| View this edition online»» | October 5 , 2005 |
| Hillsborough Historical Society Success Story | Curator Gilman Shattuck is a busy man. He's overseeing the huge task of transferring nearly 50,000 negatives from the Manahan-Phelps-McCulloch Collection into proper archival storage. Gil is working through the painstaking process of cataloging and digitizing negatives. Within the collection are some very old glass plates lacking identification that were used to make stereo prints. They all are in similar condition and appear to be taken about the same time, probably by the same photographer. One plate is of the building where the studio was located for many years, and the proprietor's name appears on a sign. It seemed likely that he had taken these pictures. Knowing that he was the proprietor between 1872-1875, Gil could at least date the plates. 
Recently, the Moultonborough Library sent a stereo photo that held a key clue. The card is imprinted with the telltale information – “Charles F. McClary, Photographic Artist, Newman’s Block, Hillsboro Bridge, N.H.” – the name that appeared on the sign mentioned above. Persistence and collaboration paid off. Gil can focus his detective work on the many other negatives like the one shown here. |
| Long Awaited Encyclopedia of New England | |
Moving beyond familiar images of town meetings, lighthouses, and blazing fall foliage, The Encyclopedia of New England offers a comprehensive view of our region, past and present. Coeditor and New Hampshire Historical Society trustee, David Watters, worked with leading authorities in the field on subjects including architecture, environment, the arts, and religion. The 1,560 page encyclopedia will be available at the Society's museum store this month. David is professor of English and director of the Center for New England Culture at the University of New Hampshire. His colleague and coeditor of The Encyclopedia of New England, Burt Feintuch, is professor of Folklore and English and director of the Center for New England Culture at the University of New Hampshire. Come meet David and Burt when they speak and sign books at the Society's library in Concord on October 18 at 7 p.m. |
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| Mini Exhibition at the Society's Library | |
A sampling of nineteenth century trade cards is now on display at the library. According to Special Collections Librarian, David Smolen, these predecessors to modern day business cards "are much more fun and interesting to look at than the boring cards produced today." 
Trade cards of yesterday were printed on both sides with an interesting and sometimes whimsical image on the front and information about the business on the back. Images often included attractive women, children, and animals. The cards on display represent only a fraction of the Society’s trade card collection. Drop by anytime to see the display or feel free to schedule a time to see the entire collection. Call David at 603/228-6688. |
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| 2006 Living Legacy Calendar | |
 Twelve museums and historical sites around New Hampshire are featured in this stunning 2006 calendar. Measuring 12" x 24" once opened, photos include the Historical Society of Cheshire County's Wyman Tavern, Strawbery Banke's Candlelight Stroll, and the New Hampshire Historical Society's "Saco River, North Conway" oil painting by Benjamin Champney. Priced at just $5.00, these calendars won't last long. Get a headstart on your holiday lists. Order copies today online by visiting the Society's Web Store. It's safe, secure, and very easy. |
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| An Object and its Story | |
 An ebony cane with a piece of gold quartz mounted in a silver head was recently donated to the New Hampshire Historical Society. According to the donor, the cane had been given to his mother by Gertrude Downing, the granddaughter of Lewis Downing (1792-1873), manufacturer of the famous Concord coaches.Detective work revealed this cane as an example of the rich history connecting New Hampshire with the California gold rush. An article in the June 23, 1860, issue of the New Hampshire Statesman told us that Lewis Downing had just returned from a six month visit to California, selling coaches made at his L. Downing & Sons factory in Concord. During this trip, Thomas S. Eastman of San Francisco, formerly of Concord, New Hampshire, had this cane made and presented it to Lewis Downing on May 20, 1860. A copy of Lewis Downing's Last Will and Testament was found posted on a Web site maintained by the Second Congregational Unitarian-Universalist Society of Concord. It was here that the Society documented this cane as one of Downing's most valued possessions. He bequeathed his "silver headed cane given to me by Thomas S. Eastman" to his son Lewis, Jr. |
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