About the Portsmouth Historical Society
The Portsmouth Historical Society, incorporated in 1938, is a non-profit volunteer educational organization devoted to the preservation of Portsmouth's historic buildings, sites, and artifacts.
The Portsmouth Historical Society has worked to preserve the Christian Union Church (1865) as its headquarters and museum by using grants from the Champlin Foundations. The outside of the building and the upstairs are church are completed. The cataloging of items and the creation of exhibits using the various artifacts collected over the past 60 years is an ongoing process.
The Southermost School (1725) was moved to the Portsmouth Historical Society site in 1952. It has been entered on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Old Town Hall (c. 1850) was moved to the Portsmouth Historical Society site in 1975.
The Board of Directors meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum.
The Portsmouth Historical Society:
- provides programs of interest about Portsmouth to the public;
- has provided assistance with genealogical searches and property identification;
- has provided tours of various historical sites;
- members participated in the provision and dedication of the memorials to Anne Hutchison; and Mary Dyer which were placed at Founders' Brook;
- has hosted meetings of the League of Historical Societies;
- has a cooperative relationship with the Portsmouth Conservation Commission;
- members participated in the survey of Portsmouth's family and historical cemeteries.
Board Members for 2008 – 2010
| President | Herbert Hall |
| Vice President | Carolyn Nelson |
| Treasurer | Raymond Cotta |
| Corresponding Secretary | Andrea D’Errico |
| Recording Secretary | Joy Schuur |
| Librarian/Curator | Marjorie Linhares |
| Custodian | Herbert Hall |
Board of Directors
| 2009 | Clare Fay Nancy Lawton Gloria Schmidt |
| 2010 | Al Honnen Pat Chase Verna Westhaver |
| 2011 | Betsy Dees Brent Griffin Marjorie Wilkey |