May 11, 2023 – Lecture “Abby Sherman Diaries” – Jim Garman
The Life of Abby A. Sherman
Portsmouth town historian Jim Garman discussed the life of Abby A. Sherman (1847-1933) based on her diaries which he transcribed. Abby was a farmer’s wife, mother of three sons, a founder of the Portsmouth Free Public Library, a suffragist, and active in local charities. From 1898 to 1931, she recorded accounts of many activities in the town including descriptions of her fellow citizens. Her writings tell us about the ceremonies establishing the Portsmouth Free Public Library; events during World War I and how they affected the town; her experiences in helping women get the right to vote; and the coming of the trolley lines to town.
The talk was illustrated with quotations from her diary in a time that Portsmouth was adapting to the 20th century.
