Portsmouth 400th: Two new books commemorate city's celebration
PORTSMOUTH — Two books looking back at the city's celebration of its 400th anniversary in 2023 are being published.
Portsmouth NH 400, which organized last year's events, is releasing "History Lights Our Way, the Official Portsmouth NH 400th 2023 Commemorative Book" and "400 x 400: Portsmouth NH 400th in 400 Photos."
A book launch event will be held at the Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St.) Friday, June 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and coincides with the first-Friday monthly city-wide gallery tour, Art ‘Round Town.
The books are available for purchase at portsmouthhistoryshop.org/collections/pre-sale-portsmouthnh-commemorative-books with "History Lights Our Way" $19.95 and the photo book $34.95.
"History Lights Our Way" is an illustrated, 136-page, soft-cover book that captures a record of the 400th celebrations with essays contributed by 40 Portsmouth authors. The book was created by a committee that included Jody Record as editor, co-editor Chuck McMahon, who organized the essay contributors, Melville Blake who researched and procured all historical images, Bob Lister, who was responsible for engaging elementary and high school students to imagine the future of Portsmouth, and Valerie Rochon, who contributed details on PNH400 events and legacy projects. Designed to build on Portsmouth’s 350th anniversary in 1973 the book recaps the city’s history since then, as viewed through community members’ memories. The book is also a record of PNH400 sponsors, donors, contributors and a review of 400th Anniversary events, programs and projects. The book was sponsored by the International Association of Privacy Professionals and Tiny Bully branding agency.
According to editor Jody Record, “This must-have book features articles, essays and photographs that offer a glimpse of what took place in Portsmouth during the last 50 years, told from memory. It also contains factoids from the city’s 400 year history. It’s our hope that this book will give readers a sense of how Portsmouth has grown and changed and how it remains the same, a small city by the sea whose history is worth celebrating. All of this — the essays, the articles, the factoids, along with a collection of old and recent photographs — is a way to forge a connection between the past and the present, and to celebrate the rich history that makes Portsmouth the vibrant city it is today.”
Co-editor Chuck McMahon added, “This book recounts memories ranging from throwing snowballs in the old Puddle Dock neighborhood, to the day an Air Force jet crashed, to the venerable poet Robert Dunn.”
The second book, "400 x 400: Portsmouth NH 400th in 400 Photos," showcases the best work of the 10 Seacoast photographers who were deployed to cover events and programs during the 400th anniversary. Karina Quintans, who coordinated the photography team for PNH 400, commented, “I’m so thrilled that we had so much talent to draw on to document this important year. We are so appreciative of these professionals for volunteering their time. After a whirlwind summer of photo-documenting historic events, both large and small, I am struck by how great it's been to have this team, to collaborate and coordinate around documenting these historic events, to appreciate the artistic perspective we each brought to the project while sharing our work with each other and the public, to talk shop a bit about photography and to get to know and appreciate each other. If you love Portsmouth, this book will be a wonderful keepsake of the key events of the 400th anniversary.”
Valerie Rochon, managing director for PNH400, commented, “We celebrated our anniversary with lectures, performances, exhibits, tours, a carnival, parades, a picnic, dinner in the street, music and more. .... These books complement each other and provide an opportunity for the community to savor the memories and reflect on our shared and layered history.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth 400th: Two new books commemorate city's celebration
