New Hampshire Historical Society

The New Hampshire Historical Society is an independent nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and interpreting the history of New Hampshire. Founded in 1823, it is headquartered in Concord, the state's capital, where its library and museum at 30 Park Street serve the public year-round. The Society reached its bicentennial in 2023, marking two centuries of collecting, documenting, and presenting the people, communities, institutions, and events associated with New Hampshire. Its holdings encompass thousands of books, documents, images, and historical objects. These materials support research into the state's political, social, economic, cultural, and family history. The Society makes collection information available through its online collections catalog, which provides access to thousands of images and records in addition to the resources available on site. Its library serves researchers, genealogists, students, educators, and members of the public, while its museum and exhibitions interpret selected objects and themes for broader audiences. The organization communicates historical knowledge through several channels: museum exhibitions, library services, websites, publications, public programs, and educational activities for school groups and adults. Its work therefore combines the functions of an archival repository, museum, publisher, research institution, and civic-education organization. The Society's journal, Historical New Hampshire, has also been used to document the institution's own history, including its two-hundredth anniversary through two special issues. Education has become a notable part of the Society's public mission. In 2017 it launched the Democracy Project, an initiative intended to strengthen history and civics education in New Hampshire schools. One result was Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids, an educational resource designed for students and educators studying the Granite State. The project was recognized in 2024 with a Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History. The Society operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by membership dues and contributions. It is governed by a board of trustees and carried out by professional staff. Rather than functioning as a commercial consumer brand, it presents a public-facing institutional identity centered on stewardship, scholarship, access, and civic learning. Its principal geographic focus is New Hampshire, although its collections and digital resources are available to researchers and audiences beyond the state.

The New Hampshire Historical Society was established in 1823 as an organization dedicated to collecting and preserving records and objects connected with New Hampshire. Over the following two centuries, it developed from a historical collecting society into a multifaceted public institution combining archival stewardship, museum interpretation, research services, publication, and education. The Society is headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire's capital city. Its library and museum at 30 Park Street provide year-round public access to historical resources and exhibitions. The institution's holdings include thousands of books, documents, images, and objects. Together, these materials document the state's communities, institutions, political life, economy, culture, and residents. The collections are used by scholars, genealogists, students, teachers, and members of the public seeking information about New Hampshire's past. Access to the holdings is not limited to the physical facility. The Society maintains an online collections catalog containing information about its collections and thousands of images. Its websites, publications, exhibitions, and educational programs extend the reach of its historical work to audiences throughout the state and beyond. The journal Historical New Hampshire has also provided a venue for historical scholarship and institutional documentation. In connection with the Society's 200th anniversary, its history was chronicled in two issues of the journal. Public education became an especially visible area of activity through the Democracy Project, launched in 2017 to revitalize history and civics education in New Hampshire schools. The initiative produced Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids, a resource intended for use by students and educators. The project reflects the Society's broader effort to connect historical knowledge with civic understanding and classroom learning. In 2024, the American Association for State and Local History recognized Moose on the Loose with a Leadership in History Award. The Society celebrated its bicentennial in 2023. Its continuing work is supported by membership dues and contributions, consistent with its status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Governance is provided by a board of trustees, while professional staff manage collections, exhibitions, programs, publications, and public services. The institution remains active and focused on preserving New Hampshire's historical record while making that record useful and accessible to contemporary communities.

• 2024

  Educational resource recognized

  [1]New Hampshire Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids received a Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History.

• 2023

  Bicentennial observed

  [1]New Hampshire Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society marked its two-hundredth anniversary and chronicled aspects of its institutional history in two issues of Historical New Hampshire.

• 2017

  Democracy Project launched

  [1]New Hampshire Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society launched the Democracy Project to strengthen history and civics education in New Hampshire schools.

• 1823

  Society founded

  [1]New Hampshire Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The New Hampshire Historical Society was founded as an organization dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of New Hampshire.

A statewide historical institution positioned as a trusted steward of New Hampshire's documentary and material heritage, combining museum interpretation, archival research, publishing, and history and civics education.

• Research and archival services

  Library and archival collections

  The Society maintains a substantial body of books, documents, images, and objects relating to New Hampshire. Its library and collections support historical research, genealogy, education, and public inquiry, with additional collection information and image access provided through the online catalog.

• Museum and interpretation

  Museum exhibitions

  Exhibitions at the Society's Concord museum interpret selected subjects from New Hampshire history and make collection materials accessible to general visitors, students, and other public audiences.

• Publication

  Historical New Hampshire

  Historical New Hampshire is the Society's journal and a vehicle for historical writing and institutional documentation. Two issues were used to chronicle the Society's history in connection with its 200th anniversary.

• Educational resource

  Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids

  Moose on the Loose is an educational resource for New Hampshire students and educators. It emerged from the Society's Democracy Project and supports the teaching of state history and social studies in school settings.

• 2017Democracy Project: Revitalizing History and Civics Education in New Hampshire Schools

  New Hampshire

  The Society launched the Democracy Project to improve history and civics education in New Hampshire schools and to connect historical study with civic learning.

  Outcome. The project produced Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids, a resource for students and educators.

  Source

• 2017

  Expand into structured history and civics educationStrategy

  Background

  The Society sought to revitalize history and civics education in New Hampshire schools through the Democracy Project.

  Action taken

  It launched the Democracy Project and developed the Moose on the Loose educational resource for students and teachers.

  Aftermath

  The resulting resource was later recognized with a 2024 Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History.

  Source

1. 1New Hampshire Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2New Hampshire Historical Society official websitenhhistory.org