“To My True Valentine” Postcard United States c.1910 Chromolithograph on cardboard Gift of Claire S. Batchelder 1975.45.3.71

To celebrate Valentine's Day the New Hampshire Historical Society is displaying Objects of Affection at the Society's library.

Many objects in the Society's collections are expressions of true love. They range from humorous to sentimental, reflecting the conventions of the time. Colonial Americans made expressions of affection by hand. By the mid-19th century, new printing techniques and ingenuity combined to foster designs and ways of mass-producing Valentine cards for consumers continuing to this day.

Some of the words in this 1764 declaration of love may seem odd to us today, but the feelings expressed are ones we can all understand. The letter, one of the earliest in our collection, written by Deacon John Kimball of present day Concord on May 5, 1764, to his future wife, Anna Ayer, expresses his love for her and his longing to see her.

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"A PORTRAIT OF YOUR INTENDED.
Dear Miss I send you by this card,
The face of your intended lord,
I shut my eyes while folding snugly,
For fear I'd see it and catch ugly."

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Made of wood, ivory or baleen, a busk fit into the pocket or slot in a woman's stays with the purpose of stiffening the stays. Because women wore busks in their underclothing, they were an intimate item. The gift of a busk was generally made by a man to his sweetheart and presumed a connection greater than friendship. This busk features a heart and nautical motifs carved and incised on the surface that would have pressed against the wearer's breast bone. It was probably made by a sailor and given to his sweetheart as a symbol of love during the early 19th century.

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Heart-and-hand rings were popular in America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Usually made by a local goldsmith, these rings were given to a loved one as an expression of affection. This three-part ring belonged to Dorothy Furbish Trickey (1742-1824) of Rochester, NH. The ring has two clasped hands which form the front of the ring and unclasp to reveal a double heart decorated with the owner's initials: "DT."

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The carefully inked verse on this quilt square tells of love between friends and between a husband and wife. The bold red heart shapes appliqued to the white background boldy expressed affection between friends. Sally Plummer Haley (1848-1932) of Boscawen made this square to form part of a quilt for Mrs. Rev. A. A. Brown of the Dakota Territory around 1885. For unknown reasons the gift never reached its destination.

The center reads "Rev. & Mrs. F. Haley." A four-line verse is written between the single hearts.

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Objects of Affection will be on display through Saturday, March 4, 2006, at the Society's library located at 30 Park Street. Library hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the items on display, the Society has a large collection of Valentine cards which are always available for viewing. Contact David Smolen at 603/228-6688 for more information.

Are you hoping to add some excitement to your life, as well as helping an organization that you love? If so, you may be interested in learning more about our current volunteer openings. The following positions are currently open at the Society's library. Hours are generally flexible, although we hope for a weekly commitment of at least 3 hours.

Reference Assistant – Give personal assistance to library patrons, retrieve and re-shelve items, make photocopies, and research queries (mainly genealogical) by mail or e-mail.

Rotunda Receptionist – Give first-time visitors a friendly greeting, tell them about NHHS, and assist administrative assistant at front desk.

Special Collections Assistant – Transcribe diaries, sort incoming collections, create descriptions of manuscripts collections, and do scanning of images.

Technical Assistant – Make minor repairs to cloth bindings and torn pages, replace old spine labels, do preservation photocopying, and clean metal bookshelves.

Catalog Assistant – Assist in maintaining Dewey records in library catalog, add new records, change old records, and do shelf reading (inventory).

The main requirement for any of these positions is your own interest. Do not be discouraged by a lack of experience; staff will provide large doses of training. Additional requirements are a completed application, a personal interview, and a background check. For more information, please contact Bill Copeley at 603/228-6688 or email bcopeley@nhhistory.org.

The Preservation of New Hampshire's Past
New Hampshire Historical Society Executive Director Bill Veillette will present "The Preservation of New Hampshire's Past" at the Salem Historical Society, 310 Main Street, Salem on Tuesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. This visually rich slide show tells the story of the preservation of New Hampshire's history and the people who led the charge. From the writing of New Hampshire's first history in 1784, through the safeguarding of priceless historical documents and objects, to the preservation of its architecture, the state's past has been saved by energetic individuals whose motives did not always match those that drive us today. The free presentation is open to the public and refreshments will be available.

Rug Hooking in New England
The New Hampshire Historical Society will present "Rug Hooking in New England" on Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m., at the Society's library, 30 Park Street, Concord. What started as a practical way for New England farm women to cover bare floor has evolved into a highly developed craft recognized by scholars and museums as a significant form of folk art. Join us for a discussion about the history of New England rug hooking and watch demonstrations by contemporary practitioners. The free lecture, presented by Ann Winterling, rug hooking instructor and historian, is part of the Treasures of New Hampshire exhibition lecture series sponsored by Jefferson Pilot Financial.

New Hampshire may be one of the smallest states in the country but we have many people with big ideas. NH Originals, showcasing some of the state’s most interesting innovators and instigators, launches February 12 and 15 in a special edition of NH Outlook. Beth Carroll hosts the program from the New Hampshire Historical Society's Museum of NH History in Concord. In addition, during February, NH Public Television will air new NH Originals series segments each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on NH Outlook.

The first five segments of the series will air during a special hour-long edition of NH Outlook, February 12 at 9 p.m. and again on February 15. They’ll feature five New Hampshire “originals,” including Maurice and Richard McDonald of Manchester, the founders of the fast-food franchise; Sarah Josepha Hale, the “mother of Thanksgiving”; Ralph Baer, father of home video games; Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter; and Arthur Walden, breeder of the first Chinook sled dog.

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