ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REVOLUTION

The story of how a London squire's library ended up in Portsmouth has all the ingredients of an international thriller. Portsmouth Athenaeum Keeper Tom Hardiman tells this tale in the new exhibit, "Money, Revolution and Books.” The exhibit centers on the Athenaeum's Library of John Fisher of London. Tom says he’s “dumbfounded” that the story hasn’t been told before, (Continued below)

It became fashionable in Victorian times to wear  the dead bodies of colorful birds attached to women’s hats. Isles of Shoals poet Celia Thaxter abhorred this practice and fought among others to end this fashion statement. Her powerful 1886 essay on the topic is among the first heartfelt environmental statements on the topic published in America. “Women’s Heartlessness” is reprinted here in full. (See complete article below)

SEACOAST POEMS

The McGuffey Readers outsold the Bible and the dictionary in their day, providing texts for school kids and teachers. This sweet Christmas poem by Portsmouth-born Celia Thaxter first appeared in the Victorian era, but was still being used well into the 20^th century as a holiday homework assignemtn. (See poem below)

LITERARY LIONS

As Edward Stanton said on Lincoln’s demise" "Now he belongs to the angels." Or was that "ages"? That is exactly the kind of wordplay in which Robert Dunn reveled. His departure at age 65 has left Portsmouth sad, but his poetry will leave us forever amused. And wherever Robert is – he too, we know for sure – is as amused as ever.  

FAMOUS PEOPLE 

Only after his untimely death did the Seacoast recognize its debt to Joe. Known to the public as a businessman, landlord and developer, Joe was an unstoppable philanthropist. His hand, it turned out, was everywhere. But he did not just give away money. Joe taught people to multiply his gifts like the loaves and fishes.

FAMOUS NH PEOPLE

Every town name tells a story. In New Hampshire there was a burst of naming in the heady days just before the American Revolution. Francestown and Deering were gifts of love from the Portsmouth-based governor, the origins of which reveal a most intriguing woman. Reporter Deb McGrath tracks the tale.

BAD BOY TOM 

Opened in 1908, the Thomas Bailey Aldrich Memorial is New Hampshire’s longest-surviving museum. It is a literary  shrine to a single novel – The Story of a Bad Boy. This walking tour is presented by Aldrich’s widow Lilian who created the museum. A century after it opened, the tour is literally unchanged, at Strawbery Banke.

SEACOAST ARTISTS

He was a man on a mission. After retiring to Portsmouth, artist Harry S. Harlow painted every major colonial doorway in the Piscataqua region – at least 200 all told. Today his highly accurate work has become an important tool for those studying the architecture of bygone days, and grand homes that are often lost to history. (see feature and photos below) 

STORY OF A BAD BOY

Tom Bailey was a well known hell-raiser and American literary hero even before Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Yet "The Story of a Bad Boy" has never been dramatized – until now. Learn why the "bad boy" genre was born in post Civil War Portsmouth, NH

BAD BOY TOM 

In his day, Aldrich was best known for his lyrical and romantic poetry, but his verse is now considered only among the most minor of poets. His reputation stands almost entirely on one bold American novel. This bio comes from an early 20^th century collection.