The Society has recently conserved a rare and important map of Portsmouth. The map, bequeathed to the Society by Dorothy M. Vaughan in 2004, arrived rolled up and in a condition so fragile that researchers were unable to use it. Extreme dirt and flaking on the surface of the map were two of the most significant problems along with water and light damage.

The Society quickly made professional conservation of the map a priority and it is now available to researchers. Restoration included surface cleaning, lining the back of the map with Japanese paper for support, repairing pieces flaking off of the surface, and Mylar encapsulation.

Everyone with an interest in late 19th-century Portsmouth will find this map extremely useful. Entitled Map of the City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, it was printed in 1876 by F. W. Beers & Co. of New York City. Measuring 51 x 48 inches, this map of the entire city shows roads, rail lines, names of buildings, property lines, and names of property owners. After extensive searching, the only other copy of this rare map we have been able to locate is at the Library of Congress. That version is in three sheets, while the Society’s copy is a single sheet.

The Society’s eighth annual Advanced Placement Conference was held March 13-15 in Concord. Over three days, nearly 250 high school juniors from 10 schools learned what to expect on the A.P. U. S. History exam. A significant portion of the rigorous exam consists of analyzing primary sources and writing a thoughtful essay in response to a Document Based Question. Speakers discussed how historians interpret sources to gather evidence and draw conclusions.

William O. Kellogg, St. Paul's School, retired, and author of the official Barron's study guide, was the keynote speaker. Kellogg provided a summary of what essay readers expect when evaluating student responses based on primary source analysis.

Other sessions provided insights on how to analyze specific types of documents likely to appear on the exam. Gary Samson of the New Hampshire Institute of Art discussed how historians use photos in their research. Students had a chance to apply these insights in an activity where they analyzed several Civil War-era photographs taken by Concord-based photographer Henry P. Moore. The conference’s final session, led by the Society’s Director of Education Mark Foynes, asked students to consider how popular song lyrics reflect larger historical developments.

The conference was funded, in part, by the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation Network.

Sponsored by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and Historic Belknap Mill, this statewide gathering will help citizens across the state save threatened community landmarks, maintain large civic structures, find new uses for old structures, and utilize preservation planning tools. Participants may choose from a variety of interactive panel discussions, affinity group roundtables, tours and much more. Sessions will feature topics on how to save and steward historic properties and participants will receive practical information, resource materials and contact lists.

The conference will be held on Tuesday & Wednesday, April 11-12, at the Historic Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon Street, Laconia, NH. Advance registration is required. For more information, contact Historic Belknap Mill at 603/524-8813, www.belknapmill.org or the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance at 603/224-2281, www.nhpreservation.org.

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