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Tales from the Stacks: A Swift Deaccession

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 25, 2020 | Announcements, Library, Manuscripts

In the midst of re-numbering the entire library catalog, Librarian Robin Silva has uncovered some interesting history. In October 1907, a book had been discovered in the Athenaeum’s stock room, left there anonymously. Published in 1905, the book was The...

Researching Black History in the North Church

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 16, 2020 | Announcements, Manuscripts

By Archivist Susan Kindstedt   No collection at the Athenaeum provides the names of more individuals of African descent living in Portsmouth than the MS036 North Church Papers, 1640-1970 collection. Although the papers include the names of individuals, the...

Logbooks of Capt. Nathan Parker Simes

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Apr 16, 2020 | Announcements, Manuscripts

By Susan Stowe-Kindstedt, Athenaeum Archivist The Athenaeum recently received a generous donation from a descendant of nineteenth-century Portsmouth sea captain Nathan Parker Simes. Simes was born in Portsmouth on August 1, 1833, the son of Ann (Yeaton) and Stephen...

FROM THE VAULT: New Kimball Bragdon Collection

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Aug 15, 2018 | Announcements, Manuscripts

The Kimball Family. (l to r) Seated are Clara (1817-1893), Israel (1812-1890) and Helen (1860-1909). Standing are Israel Jr. (1855-1886), Sarah (1841-1918), George (1843-1923), Clara (1846-1931) and Mary (1848-1929). Photo by Davis Brothers of Portsmouth, NH, c. 1863....

The Athenaeum Featured on NHPR

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Aug 31, 2017 | Announcements, Manuscripts

In 2016, Roland Goodbody, contract archivist at the Portsmouth Athenaeum, cataloged the NH-Maine border dispute papers of Harrison “Workie” Workman (1919-2007), a Portsmouth resident and lobsterman.  MS120 Harrison Workman Border Dispute Papers,...
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Recent News

  • July 2026: The Red Light District
  • Exhibit Shines the Red Light on City’s Past
  • Portsmouth Athenæum Chamber Music 2026
  • Athenæum Interim Director
  • A Letter from Tom Hardiman, Keeper and Executive Director

Events Calendar

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4:00 PM - Opening Reception for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
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1:00 PM - 1805 Building Tour
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1:00 PM - 1805 Building Tour
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1:00 PM - 1805 Building Tour
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5:30 PM - 2025 Current Events Series: Genomics and the Future of Humanity
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1:00 PM - 1805 Building Tour
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5:30 PM - Franklin Club
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5:00 PM - Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
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Opening Reception for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
Opening Reception for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
March 7, 2025    
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Exhibit Events
Exhibits, Randall Gallery, The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth
Please join us for the opening reception for our latest exhibit, “The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth," curated by Proprietor Judy Groppa in the Randall Gallery from [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
March 8, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
Building Tours, Library Room, Membership Libraries, Sawtelle Reading Room
Join us for a tour of our Sawtelle Reading Room and the historic Library Room. Tours are at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
March 15, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
Building Tours, Library Room, Membership Libraries, Sawtelle Reading Room
Join us for a tour of our Sawtelle Reading Room and the historic Library Room. Tours are at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
March 22, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
Building Tours, Library Room, Membership Libraries, Sawtelle Reading Room
Join us for a tour of our Sawtelle Reading Room and the historic Library Room. Tours are at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. [...]
More Info
2025 Current Events Series: Genomics and the Future of Humanity
2025 Current Events Series: Genomics and the Future of Humanity
March 27, 2025    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Current Event Series
  • Discussions
2025 Current Event Series, Proprietors, Shaw Research Library
NOTE: This event is now within 24 hours, and the online registration has ended. You must call (603) 431-2538 to reserve your spots. Important characters [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
March 29, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
Building Tours, Library Room, Membership Libraries, Sawtelle Reading Room
Join us for a tour of our Sawtelle Reading Room and the historic Library Room. Tours are at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. [...]
More Info
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
April 2, 2025    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Franklin Club
Franklin Club, Sawtelle Reading Room
The Junto, also known as the Leather Apron Club, was a club for mutual improvement established in 1727 by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. The Leather [...]
More Info
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
April 4, 2025    
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Art Round Town
  • Exhibit Events
Art 'Round Town, Exhibits, Randall Gallery, The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth
Please join us during Art 'Round Town and see our latest exhibit, “The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth," curated by Proprietor Judy Groppa in the Randall Gallery. [...]
More Info
Events on March 7, 2025
Opening Reception for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
Opening Reception for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
7 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on March 8, 2025
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
8 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on March 15, 2025
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
15 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on March 22, 2025
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
22 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on March 27, 2025
2025 Current Events Series: Genomics and the Future of Humanity
2025 Current Events Series: Genomics and the Future of Humanity
27 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on March 29, 2025
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
29 Mar 25
Portsmouth
Events on April 2, 2025
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
2 Apr 25
Portsmouth
Events on April 4, 2025
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "The Lunch Hour: Portsmouth"
4 Apr 25
Portsmouth

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