March 1969, a first offering circular, July 1969, a newsletter, April1970, a news release, Nov 10, 1970, a second offering circular, June 1, 1971, a letter to stockholders, dated April 29, 1976, and the second draft of a case study written by Jack Gold of Cornell University on the Vaughan Street Urban Renewal Project and Preservation Plan, Nov 12, 1976.
F. South Church Unitarian-Universalist, 1955-2009
Folder 14
A three-part history of the South Parish U-U Church, written by Paul Costello for the Portsmouth Herald in 1955; a booklet of the Women’s League of the U-U Church, Portsmouth NH 1957-1958 with a list of its members; a pledge form; article, “Revisiting Unitarian Universalism” by Rich Barlow for The Boston Globe, July 17, 2004; a newsletter 2007; 2008 Board of Trustee Proposed Budget;; a “sound bite” approach to Unitarian-Universalism adapted from a sermon by Rev. Roberta Finkelstein, undated; and a flyer “South Church Baptizes African Americans 1717: A Place on the Black Heritage Trail,” undated but between 1997-2005.
G. Black Heritage Trail, 1994-2009
Folder 15
Remarks made by Nancy Beck at the Urban Forestry Center on diversity before the Greater Portsmouth Community Fund, March 23, 1985; article on Valerie Cunningham and Portsmouth’s “first lesson in black history”; Boston Sunday Globe, Nov 20, 1994; flyer for the self-guided walking tour, 1999; letter to BHT supporters, Aug 27, 2007; description of a proposal to develop a permanent exhibit of the history of Portsmouth, including a revision of The Black Heritage Trail, as part of the planned renovation of the old Portsmouth Public Library into the Discover Portsmouth Center, 2008-2009; a solicitation flyer for the Discover Center, 2008-2009; photocopy of a broadside, “CAUTION!! Colored People, ” and a two-page fact sheet about the population of Portsmouth between 1790 and 1830 and its racial and gender makeup.
H. Shoals Marine Lab, 2009-2017
Folder 16
The Becks were supporters of the Shoals Marine Laboratory and this folder contains letters and a card from William Bemis, the Kingsbury Lab director, personally thanking them, all 2009. It also includes a newsclipping [2017?] on the bequest that Nancy Beck made of $650K after Peter’s death in honor of him. Jack Kingsbury, the founding director of the Shoals Marine Lab, considered Peter Beck to be an “indispensable ally in the establishment and construction of the lab’s campus facilities.”
I. Mothers’ Marches, 1960-1965
During the severe polio epidemics of 1949 and 1951, mothers everywhere feared their young children would contract this highly contagious, disabling and potentially fatal disease. They were determined to raise money to find a cure for polio. In the 1950s, fundraising through corporations and special events were essentially a man’s world. But when it appeared that there would not be enough money from other sources to meet all the needs, women in the United States undertook an extra campaign of their own. It was soon dubbed a “Mothers’ March,” and was held each year after other phases of the polio campaign were finished.
Each mother was expected only to go out for an hour and canvas a few of her immediate neighbors. Women were encouraged to go out on the same evening at the same time. The media then asked people to turn on their porch lights to light the way for the Marching Mothers as an indication of their willingness to give. The Marching Mother Campaign grew through the ’50s and ’60s, and by 1962, over 50,000 volunteers raised $650,000. A cure was found for polio by Dr. Jonas Salk in 1953.
Folder 17
Newsclippings: Mothers March on Polio, 1960; Mothers March for the National Foundation, 1961; Mothers March of Dimes, 1962, 1963 and 1965
J. Miscellaneous Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
Folder 17
Newsclippings and other material: re Nancy Beck’s involvement with The Community Improvement Program Citizens’ Council, Feb 3, 1972; The Graffort Club, undated; The Greater Portsmouth (later Piscataqua) Community Foundation, March 3, 1992, Feb 12, 1993 and June 22, 1995; a letter to the Portsmouth Historic District Commission re her opposition to a proposed modification to the Codfish Aristocracy restaurant, September 28, 1983; a letter in opposition to the proposed demolition of the Cottage Hospital Building, Jan-Feb 1997; two letters in support of candidates for the Futures’ Program, an initiative to provide mentoring, encouragement and financial assistance to selected students who show the ability, desire, and motivation to attend college, but lack the necessary resources, May 15, 1997 and September 23, 1997, and a related newsclipping, June 1993; a letter to the Peirce Island Committee in support of keeping the remaining 15 acres as undeveloped waterfront, reserved for recreational purposes, Sept 23, 1998, and a program proposal for the Creek Farm Project, May 2008
Folder 18
Arthur J. Gerrier Memorial Award from Portsmouth Advocates presented to Nancy Beck “in special recognition of your service & commitment to our historic community,” 1998
Newspaper article about the above award, June 11, 1998
Certificates of Tenure, Portsmouth Athenaeum Share Number 294, 1992 and 2011
Letter of thanks from the Athenaeum to the Becks for a donation of $500 toward the J.S. Blunt project of Deb Childs, April 26, 2007
Program for a celebration of the life of Nancy Reynolds Beck held at Strawbery Banke, November 15, 2019 (3 copies)
Folder 19
Plaque, Rotary Vocational Award, Vocational Excellence in the Public Sector, Rotary Club of Portsmouth, N.H., 2013
Mounted certificate of appreciation from the University of New Hampshire Foundation for Nancy R. Beck as a member of the Benjamin Thompson Society, October 20, 2016
VI. Miscellaneous Material
A. Reynolds Family Material
Box 6
Folder 1
Reynolds Family genealogical material
Folder 2
Two handwritten unofficial wills of Anna Reynolds, one dated 1970
Laminated tribute to Anna Reynolds (Nancy’s mother) published in the The News-Tribune, Waltham MA, Nov 5, 1973
Four typed poems: Anon, “Our House (dedicated to Dr. and Mrs. Peter Beck); Sharon or Marcy Denslinger (?), “Ode To The Lady in Blue” (about Nancy Beck and her work for the Ceres Street Fair in the 1970s), “Bee Lady,” Patricia Mees Armstrong, and Anon., “Ode To Doris,” all undated
B. Beck Family Material
1. Peter Beck
Folder 3
Peter Beck correspondence, 1934-1979, includes letter to the Superintendent, Dartmouth College Cemetery, Hanover NH, July 14, 1970 (re putting his mother’s ashes next to his brother’s and father’s in the cemetery), and a letter to John F. Meck, Vice President and Chairman of Investment Committee, Dartmouth College, December 2, 1972 (re Beck’s earmarking 40 acres property and a twelve-room 1850 house to the college)
Folder 4
Peter Beck correspondence, 2012-2013
Folder 5
INDE 1941, Hanover High School Yearbook
Folder 6
Discharge papers (19 of them), 1946-1960. Beck served not only in WWII, but also in the U.S. Coast Guard on the NY Line traveling on both coasts of South America
Folder 7
Medical Certificate, Vermont State Board of Medical Registration, July 1, 1948 and letter of appointment to Consulting Staff, York Hospital , December 5, 1955 (3 copies)
Various articles and other materials pertaining to Beck’s life, as well as a notice of his memorial service at Webster’s at Rye, June 21, 2016
Folder 8
Correspondence to Peter Beck, 1966-1997
2. Beck Family
Folder 9
Correspondence: Fritz Beck ( Peter Beck’s father) in NYC to his wife and children in East Alburg VT, 1929-1931 (15 letters in German)
Folder 10
Correspondence: Fritz Beck (Peter Beck’s father) in NYC to his wife and children in East Alburg VT, 1932-Oct 1933 (13 letters in German)
Folder 11
Correspondence: Fritz Beck (Peter Beck’s father) in NYC to his wife and children in East Alburg VT, Nov -Dec 1933 (21 letters in German)
Folder 12
Correspondence: Fritz Beck (Peter Beck’s father),1943-1944 and undated fragments, including to Dr. Rolf C. Syvertsen, Dartmouth Medical School, April 24, 1943 (thanking Dartmouth for accepting Peter to the Medical School) (written in English) and to Adrian Beck, April 19, 1944 (in German), also, a letter in German to Fritz Beck from Frauen- und Modenzeitung für die Schweiz, a Swiss magazine, re a subscription, 1930, and a bill from Swanton Lumber Company in Swanton VT, 1927
Folder 13
Correspondence: Julia Beck (mother), 1928- 1930 (5 letters in German) and a death notice in German re the death of Ludwig Loretz in Wassen, Switzerland
Folder 14
Correspondence: Adrian Beck (brother), 1931 (3 items)
Folder 15
Correspondence: Anne Walker (Anneli – aunt), 1927-1930 (23 letters in German)
Folder 16
Correspondence: Anne Walker (Anneli – aunt), 1931-1933 and undated (20 letters in German)
Folder 17
Correspondence: Victoria/Doris Walker (Dori – aunt), 1927-1930 (20 letters in German)
Folder 18
Correspondence: Victoria/Doris Walker (Dori – aunt), 1931-1933 and undated (17 letters in German)
Folder 19
Correspondence: Maria/Mary Walker (Niggi/Miggi – aunt), 1928-1933 and undated (14 letters in German)
Folder 20
Correspondence: Maria/Mary Walker (Niggi/Miggi – aunt), undated (6 letters in German)
Folder 21
Correspondence: Josefin Walker (Fini – aunt), 1930-1932 and undated (19 letters in German)
Folder 22
Correspondence: Fritz Walker (?) (uncle), 1927-1929 (5 letters in German)
Folder 23
Correspondence: Josef Heinrich Walker (Vater – grandfather, Julia’s father), 1925-1929 (4 letters in German)
Folder 24
Correspondence: Dagmar —? (friend of Julia Beck in NYC), 1931-1933 (9 letters)
Folder 25
Correspondence: Oscar and Marg Welti, Montreal ,1932 (6 letters)
Folder 26
Letters from various correspondents (mostly in German), 1924-1934:
Unidentified priest from Pfarramt Buerglen (Burglen rectory) in Switzerland, 1932-1934 (4 letters); Hans —?, 1927-1930 (3 letters); John Tossi, 1924-1931 (3 letters); Richard Kraetke, 1932 (2 letters);
Helen & George Williams, 1930-1931 (4 letters); Anselm Haifinger, undated (1 letter); Walter Haefeli, 1929 (1 letter); Timy Coray, undated (1 letter) Christmas card from Mr. and Mrs, Oliver Vernon Coté
Folder 27
Letters from various correspondents (mostly in German), 1926-1933:
Unidentified Christmas card, 1926; Ilsa Herrmann (?), 1928; Anne Hansi —, 1929; Heini –, 1930 (2 letters); Otti and family, 1930 (2 letters); Wisl & Teppl, 1930 (2 items); Rosi Keller Mann, 1930; Nancy, 1931; unidentified to Adrian, 1931; Conrad, Sophie, Rudi and Ralph,1933; Ruth Bohannon, undated; Erna Jung (?), undated; Burgin, undated; Mrs. Gratton, undated; three postcards to Hobart Darby in Alburg VT dated 1908-1911; postcard of the Swiss National Festival from “Mother” to Mme. Josy Walker in Wassen, Uri Switzerland (in French)
Folder 28
Unidentified fragments of letters, undated
Folder 29
Various publications sent to Lt. Adrian Beck:
Montpelier Seminary Vermont Junior College, June 1940 (p.6 article “Honors for “Skipper” Beck)
The Hilltopper, Vermont Junior College, May 1952
Dartmouth College National Defense Bulletin, No. 3, Oct 1941
The Fifth Down, Alumni Fund Newsletter, Feb 14, 1942, April 20, 1942, May 25, 1942
Dope From The Duckboards, May 19, 1943, June 9, and 21,1943, April 17, 1944, May 26, 1944
Newspaper article “Marines Peril Big Guam Port”
Folder 30
Prospectus for Far View Farm on Lake Champlain, Alburg Springs, VT run by Mrs. Fritz [Julia] Beck (Peter’s mother) as a guest house, n.d.
Viewbook of Swiss Alpine Passes, 12 color photos
Three pencil sketches: “Farmer Bristow’s Barn,” dated September 1953, cabin in the woods, and campsite in the woods. Provenance unknown
Magazine clipping: “Under the Magnolias” a scene on the lake promenade at Lugano, Switzerland
Oversize Box 5
Anna Reynolds’ degree certificate from Radcliffe College, 1948
Marriage license, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, authorizing Reverend Adrien R. Aeschliman of Rye NH to marry the couple, signed by the Governor of Massachusetts, Foster Furcolo, July 14, 1959. They were married three days later in Wellesley Hills MA
Membership certificate of the Portsmouth Marine Society for Dr. & Mrs. Peter Beck , June 17, 1982, signed by Joseph P. Copley, President
Certificate of Appreciation for Nancy Beck as a Trustee of Strawbery Banke, May 6, 1997
Official Proclamation from the City of Portsmouth, May 6, 2019 honoring Nancy Beck’s contributions to the city
Needlepoint sampler representing Dr. Peter Beck’s ophthalmologist’s vision chart
Paul Harris Medal awarded to Nancy Beck by the Portsmouth Rotary (see Curatorial Collection)