New Hampshire Historical Society facts for kids
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Headquarters and library
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| Founded | 1823 (202 years ago) |
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| Type | Nonprofit |
| Focus | History of New Hampshire |
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Chair, Board of Trustees
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David B. Ruedig |
| Publication | Historical New Hampshire |
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Staff
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13 (full time) 25 (part time) |
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Volunteers
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80 |
The New Hampshire Historical Society is a special group that helps save, keep, and share the story of New Hampshire. It's a nonprofit organization, which means it uses its money to help people, not to make a profit. Their main office is in Concord, the capital city of New Hampshire.
Contents
Discovering New Hampshire's Past
The New Hampshire Historical Society started way back in 1823. That's almost 200 years ago! They have a huge collection of old items and important papers. These items help tell the story of New Hampshire.
Every year, the Society uses its collections to teach people. They have a special library for research, a museum, and they publish books. They also have programs that reach out to communities. Their education programs are especially for kids all over the state.
The Society is an independent group. They are a nonprofit organization, so they rely on gifts from people and other groups to pay for their work.
Amazing Collections
The Society is the main place in New Hampshire for collecting and sharing history. They have many resources about the "Granite State," which is another name for New Hampshire. Their museum and library are full of interesting things.
They collect objects, books, old letters, and pictures. These items show New Hampshire's history. Their collections include about 33,000 museum objects. They also have 50,000 books and 1.5 million pages of old writings. Plus, there are 800,000 pages of newspapers and 250,000 photos! They even have 10,000 old posters (called broadsides) and other paper items. These items cover history from ancient times to today. They show the state's economy, politics, social life, and culture.
Help with Your Research
The New Hampshire Historical Society staff can help you. They can assist with general research about New Hampshire history. They can also help if you are looking into your family's history (genealogy). They use all the resources in their library and museum to help you. You can ask for research help by contacting the Society.
Exploring Their Buildings
The Society's main building is at 30 Park Street in Concord. This is where you'll find the research library. It also has exhibits and programs for schools and the public. This beautiful building was built in 1911. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There's another building at 6 Eagle Square. It's called the Hamel Center. This building used to hold the museum exhibits. Now, it's used to manage the collections and for offices.
Cool Exhibitions
The Society often changes its exhibitions. They show different topics about New Hampshire history. They also have long-term displays of special items. These include paintings and furniture made in New Hampshire. You can also see the original eagle from the New Hampshire State House. Plus, they have flags from the Revolutionary War!
Learning and Sharing
Education Programs
The Society offers many ways to learn. They have school tours at the museum. They also bring programs to classrooms across the state. They offer workshops, talks, and demonstrations. You can even take courses or join family days. They also help local historical groups and libraries. The Society has even published a history curriculum for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Publications and News
The Society publishes a journal twice a year called Historical New Hampshire. They also have a newsletter that comes out every three months. This newsletter shares information about their events and activities. They also create special books like exhibition catalogs and guides for schools. Their publications have even won awards!
How the Society Works
Governing Board and Staff
A group of people called the board of trustees guides the Society. The Society has 13 full-time and 25 part-time staff members. They also have about 80 volunteers who help out.
Working with Other Groups
The New Hampshire Historical Society is part of a group called the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium. This group has 18 other cultural organizations. They offer grants to people who want to study their collections.
Becoming a Member
All the programs and services at the New Hampshire Historical Society are possible because of its members. People, foundations, and businesses give money to support their work.
Official Recognition
The New Hampshire Historical Society is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means they meet high standards for museums.
