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 […]

May 8 – Walking Tour of Portsmouth Friends Churchyard Visitors joined Stephen Luce for a walking tour of the Portsmouth Friend’s Churchyard.  You will learn about the history of the 1702 Meeting House, which is the 2nd oldest church in R.I. and the 20th oldest in America.  (The Meeting House was open for a quick

April 23 -Guests joined author Amanda Quay Blount as she presented the intriguing research that led to her new book, Meet Me At The Biltmore: 100 Years at Providence’s Most Storied Hotel. Dive into the hotel’s fascinating beginnings as a public exercise in civic engagement; explore its scandalous early days during Prohibition; and meet the

March 29, 2023 “Dark Voyages”, Lecture by Christian McBurney Portsmouth Historical Society Presented “Dark Voyage” by Historian Christian McBurney on March 29. Portsmouth, RI – Historian Christian McBurney spoke his new book, Dark Voyage:  An American Privateer’s War on Britain’s African Slave Trade (Westholme, 2022).  Based primarily on a little-known ship’s log penned by a

March 7, 2023 Portsmouth Celebrates Founders’ Day   The Portsmouth Historical Society had a Founders’ Day Ceremony with a public viewing of the original founding document, the 1638 Portsmouth Compact, with the RI State Archives to commemorate its signing. The  385-year-old precious document, one of the oldest and most important documents in the State Archives,

  Feb 16, 2023 – The Portsmouth Historical Society hosted its Fifth Annual Portsmouth History Trivia Night on Thursday February 16, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at The Gulf Stream Bar & Grille, a perennial host for the event, whose building itself is a part of Portsmouth’s history. The restaurant is housed in

Jan 25, 2023 – Jim Garman Lecture “North Portsmouth” The Portsmouth Historical Society and Common Fence Point Arts, Wellness, and Community Center co-hosted a well-illustrated lecture “The History of North Portsmouth” by Jim Garman, Portsmouth Town Historian The northern part of Portsmouth has a great deal of historical importance. The original founders arrived in 1638

Dec 8, 2022 – Members’ Annual Meeting was held at the museum. President Anne Northup Burns provided an overview of 2022 actvities before a presentation by Maria Vasquez on the museum’s historic flags. Download a PDF copy of the presentation = click here Featured Program UNDERSTANDING OUR FLAGS: FROM THE CIVIL WAR AND EARLIER Guest

Indigenous Peoples of Portsmouth During the Colonial Period Many people may be unaware of the influences and contributions of indigenous peoples, such as the Narragansett and the Pokanoket, in the early history of Portsmouth. There is a general feeling and misconception that once Aquidneck Island was transferred to the English, indigenous peoples were no longer

Oct 23, 2022 – The Socity was pleased to offer the museum and grounds for a ceremony to remember the Marines lost as a result of the terrorist bomb attack of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon on Oct 23, 1983.