Docents: For your Eyes Only 2019
Communications
We communicate with notes and email. Use the telephone for time sensitive questions or problems. Notes left on the desk may not be read until the following Sunday. For docent scheduling problems, contact Nancy Crawford; for generic and history questions, contact Jim Garman; for property issues, contact Dave Duggan; for exhibit-related or research questions, contact Nancy Crawford, Marge Webster or Gloria Schmidt. There is a small diary-like book on the desk. Please make an entry if anything unusual or of special interest occurs. See previous notes. There are notebooks on the shelf to the right of the desk that contain information about Portsmouth history, the museum, and past years’ exhibits. Please feel free to read the material when you are at the museum and there are no visitors. They contain a real wealth of information.
How to handle offers from visitors of items to donate to the museum
Before you accept any item, offer thanks, but please make it clear that the contribution is provisional and will be presented to the Curator and/or Board of Directors to see if it should be added to our collection. Complete the Donation and Loan Form (located to the right of the desk) with as much information as possible, particularly its connection to Portsmouth residents/history. Tear off the receipt portion at the bottom of the form and return to Donor. Place form and item on top of flat file in the records room. Please be sure to note whether the item is a loan or donation and ensure donor is aware that items, if accepted, may not be displayed immediately. Please include directions on reclamation (length of loan, when/how/who will retrieve.)
Research Resources
The Portsmouth History Center web site (www.PortsmouthHistoryCenter.org) is a site that acts as a “hub” to direct people to various research sites.
Portsmouth Free Public Library
Located at 2658 East Main Road, the Portsmouth Free Public Library is closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays during the summer. Check for current hours at their website: http://www.portsmouthlibrary.org or telephone (401) 683-9457. The library’s history center contains a fine collection of local information, including many of our records. “Sakonnet Times” newspapers have been digitized. RI Genealogical Society houses a portion of its collection on the reference shelves. Access the Library Edition of Ancestry.com at the library. Wi-fi is available. The PHS website and facebook site also contain valuable information.
Copy Machine
We do not have a copy machine available. Researchers may take notes or use their cameras.
Areas off limits to visitors
The library, records room, kitchen and storage room are off limits to the public and have been posted “Staff Only”. Climbing the ladder in the choir loft is not permitted. Visitors should be escorted while in the schoolhouse and in the upstairs church known as the audience room, and, if possible, in the town hall. Children should be discouraged from playing with exhibits, particularly toys, which are quite old and may be fragile. Safety of our visitors and our collection is paramount.
Contact information (For Docents Only) (This information is for docent use only and then only for time sensitive questions and problems.
Please do not give telephone numbers to visitors). Jim Garman: 680-3214 (c); Nancy Crawford: (401) 601-6472 (c); Dave Duggan 401-450-6460 (c); Marge Webster: 885-1005 (c); Gloria Schmidt: 824-6886 (c). Membership and Sales If you have an opportunity, please point out “gift shop” as our organization survives on donations. We have no entrance fee. Also, offer membership forms if visitors are not currently members.