AHSNH Public Programming Award Goes to Exeter Historical Society

The Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire Recognizes the Exeter Historical Society in Celebration of Local History Successes

The Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire honored the Exeter Historical Society for its Lincoln in Exeter Sesquicentennial Celebration, along with eight other projects throughout the state, at a ceremony at the Peterborough Historical Society on October 23. These awards pay tribute to outstanding examples of preserving, interpreting or promoting appreciation and understanding of an aspect of New Hampshire history.

“We feel that this awards program is an important way to thank people for their innovative and generous contributions, and to inspire others,” said AHSNH president Tom Haynes.

Criteria include the significance or impact of the undertaking on a community, region or the state; the use of professional practice, volunteer engagement, and degree of support; and projects or people that act as a model for others seeking to preserve or interpret local history.

The Association praised the Exeter Historical Society’s Lincoln project by noting that: “Exeter Historical Society’s Lincoln Sesquicentennial Celebration organized a town-wide school, church, artistic, historic, and business collaboration that produced ten public events and sixteen school visits to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s historic visit to Exeter in March, 1860.

“This initiative was a comprehensive, well thought-out, and masterfully coordinated series of events that reached extensive audiences, enriched the community, and was of a caliber befitting an organization many times the size of Exeter Historical Society. From the credentials and stature of the presenters, to the imaginative nature of the public events such as walking tours, children’s activities, band concert, and celebratory procession, to the high quality of publicity and collateral materials, this event was first-class in every respect. Exeter Historical Society has set a very high standard for public programs – in the words of the New Hampshire Humanities Council, which supported the program, this was a ‘spectacular celebration,’ with which the Humanities Council was ‘proud to be associated.’”

Other 2010 award winners include
• Carol Christian and the Walpole Historical Society’s costume rescue project for outstanding collections management
• Paula Robbins Page and the Westmoreland Historical Society’s A Historical Tour of Westmoreland, New Hampshire for outstanding public education and programs
• Strawbery Banke Museum’s N.H. History Explorers Program for outstanding public education and programs
• Partners Around Lake Sunapee (PALS) Collaborative for outstanding public education and programs
• Hopkinton Historical Society’s Cemetery Walk for outstanding public education and programs
• Jeff Dalzell and the Hopkinton Historical Society’s Talent and Luck: Walking in Fellowship with Deacon Philip Brown exhibit for outstanding public education and programs
• Toppan’s History of Hampton: The Early Settler by Lori White Cotter for outstanding research and documentation
• Wallace Rhodes for excellence in documenting, promoting and preserving Belmont’s history

The Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire was formed in 1950 to encourage and assist in the study, preservation, and understanding of New Hampshire’s history. It acts as a networking organization to serve the state’s historical societies and organizations, cultural institutions, and other interested organizations and individuals. For more information, please contact Ann Sprague, President of the Association at 603-279-7172, or Laura Gowing, Program Manager at the Exeter Historical Society at 603-778-2335 or via email at info@exeterhistory.org.