November 8, 2009

Special Collections recently cataloged a collection of records from Fort Constitution left behind by Ordnance Sergeant James Davidson from his time in service there in the middle of the nineteenth century. The records contain correspondence (including circulars and invitations), personnel records (such as muster rolls, orders, court proceedings, and reports), inventories and requisitions for fuel, food, clothing, ordnance, and other provisions, and financial records (such as payrolls, expenditures, and invoices).

Fort Constitution, originally known as Fort William and Mary (or Castle William and Mary), was built in 1632 on the island of New Castle, New Hampshire, at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, to protect and defend Portsmouth Harbor. It became a center of rebellion several months before the battles of Lexington and Concord ushered in the American Revolution. Read more

September 2, 2009

From the Campus Journal:

Jazz guitarist Russell Malone will perform at UNH Monday, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m. in the Johnson Theater. Appearing with Malone will be working quartet members Martin Bejerano on piano, Tassili Bond on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums. This concert is the first in UNH’s Traditional Jazz Series for the 2009-2010 season.

See the article for more information, including how to get tickets.

The Traditional Jazz Concert Series is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Library of Traditional Jazz. The library, established in 1978 by Dorothy Prescott, comprises books, recordings, and memorabilia and is housed in Dimond Library. Prescott’s generous endowment funds its activities including the Traditional Jazz Series concerts.

August 6, 2009

It is with great sadness that we must report that Professor Emeritus of Music Paul Verrette died earlier this week. Paul was long-time professor of music, department chair, senate president, and dogged advocate for increased diversity at UNH. And he was a long-time friend to the Library. He was largely responsible for placing the Library of Traditional Jazz in the Special Collections Department and over the years we have worked together on the traditional jazz series, jazz programming, and in producing the Katrina CD. Since he retired, he has volunteered to help process collections and sort incoming gifts of jazz recordings. And since 1979 he wrote the program notes for over 190 Traditional Jazz concerts.

An alumnus of UNH, Paul was born on July 25, 1930 in Dover, NH. He leaves behind his wife, Fran, and three sons, Paul, Mark and Christopher.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of St. Thomas More, Madbury Road, Durham. The family requests donations in memory of Paul Verrette be made to The Paul Verrette Memorial Fund for Music. Checks should be made payable to The UNH Foundation, in memory of Paul Verrette, c/o Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824.

July 30, 2009

Milne Special Collections recently cataloged a 137 page manuscript diary kept by Abraham Brown of Hopkinton, New Hampshire from 1788 to 1808. Brown, a Quaker horticulturalist, recorded his principal activities in brief entries in the handmade diary, which consists of ten fascicles sewn together.

Much of his life’s work can be gleaned from the diary. One entry, for May 29, 1792 notes “we took up out of the great nursery this Spring 1309 apple trees.” Another records that “about 170 bushels” of apples were gathered from the orchard, while a two page entry lists the trees sold over a two month period from the Great Nursery.

Abraham Brown was originally from Sudbury, Massachusetts and moved to Hopkinton before the Revolution. A successful farmer who gave special attention to his fruit stock, he had extensive apple orchards as well as plum and peach trees. Most of the primitive orchards in the town and in surrounding towns were the products of his stock. He died on April 23, 1812 aged 65. The homestead where he and his family lived has become an important landmark.

For more information, contact Special Collections.

May 27, 2009

New Hampshire Chronicle features the Betty and Barney Hill Collection tonight, Wednesday, May 27, at 7:30pm on WMUR 9. The Betty and Barney Hill Collection is housed in Milne Special Collections and Archives, located on Level 1 in Dimond Library.

From the New Hampshire Chronicle site:

In September 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were driving through the White Mountains when a series of events that they would later recall through hypnosis, changed their lives forever. They say they were abducted by aliens, and with the help of Betty’s niece, volumes of documentation, and photographs and taped interviews have been pulled together in an exhibit at UNH. Tonight we take a special look what it has taken to uncover the legacy of Hill’s.