Proprietors Portsmouth Athenaeum
Proprietors Portsmouth Athenaeum
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About this organization
Mission
See mission statement on page 2, part III
About
The Portsmouth Athenaeum's 201st year was built on the foundation of success in our bicentennial celebration. 2018 was a record year for author events and the program year started on January 9 with a sold out presentation of 'Book, Bread, and Banjo' with Martin Philip, author of Breaking Bread and head baker at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont. Martin shared stories about bread and secrets to great baking along with a little music. The following week, Keeper Tom Hardiman presented a talk: 'The Adroit Anachronism: The Portsmouth Athenaeum at 200' for the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston, promoting the Athenaeum's bicentennial book. The week after that we hosted a book signing with local author Kristin Goodwillie, whose new memoir Kristin's Journey chronicles her life and experiences all over the globe. Additional author events included a poetry reading in April by local author Tom Carnicelli, reading from his new book Older Guy and an author talk and community forum with William Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep (http://www.billderesiewicz.com/). Mr. Deresiewicz spoke on the value of a broad college experience as opposed to over specialization and too much emphasis on career preparation. He talked about the importance of students developing passions and discovering new interests during their college years and signed copies of his book Excellent Sheep. This event was co-sponsored by Berwick Academy. In May we had a signing and author talk with Brian Moore, whose new book is Small Town, Big Oil, an account of the women who lead the citizens of Durham, New Hampshire to out-organize and out-maneuver the establishment and protect their community from big oil. Also in May was a signing and author talk with Jerry Hunter. Jerry's novel, Dark Territory, examines the consequences of religious extremism on both sides of the Atlantic during the seventeenth century. Part of the story is set in Portsmouth and takes place during a fateful time in the community's history - shortly after the name had been changed from Strawberry Bank to Portsmouth. The literary year closed on December 9 with a signing and author talk with Kimberly Alexander, whose new book Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era is an expansive look at the important but overlooked role shoes played in society, commerce, and politics in the 18th century. 2018 was again a busy year for music, beginning on January 18 with the annual memorial concert by Mike Blair (vocal) and Jim Prendergast (guitar) honoring proprietors who passed in 2017. In March we had an intimate concert with pianist Helene Papadopoulis. September 30th saw the return of the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival presenting cameo concerts in the reading room from 1 to 5 p.m. In early December was a concert by the Noree Trio in the reading room followed by the traditional holiday concert with Great Bay Sailor. The Historic Portsmouth Chamber Music Series had another outstanding year, beginning with Neave Piano Trio at St. John's Episcopal Church on July 29th. August 26th saw the musicians from A Far Cry at The Dance Hall (Kittery). The Omer String Quartet performed at the North Church of Portsmouth on September 23rd and on October 28th Historic Portsmouth Chamber Music Series presented Emily Smith and Tanya Gabriellian at the New Castle Congregational Church. The steering committee announced at the close of the series that it would be renamed in 2019 as the Portsmouth Athenaeum Chamber Music Series. The Athenaeum presented a varied program of exhibits in the Randall Gallery, starting in March with 'What Hawthorne Read,' borrowed from the Salem Athenaeum. Featuring groundbreaking research and engaging visual content, the exhibit examined over 100 books that Nathaniel Hawthorne had checked out of the Salem Athenaeum library and explored how the content of Hawthorne's reading informed his own writing. Elaine Von Bruns was the exhibit curator. Co- curators Sandra Rux and Judith Groppa designed 'Painting Portsmouth's Elite 1750-1850' which opened on July 13. The exhibit explored the broad spectrum of portraiture available to seacoast citizens in the century before photography became the norm. A gallery talk for the exhibit on September 15th highlighted exciting new research that Sandra and Judy had done on a group of portraits by Albert Gallatin Hoit from the Newington Historical Society. The exhibit also included research by Elizabeth Aykroyd and Tom Hardiman. December 8 saw the return of the annual Proprietors' Art Show, which had missed a year due to the bicentennial celebrations of 2017. Submissions by proprietors, subscribers, and friends showcased the myriad talents of our Athenaeum family. The 2018 program series: 'Remembering the Great War, Home and Abroad' began on March 21st as Richard Candee presented 'Atlantic Heights, Portsmouth's 1918 'War Village'.' At the beginning of World War I, the federal government authorized the establishment of shipyards to construct freighters. One such company was the Atlantic Corporation of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After building ten ships, the corporation went out of business but the unusual housing development constructed for the workers remains. The talk followed the work of architect Walter Kilham, who designed what has been called the finest industrial community of the era. On April 18th, the series continued as Byron Champlin examined '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. We heard the story of New Hampshire residents who were members of the 26th Infantry 'Yankee' Division. Hugh Dubrulle, a professor in the Department of History at Saint Anselm College, presented 'Over There: The Yankee Division and the Ground War in Europe, 1917-1918' on May 16th. At the beginning of World War I, the 26th Infantry Division was assembled using National Guard units from every New England state. This so-called 'Yankee Division' was the first American infantry division to be transported to France as a complete unit, and it spent more time on the Western Front than any other American infantry division but one. We learned of the recruitment, training, and combat experience of this unit with a special emphasis on the 103rd Infantry Regiment which included New Hampshire National Guardsmen. On September 19th, the series continue with L'Merchie Frazier and 'The Harlem Hellfighters: Powered Differently.' The contributions of the 369th Infantry Regiment of African American soldiers that served in World War I, along with their courage, commitment and efforts, was juxtaposed to their experience as black soldiers during the period of Jim Crow segregation. With that lens, the dynamics of their power relationships internationally, nationally and in their community, was explored to better understand the impact of their service and its reflection on contemporary society. L'Merchie Frazier is Director of Education and Interpretation for the Museum of African American History. Carrie Brown brought 'Rosie's Mom: Forgotten Women of the First World War' on October 17th. One hundred years ago, a full generation before Rosie the Riveter, American women rolled up their sleeves and entered war industries where they had never been welcome before. They ran powerful machinery, learned new skills, and faced the sullen hostility of the men in the shops. Brown showed their courage and hard work and the impact 'The Great War' had on their lives as well as how these women helped shape the work that their more famous daughters would do in the next World War. The 2018 series: 'Remembering the Great War, Home and Abroad' concluded November 11th, with Douglas Aykroyd, 1969 graduate of the United States Military Academy and Secretary of the Portsmouth Athenaeum Board of Directors, leading the powerful program, 'Poetry of the Great War.' One hundred years ago, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, World War I ended in Europe. The poetry written during or shortly after this war expresses a wide range of emotions and helps us to gain a deeper understanding of the personal impact of that conflict. The poetry explores the thoughts and feelings of those dramatically affected by the 'War to End All Wars.' On November 15, Athenaeum Proprietor Dr. Fred Schubert gave an illustrated talk: 'New England's Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford, 1753-1814). The talk emphasized his pivotal scientific experiments concerning the nature of heat. His remarkable practical activities affecting the city of Munich in Bavaria was also discussed. In considering these topics, other aspects of his singular life story naturally arose.
Interesting data from their 2019 990 filing
The purpose of the non-profit is stated in the filing as “We, the proprietors of the portsmouth athenaeum, associate to promote learning and advance useful knowledge among our constituents and the wider community by facilitating convivial interchange and intellectual discourse; maintaining our historic building and library; and collecting and preserving materials relevant to the history and culture of portsmouth and the piscataqua region.”.
Their activities were defined as: “See mission statement on page 2, part iii”.
- As per legal requirements, the non-profit's state of operation is reported as NH.
- The non-profit's address in 2019 as per the filing is 9 MARKET SQUARE PO BOX 848, PORTSMOUTH, NH, 038020848.
- The form of the non-profit organization shows 8 employees as of 2019.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $250,000 and $500,000.
- Revenue is between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
- Revenue less expenses is $118,183.
- The organization has 14 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1817.
- The organization pays $204,327 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $49,472 in fundraising expenses.
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