| View this edition online»» | August 2006 | |
| Learning the Truth About “Honest Abe’s” Signature |
The never-ending quest for truth by the New Hampshire Historical Society and historians in general was recently demonstrated at the Society when two researchers from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, viewed all signatures attributed to President Lincoln in our collection. The visit to the Society was just one of many stops for the researchers, who were taking an inventory of authentic Lincoln signatures at libraries and museums across northern New England. Assistant Editor Stacy McDermott and Research Associate Kelley Boston, both of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln Division of the Lincoln Library, examined and took photos of the Society’s Lincoln collection. They were quite impressed with the Society’s collection of over twenty Lincoln signatures, most of which appear on military commissions. McDermott and Boston identified one forgery among the lot. Upon returning to the Lincoln Library their Associate Director and Lincoln forgery expert, John Lupton, viewed the photos of the document and confirmed their initial belief.
The forged signature is in a letter dated April 30, 1864, and addressed to a Mrs. Lippincott. The letter was donated to the Society in 1925, as part of the Whitney Presidential Autographs Collection, accession number 1925-005. The letter consists of one sentence: “I wish to express my thanks for the book you sent me. Yours Very Truly, A Lincoln”. The researchers immediately identified the signature as a likely fake because the letter was written during Lincoln's White House years (1861-1865) but was not on authentic White House letterhead. This is just one example of how context is used to assess the authenticity of a Lincoln signature or any other historical document. Of course, an evaluation of the signature itself is paramount, but clues are also found by evaluating content, provenance of an item, and the stationery and ink used, among other things. Visitors are welcome to view the Lincoln signatures and related documents in our library collection. We encourage you to make an appointment with Special Collections Librarian David Smolen at dsmolen@nhhistory.org or 603/856-0643. This will enable us to prepare materials in advance of your visit, making the most of the time you spend at the Society. |
|
| Historic Epsom Meetinghouse Threatened | ||
The fate of the historic Old Freewill Baptist Church Meetinghouse in Epsom hangs in the balance. Having been purchased by Cumberland Farms, the structure is slated to be razed to make room for a gas station/ convenience store. Built in 1861 on the 1st New Hampshire Turnpike (now Route 4), the Epsom Meetinghouse has been certified as eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. It is an imposing building, which incorporates Greek Revival, Italianate, and Renaissance Revival architectural elements. In response to the threat, Epsom’s Board of Selectmen established a committee called the Friends of Epsom’s Historic Meetinghouse. The Friends have been working diligently to identify ways to save the historic building. The most attractive option is to move the structure less than one mile down the road to town-owned property, and adapt it for use as town offices and a community meeting hall. The deadline to raise the funds to move the structure is October 1, 2006. The Friends got a running start when Cumberland Farms agreed to donate the meetinghouse and the $10,000 saved in demolition costs - provided they can act in time. Subsequently, the group has received a $50,000 pledge to maintain the building once it is moved. But first, the Friends need to finish raising the more than $100,000 needed for the move itself. If you would like to learn more or support this worthwhile effort, please contact Harvey Harkness at 603/736-4571 or HFHarkness@aol.com. | ||
| Consuming Views Bus Tour | ||
The New Hampshire Historical Society and the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm invite you to join curators from both museums on Saturday, September 23 for a bus tour that will explore the scenery that inspired White Mountain artists including Benjamin Champney, Edward Hill, and Thomas Cole. This bus tour will feature special displays at museums in the region, as well as a tour of Birchentower, a privately owned 14-bedroom cottage in the Chocorua Lake Basin Historic District. Sites and museums on the tour include:
The cost is $65 for members of the New Hampshire Historical Society or the Remick Museum, $85 for non-members. For more information contact Chris MacLeod at cmacleod@nhhistory.org or to pay by credit card over the phone, please call 603/856-0604. Directions, a tour itinerary and other information will be sent with confirmation. This bus tour is offered in conjunction with Consuming Views: Art & Tourism in the White Mountains, 1850-1900, a new exhibition opening at the Society's museum in Concord on September 16, 2006. The exhibition is sponsored by TD Banknorth, Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Charitable Foundation, John J. and Joan R. Henderson, Catherine L. and Joel J. Bedor, The Mount Washington Cog Railway, and Capital Offset Company, Inc. | ||
| New "State" T-Shirt Has it All | ||
Our state's name, nickname, and motto are all here in this custom-designed "State" T-shirt offered exclusively through the Society's store. Wear your love of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Historical Society with pride. The 100% cotton shirts feature the large image on the back and a smaller image on the left front chest. The shirts come in adults sizes small to xx-large, and retail for $19.95 ($21.95 for xx-large). Stop by the Society's store at 6 Eagle Square or order online. And remember, Society members receive a 10% discount off all store purchases. |
||
| Subscription Information | ||
E-Newsletter is best viewed in Internet Browser v. 6.0 or higher. To subscribe to this service provided by the New Hampshire Historical Society, send us an e-mail to newsletter@nhhistory.org and note "subscribe" in the subject line. Just be sure to include your first and last names along with your current postal address. The New Hampshire Historical Society never shares e-mail addresses with third parties. Let us know what you think about this service. Suggestions are appreciated.  |
||
