Proprietors Portsmouth Athenaeum

“The portsmouth athenauem has members known as proprietors whose annual dues underwrite the costs of maintaning the collections making them accessible.”

“The portsmouth athenaeum is governed by volunteer officers and directors elected by the proprietors.”

“Changes to the by-laws as well as the elections of officers and board members are subject to approval by the proprietors.”

“The treasurer reviews with the office manager. He then presents it to the board. The board votes its approval or not. If it is approved it is filed.”

“The board of directors is asked annually to complete a conflct of interest policy form. Each new employee is required to sign off on the employee manual, which includes a description of the conflict of interest policy.”

“The keeper with the board reviews the nh non-profit salary survey provided every two years to come up with a salary that is comparable to other similar non-profit organizations within the state.”

“The by-laws of the athenaeum, including the conflict of interest policy, are on the "about us" page of our website. Form 990 is available on our website and upon request.”

“Friday, february 16 saw the opening reception for the exhibition: "first in the nation: new hampshire primaries - 1920-2020." nearly 100 people attended the opening, which included a gallery talk by the photographer jim cole. A second gallery talk with curator and collector susan romans took place on october 26. An average of 60-80 people attended each first friday art 'round town reception for the show, which ran through november. The 2024 lecture series: "political engagement in new hampshire, past and present" reflected the exhibit's focus on elections and opened with thomas rath on: "an insider's take on nh's presidential primary" on april 17. May 15th brought james pindell on: "granite state politics and first-in-the-nation presidential primary: a journalist's perspective." hannah mccarthy and nick capodice of npr spoke on: "civics 101: what we're taught and what we're not" on june 19. David w. Moore of unh spoke on: "misreading the public: the failed promise of public opinion polling" on september 18. Wednesday, october 16 saw "the paradox of franklin pierce's politics" with hugh dubrelle. On november 13 we welcomed historian ann beattie on "general benjamin butler: rapscallion reformer." the series concluded on november 20 with jack mcgee on :"levi woodbury: from 'baby judge' to u.s. Supreme court (and the threshold of the white house)." our new current events lecture series began thursday, april 25 with melissa paly, the conservation law foundation's great bay water keeper and the great bay stewards host a book discussion on small town, big oil - the untold story of the women who took on the richest man in the world-and won), celebrating 50 years since the defeat of the onasis oil refinery proposed for durham at 3s artspace. Thursday, may 9 featured emily schmall, new york times correspondent on south asia talking about: "the role of the media and the modi pr machine." on wednesday, may 8, we hosted a conversation with proprietors john lamson and lou salome about the work of rain for the sahel and sahara, a local non-profit that benefits women and children in niger. John and his wife lee are being honored by rain for their support. Next on thursday, may 30 we hosted a conversation with proprietor dudley dudley and ashleigh tucker, executive vice-president of the music hall, celebrating 50 years since the defeat of the onasis oil refinery proposed for durham. Friday, september 13 featured a conversation with new athenaeum member, john roese, chief technology officer of dell computers, discussing: "ai, the technologies and the challenges." finally, on friday, october 18 mariana budjeryn spoke about "ukraine's nuclear disarmament and its impact on the global nuclear order". Other lectures included: thursday, march 28 dr. Fred schubert on "the great escape and emigration of scientist from totalitarian europe, 1933-1943," by. The personal stories and work of some scientists, and a surgeon, who left their lives behind and contributed important work in adopted countries during a most turbulent period. As a consequence, continental europe lost its technical dominance. Thursday, august 22 we held an author talk and reading by denis forster: local author and retired new york attorney denis forster will discuss his amazon best seller, freedom and adventure, in which he gives an account of his 1961 overland trip, hitchhiking solo from wisconsin through middle america to texas, then thousands of miles down the pan-american highway through mexico, guatemala, el salvador, honduras, nicaragua, costa rica and panama to the panama canal - likely the first time, and maybe the only time, such a journey has been done - particularly alone. Thursday, november 14 saw a talk, "how findings of "young upstart" science unsettled long held views in religion, statecraft and the law., "by dr. Fred schubert. The talk focuses on selected people and events, including galileo, hobbes, darwin, prohibition, the scopes trial and a couple of more recent lan”