Chef James Haller will be here to give a brief presentation and to sign his new book, At the End of Ceres Street: A Chef’s Salute to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Thursday, November 18th, from 5:30 pm to 7pm. Come meet the man himself and get your copy of the book signed by the author!
Please note that masks are required for everyone at Portsmouth Historical Society. For large, in-person events such as these, we request all guests provide either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from the last 48 hours.
Please note that for large, indoor gatherings such as these, we are requiring visitors to be provide proof of COVID vaccination, or a negative COVID test from the past 48 hours upon entry. Masks are required indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Meet Sue Ann!
Portsmouth Historical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Sue Ann Pearson as our new Director of Development. Pearson comes to PHS with a full resume of non-profit organizations as director in both fundraising and marketing. We look forward to a productive fall as the Advancement Office is busy with mailings and end of year appeals!
Join in on the Sweet Fun!
IT’S GINGERBREAD TIME! Sign up today to enter your own gingerbread creation in the 31st Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition! Don’t know where to start? Come see our current exhibitions for some inspiration! This year’s theme is Our Favorite 603 Things!
The John Paul Jones House will be open to the public only one more day this year – Veterans Day! Keeping this local landmark looking it’s best is a lot of upkeep. This summer, thanks to funds received through the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance from the 1772 Foundation and hard work by the Portsmouth Painting Company, the house got a fresh coat of paint! Plus, Portsmouth Painting Company had a little fun… they did a remake of a classic paint ad from 1989 that featured JPJ. Check it out here!
J. Dennis Robinson will be here to sign copies of his new, thrilling murder mystery that takes place in Portsmouth (and features our very own John Paul Jones House!) Can’t make it? Get your copy at the online Museum Shop.
We’ll also be announcing the winners of this year’s Young Writer’s Contest and handing out the fabulous prizes!
John Paul Jones House Last Day of the Season: Monday, October 11
The leaves are turning, and it’s time to close up for the season! The John Paul Jones House will be closed to the public after Monday, October 11, with one exception. We will be open on the afternoon of Veterans Day to honor those who dedicate themselves to the service of their country.
Gingerbread is Coming Soon!
Fall is here, and that means we’re gearing up for the sweet extravaganza that is the annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibition!
This year’s theme is all about New Hampshire. What’s your favorite 603 thing? Of course, we’ll be doing the raffles, scavenger hunts, and awards, so start thinking about your entry today!
at the John Paul Jones Historic House Museum 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH
Open 7 days, 11 am–5 pm
Admission:
FREE FREE FREE FREE $7.50
Portsmouth Historical Society Members Seniors 70+ Children under 18 Active & retired military Adults
Admission grants access to the John Paul Jones Historic House Museum at 43 Middle Street, at the galleries in the Academy Building at 10 Middle Street, and can be applied toward a discount on historical walking tours or towards an annual membership
In 1920, the Portsmouth Historical Society (incorporated in 1917) opened the doors of its newly acquired John Paul Jones House as a museum of Seacoast history. Part of the Society’s mission was to collect “Treasures Rich in Historic Memories.” That included preserving the 1758 colonial dwelling thought to have housed John Paul Jones, touted as the father of the American Navy, during one or more of his visits to Portsmouth in 1777 and 1781.
Trinkets, tophats, teapots, and drink trays!
The life of John Paul Jones—as both a hero of the American Revolution and an icon of the colonial revival, shrouded in myth and memory—became a collecting theme for the Society.
In addition, and more broadly, the Society’s goal was to illustrate the contours of Portsmouth history through the display of its material life, a rich story told through an eclectic group of paintings and prints; furniture, ceramics, and other decorative arts; quilts and coverlets, samplers, and clothing; marine art and artifacts; souvenirs and memorabilia; materials related to local businesses; and many other kinds of objects either made in the Seacoast or with a history of ownership in the area.
In the 1920s, many local families—Salter, Dow, Rice, Gray, Knox, and Vaughan among them—stepped up to give their family treasures, establishing an ongoing tradition of generosity. Later, gifts from others and a substantial bequest from Annie Appleton Ferree expanded the collection. In recent years many donors, such as Jean Sawtelle, Hollis Brodrick, and others, have enhanced and expanded our holdings. A high percentage of our collection is on display throughout the various rooms of the John Paul Jones House.
This exhibition celebrates our long and ongoing history as a collecting institution. It features a few of the myriad varieties and types of objects that the Society has acquired during the past century, nearly all as gifts. Some have been in the collection for many years, while others are more recent additions.
The Society remains the only institution devoted to collecting the entire trajectory of Portsmouth-area history, and continuing that effort is an institutional priority. We welcome you to join us in our quest to document and preserve the tangible aspects of the Seacoast’s unique story.
Edwin Plummer’s portraits of the Cheevers
We are proud to display for the first time since their restoration the portraits of Benjamin and Mary Cheevers by Edwin Plummer. Donated by Kimberley Leach, a descendant of the sitters, these wonderful 1830s portraits were researched by scholar Deborah M. Child, and restored by Mehlin Conservation with funds provided by Michaela Neiro, Deborah M. Child, Susan Zuckert, and Lisa Mehlin.
Attributed to Edwin Plummer (1802–1880), Mary Tarlton (Holbrook) Cheever, Portsmouth, 1833. Oil on canvas. Gift of Kimberley G. Leach in honor of her father, D. Wallace Leach, Jr. (2019.017)
Mary Tarlton (Holbrook) Cheever’s portrait was in fairly serious need of attention. Torn from the stretchers at the top, with a hole punched through the canvas above her left arm, small areas of paint loss throughout, and nearly two centuries of accumulated dirt made it difficult to appreciate her formidable gaze.
This pair of portraits was handed down through six generations of the donor’s family until she presented them to the Society in 2019. They depict Benjamin Cheever (1804–1894), a clothier (or merchant tailor) who entered the real estate business later in life, and his wife Mary (1799–1880). Married in 1825, the couple had nine children. Benjamin was also a state representative and a strong abolitionist. Research by the art historian Deborah M. Child suggests that these were probably painted by Edwin Plummer in the fall of 1833, when the artist was in Portsmouth. The local newspaper observed at the time: “We had frequently heard of Mr. Plummer’s productions and on examination are highly pleased with the accuracy of expression delineated in . . . his portraits. Ladies and gentleman who have a taste for the Fine Arts could not feel otherwise than gratified with visiting Mr. Plummer’s Room.” Several generous donors have provided funds to conserve the paintings and the frames.
Attributed to Edwin Plummer (1802–1880), Benjamin Cheever, Portsmouth, 1833. Oil on canvas. Gift of Kimberley G. Leach in honor of her father, D. Wallace Leach, Jr. (2019.018) While Mr. Cheever was in better shape (in need of cleaning and a few areas of paint loss), you can see from the “before” photo, taken with the light coming from just the right angle, that some previous cleaning had been done… so vigorously scrubbed, in fact, that the protective varnish on his face was all but gone.
