The Portsmouth, N.H. Public Library and Its Special Collection: Its History, Its Role, Its Future

Abstract

The project which I undertook at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public Library (PPL) was to catalogue and research as thoroughly as possible the paintings and artifacts of the Special Collection in preparation for restoration of the collection. I did my research primarily at the PPL and made occassional trips to Strawbery Banke and the University of New Hampshire Library for additional information. The sources upon which I drew Portsmouth Directories, the most heavily were the City of New Hampshire Genealogical Society Record, biographies of the subjects and artists where available and micro-film of the New Hampshire Gazette and Portsmouth Herald. With the information gleaned from this research and from condition reports made by Art Conservation Laboratory, Inc. . (commissioned by the PPL Board of Trustees> I compiled "work sheets" on each of the paintings and artifacts. The information in these work sheets will be used by the library in their records and also to help publicize the restoration project.