Historical Lectures, Discussions, Exhibits, Events and Other Items of Historic Interest
Portsmouth has a rich history that needs to be told. Throughout the year, lectures, exhibits and other activities on historic subjects will be scheduled. Other items of historic interest will be posted here.
Historical Lectures by Jim Garman.
James Garman, Portsmouth local author, master gardener and historian is planning a series of lectures. the lectures are being sponsored by the Portsmouth Free Public Library in coorperation with the Portsmouth 375th Committee. The following lectures are planned.
Call the Portsmouth Free Public Library at (401) 683-9457 to make reservations for Jim's lectures
March 7 and March 13 - Founding of Portsmouth (Click here to view the video)
Portsmouth was founded in 1638 by a group of nineteen dissidents who left Massachusetts Bay Colony and with the advice and counsel of Roger Williams, settled in Portsmouth, then called "Pocasset" by the local native Americans. The Portsmouth Compact was the official agreement between the original settlers that bound them together. It was signed on March 7, 1638. This important event in Portsmouth’s history is reflected in the town seal.
In celebration of Portsmouth’s 375th birthday and on the 375th anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Compact, this lecture was presented in conjunction with the PortsmouthRI 375 committee and Portsmouth Free Public Library. This lecture was the first of several talks that Mr. Garman will give during the year recounting our rich and fascinating history.
April 9 - Portsmouth 100 years Ago Town Hall (See Video - Click Here)
Jim's Lecture presented a photographic view of Portsmouth about 100 years ago. Being able to view areas of Portsmouth that we know today as how they looked 100 years ago was fascinating.
May 21 - Traveling Around Portsmouth (1890-1930) How We Got Around - (Click Here for Video)
June 20 - Prohibition (Download Poster (pdf))
July 23 - Island Park
August 27 - The Battle of Rhode Island
September 19- Hurricanes - 1938 and 1954
October 10 - Gentlemen's Farms
November 12 - Portsmouth Coal Mines
(Further lecture details will be posted as soon as they are available)
Special Lecture by Eve LaPlant
Oct 25 - Eve LaPlant Lecture 7 PM Portsmouth Abbey Auditorium - Author of "American Jezebel : the uncommon life of Anne Hutchinson, the woman who defied the Puritans". Ms. LaPlante will give a lecture on her book and have her book for sale.
Portsmouth Historical Society Events
The following event are presented by Portsmouth Historical Society & Portsmouth Free Public Library In Conjunction with the 375th Portsmouth Anniversary Committee
June 17 - The Portsmouth Historical Society Annual Meeting/ Lecture. The Society
is celebrating its 75th anniversary. 7 PM at the HIstorcal Society. Guest speaker will be Dr. Patrick Conley, RI State Historian Laureate and he will discuss "People, Places, Laws, and Lore of the Ocean State." Refreshments will be served following the lecture.
May 26 Thru Oct 13 Historical Society Exhibit -"Southside, Northside, All Around the Town" - The exhibit is open Sundays from 2-4 from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. The Portsmouth Historical Society’s museum is located at the corner of East Main Road and Union Street. Admission is Free
July 15 - Lecture - “Researching Your Family Tree” – Presented by Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Free Public Library - A speaker from Rhode Island Genealogical Society will introduce researchers to techniques and resources for discovering your roots in Rhode Island - 6:30 PM - Admission is Free (Portsmouth Free Public Library)
July 17 - Panel Discussion - "Portsmouth Resources: what we have and how to find it"- A panel of representatives from the Portsmouth Town Clerk’s Office, Portsmouth Free Public Library and Portsmouth Historical Society will discuss the resources that are available for genealogical research within their walls and how to access them - 6:30 PM – Admission is Free - (Portsmouth Free Public Library)
July 20 - Event -”Portsmouth Family Reunion: Our Early Families” - This genealogical social sponsored by the Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Free Public Library is open to all. Our roots will be showing but you don’t have to be a Shearman, Almy or Thurston, come and meet the descendants of our earliest residents. - 10 AM to 2 PM (Seaconnet Sportsman’s Club, 145 Seaconnet Drive, Common Fence Point)
Click Here
(CLICK HERE OF REGISTRATION FORM)
August 19 - Lecture by Monique Laurier "Why Anne Hutchinson was kicked out of Boston"-Portsmouth Historical Society 7:00 p.m.
September 14 – Symposium – “The Portuguese Among Us” - Noon to 4:00 pm – A collaborative event presented by Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club and Portsmouth Historical Society with speakers from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Speakers will explore some of the valuable resources that are available for discovering your Portuguese heritage. You will leave this program with a greater understanding of the immigration patterns that drew the Portuguese to settle in our area. (More info on the PPACC Page)
October 20 - Historical Society - Harvest Social - " A Step Back in Time"
Historic Book "Portsmouth RI"
Arcadia Publishing Co. published 'Portsmouth RI' by Nancy Devin and Richard Lewis in 1995. The 375th committee has approached Arcadia to update this edition, with emphasis on the earlier history of Portsmouth. To date, no author has been obtained, (any suggestions?). The objective is to use this as a fundraiser; we can obtain copies at a substantial discount over the suggested retail price. As an alternative, we could obtain copies of the 1995 edition (update by Emil Cipolla, Oct 10, 2012).
Got Other Ideas?
But, if you have something of significance in Portsmouth's history that you would like to showcase, let us know. We can either help you gather material and form the lecture, or you can do it yourself.
Please e-mail your suggestions to the Steering Committee at sc@portsmouthRI375.com .
Historical Lectures by Jim Garman.
James Garman, Portsmouth local author, master gardener and historian is planning a series of lectures. the lectures are being sponsored by the Portsmouth Free Public Library in coorperation with the Portsmouth 375th Committee. The following lectures are planned.
Call the Portsmouth Free Public Library at (401) 683-9457 to make reservations for Jim's lectures
March 7 and March 13 - Founding of Portsmouth (Click here to view the video)
Portsmouth was founded in 1638 by a group of nineteen dissidents who left Massachusetts Bay Colony and with the advice and counsel of Roger Williams, settled in Portsmouth, then called "Pocasset" by the local native Americans. The Portsmouth Compact was the official agreement between the original settlers that bound them together. It was signed on March 7, 1638. This important event in Portsmouth’s history is reflected in the town seal.
In celebration of Portsmouth’s 375th birthday and on the 375th anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Compact, this lecture was presented in conjunction with the PortsmouthRI 375 committee and Portsmouth Free Public Library. This lecture was the first of several talks that Mr. Garman will give during the year recounting our rich and fascinating history.
April 9 - Portsmouth 100 years Ago Town Hall (See Video - Click Here)
Jim's Lecture presented a photographic view of Portsmouth about 100 years ago. Being able to view areas of Portsmouth that we know today as how they looked 100 years ago was fascinating.
May 21 - Traveling Around Portsmouth (1890-1930) How We Got Around - (Click Here for Video)
June 20 - Prohibition (Download Poster (pdf))
July 23 - Island Park
August 27 - The Battle of Rhode Island
September 19- Hurricanes - 1938 and 1954
October 10 - Gentlemen's Farms
November 12 - Portsmouth Coal Mines
(Further lecture details will be posted as soon as they are available)
Special Lecture by Eve LaPlant
Oct 25 - Eve LaPlant Lecture 7 PM Portsmouth Abbey Auditorium - Author of "American Jezebel : the uncommon life of Anne Hutchinson, the woman who defied the Puritans". Ms. LaPlante will give a lecture on her book and have her book for sale.
Portsmouth Historical Society Events
The following event are presented by Portsmouth Historical Society & Portsmouth Free Public Library In Conjunction with the 375th Portsmouth Anniversary Committee
June 17 - The Portsmouth Historical Society Annual Meeting/ Lecture. The Society
is celebrating its 75th anniversary. 7 PM at the HIstorcal Society. Guest speaker will be Dr. Patrick Conley, RI State Historian Laureate and he will discuss "People, Places, Laws, and Lore of the Ocean State." Refreshments will be served following the lecture.
May 26 Thru Oct 13 Historical Society Exhibit -"Southside, Northside, All Around the Town" - The exhibit is open Sundays from 2-4 from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. The Portsmouth Historical Society’s museum is located at the corner of East Main Road and Union Street. Admission is Free
July 15 - Lecture - “Researching Your Family Tree” – Presented by Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Free Public Library - A speaker from Rhode Island Genealogical Society will introduce researchers to techniques and resources for discovering your roots in Rhode Island - 6:30 PM - Admission is Free (Portsmouth Free Public Library)
July 17 - Panel Discussion - "Portsmouth Resources: what we have and how to find it"- A panel of representatives from the Portsmouth Town Clerk’s Office, Portsmouth Free Public Library and Portsmouth Historical Society will discuss the resources that are available for genealogical research within their walls and how to access them - 6:30 PM – Admission is Free - (Portsmouth Free Public Library)
July 20 - Event -”Portsmouth Family Reunion: Our Early Families” - This genealogical social sponsored by the Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Free Public Library is open to all. Our roots will be showing but you don’t have to be a Shearman, Almy or Thurston, come and meet the descendants of our earliest residents. - 10 AM to 2 PM (Seaconnet Sportsman’s Club, 145 Seaconnet Drive, Common Fence Point)
Click Here
(CLICK HERE OF REGISTRATION FORM)
August 19 - Lecture by Monique Laurier "Why Anne Hutchinson was kicked out of Boston"-Portsmouth Historical Society 7:00 p.m.
September 14 – Symposium – “The Portuguese Among Us” - Noon to 4:00 pm – A collaborative event presented by Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club and Portsmouth Historical Society with speakers from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Speakers will explore some of the valuable resources that are available for discovering your Portuguese heritage. You will leave this program with a greater understanding of the immigration patterns that drew the Portuguese to settle in our area. (More info on the PPACC Page)
October 20 - Historical Society - Harvest Social - " A Step Back in Time"
Historic Book "Portsmouth RI"
Arcadia Publishing Co. published 'Portsmouth RI' by Nancy Devin and Richard Lewis in 1995. The 375th committee has approached Arcadia to update this edition, with emphasis on the earlier history of Portsmouth. To date, no author has been obtained, (any suggestions?). The objective is to use this as a fundraiser; we can obtain copies at a substantial discount over the suggested retail price. As an alternative, we could obtain copies of the 1995 edition (update by Emil Cipolla, Oct 10, 2012).
Got Other Ideas?
But, if you have something of significance in Portsmouth's history that you would like to showcase, let us know. We can either help you gather material and form the lecture, or you can do it yourself.
Please e-mail your suggestions to the Steering Committee at sc@portsmouthRI375.com .