Book signing for Portsmouth 400 book '101 Objects' set for Nov. 10

Special to Seacoastonline
·2 min read

PORTSMOUTH - There'll be a book-signing event to celebrate the publication of "A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects" on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Portsmouth Public Library.

Just published, the book is a crowd-sourced compendium of objects and ideas the people of Portsmouth selected as those most important to the story of the city as it celebrates its 400th anniversary. The keepsake, 224-page, softbound book presents full-color images of 101 objects important to Portsmouth history matched with texts from 80 different local authors to celebrate Portsmouth’s unique, diverse and wide-ranging history.

As they prepared for the 400th anniversary of Portsmouth’s settlement in 1623, the editorial advisors, comprised of the directors of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, Portsmouth Historical Society, Portsmouth Public Library and Strawbery Banke Museum, and the book's project director and editor asked a variety of people and institutions to nominate the objects. More than 50 of those contributors will be available to autograph books throughout the library during the event.

RiverRun Bookstore will have books for sale at the event at the pre-publication price of $24.99 ($5 off the cover price).

“We are delighted that this project resulted in such a beautiful book, filled with such a wide range of objects and so many voices,” said Project Director Stephanie Seacord. “Every contributor we invited to participate not only said ‘yes’ they said ‘I’d be honored to be part of this project!’ A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects book and website (101ObjectsPortsmouthNH.org) provide a record of what local people value in 2023, a resource for historians and future generations, and an illuminating tour of the city’s past.”

The book was created as a Portsmouth NH 400th Legacy Project and was sponsored in part by PNH400, Auger Building Company, RiverRun Bookstore, Leading Edge, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Portsmouth Historical Society, Strawbery Banke Museum and a gift to the Portsmouth Public Library from the estate of Richard E. Winslow III, City Historian Emeritus.

The Portsmouth Public Library is located at 175 Parrot Ave., Portsmouth.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth NH 400 publishes to hold book signing for '101 Objects'