Mayor Forms City of Portsmouth Task Force to Study a Public/Private Archive for Historic Documents

December 19, 2022

Mayor Deaglan McEachern announced the formation of a Task Force to study a private/public partnership to create a proper climate-controlled and fire-protected facility to preserve and make accessible historic documents related to Portsmouth and the Piscataqua region.

When proposing the creation of the Task Force in September, Councilor Vince Lombardi noted the importance of the historic documents to scholars and amateur historians for research. He wrote, “The City and many organizations (and individuals) currently have and store documents and other materials relevant to the history of Portsmouth [but] the City and these organizations do not have adequate facilities to properly store and preserve these materials.” 

The new Task Force, which is expected to convene in January 2023, is charged with exploring options to create a public/private archive to protect documents related to the city’s past, present and future, and to present their findings and recommendations to the City Council by December 31, 2023. If appropriate, a permanent oversight committee could be created by the City Council.

The Task Force will examine: 

  1. How the City and Portsmouth nonprofits historical organizations can join together to create a facility that meets the needs of archiving and making accessible important records. 
  2. The criteria for including materials in the archives
  3. What archiving methods should be used for these materials to assure each type is protected effectively (i.e. maps, drawings, books, letters, etc.)
  4. What type of space will be required for such an effort including how the space will be identified, procured/created and maintained
  5. How will the ongoing work of the archives be funded? What are the opportunities for establishing trust funds or accessing funds, including local and state monies and private contributions? 
  6. How will the archives ongoing leadership and management be structured and implemented? 

This Task Force will not be responsible for a plan to determine the maintenance and preservation of City records required to be archived under State and Federal laws and regulations. 

The Council agreed that the Task Force will be made up of individuals representing the City and non-profit groups whose missions relate directly to protecting Portsmouth history, including:

  • The City Manager or Designee  
  • The Portsmouth Athenaeum 
  • Strawbery Banke Museum 
  • The Portsmouth Historical Society
  • The Black Heritage Trail of NH
  • Portsmouth Public Library
  • Other people as may be proposed by the City Council

 Mayor McEachern appointed the following members to the Task Force:

  • Richard Candee, Portsmouth Historical Society
  • Alan Cohen*
  • Charles Doleac, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum
  • Thomas Hardiman, Jr., Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Jeff Keefe, Portsmouth Athenaeum*
  • Kristen Peterson
  • Susan Sterry, Historic Cemeteries Committee
  • Emma Stratton, Portsmouth Historical Society
  • Thomas Watson, Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Lawrence Yerdon, Strawbery Banke Museum
  • City Manager’s Designee: Christine Friese, Portsmouth Public Library Director

*Presented for City Council consideration and to be voted at the January 9, 2023 meeting.