All the events listed in the Calendar are funded in whole or part by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Please use this map to locate programs being held in your area. Complete descriptions are listed chronologically by clicking on a region on the map.

May 2008

May 13 Alton Tuesday, 7 p.m., Gilman Library, 100 Main St.
New Hampshire on Skis
Take Scandinavian and Austrian immigrants, the Dartmouth Outing Club, and the Cannon Mountain Tramway. Cover it with snow and you have the makings of a unique New Hampshire history presented by John Allen, Plymouth State University, and hosted by the Alton Historical Society. Contact: Nancy Thomas, 875-2488

May 13 Wakefield Tuesday, 7 p.m., Little Red School
Archaeology Under New Hampshire Waters
An investigation of three shipwreck sites will introduce you to methods of carrying out nautical archaeology. The sites include one on Newfound Lake and two in Hart’s Cove at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. David Switzer, Plymouth State University, presents this program which is hosted by the Wakefield-Brookfield Historical Society. Contact: Patricia Golden, 522-8225

May 13 Salisbury Tuesday, 7 p.m., Old Baptist Meeting House
A Soldier’s Mother Tells Her Story
You won’t read about Betsy Phelps in history books. She’s no one important, just a mother of a Civil War soldier who takes letters from the battlefield and memories from the home front to weave a dramatic story of life in the 1860s. Sharon Wood portrays Phelps in this living histor program which is hosted by the Salisbury Historical Society. Contact: Linda Denoncourt, 648-2551

May 13 Sutton Mills Tuesday, 7 p.m., Sutton Free Library
Wind of the White Dresses by Mekeel McBride
This is the first in a two-part book discussion series titled “Contemporary Voices from the MacDowell Colony” led by Patrick Anderson, Colby-Sawyer College. This series explores the work of authors who write in different styles on a broad range of subjects and developed some of their finest work at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough. McBride is a widely-acclaimed poet who teaches at UNH. Contact: Carrie Thomas, 927-4927

May 13 Littleton Tuesday, 7 p.m., Littleton Public Library
Stark Decency: NH’s World War II P.O.W. Camp
During World War II, 300 German P.O.W.’s were held at Camp Stark near the village of Stark. Allen Koop, Dartmouth College, explains how the history of this camp tells us much about our country’s war experience and about our state. Contact: Mary Daly, 444-3959

May 13 Salem Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Old Town Meeting House
Ratification of the Constitution in New Hampshire
New Hampshire came close to voting against the Federal Constitution proposed in 1787. A majority of town delegates elected to the ratifying convention came either instructed or personally inclined to vote “nay,” but were thwarted when the pro-Constitution leaders managed an adjournment before a vote could be taken. The adjourned session was also a close call. Jere Daniell, Dartmouth College, will spell out the details of this dramatic story and describe the role Salem’s delegate to the convention played in the drama. Hosted by the Salem Historical Society.
Contact: Jeffrey Barraclough, 898-4852

May 14 Cornish Flat Wednesday, 7 p.m., George H. Stowell Free Library
The Clash of the Ideal and the Real: The Arthurian Revival in New England
How did the legend of King Arthur find purchase in America, and how did we make the myth our own? Two New England interpretations are worth exploring: Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and the series of murals by painter Edwin Austin Abbey depicting the quest for the Grail. Clia Goodwin presents this program. Contact: Emily Cromwell, 543-1066

May 14 Concord Wednesday, 7 p.m., Concord Public Library
Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family by Patricia Volk
This is the second in a four-part book discussion series titled “Food and Families.” Publisher’s Weekly says Volk’s “...delightful memoir is not so much about food as about family, ‘your very own living microcosm of humanity, with its heroes and victims and martyrs and failures, beauties and gamblers, hawks and lovers, cowards and fakes... ’” In a series of vignettes remarkable for their humor and insight, she portrays her father’s father, Jacob Volk, who invented the wrecking ball and made a fortune in the demolition business, and her mother, grandmothers, aunts and uncles. This discussion is led by Jennifer Lee. Contact: Robbin Bailey, 225-8590

May 15 Hollis Thursday, 7 p.m., Lawrence Barn
The Ballad Lives: Singing the Roots of Narrative Art
The medieval folk ballad emerged from the need of a people to express its identity. Simple in form, straightforward in content, it sang a story that affirmed the community’s values while satisfying its need for dramatic narrative in rhythmic form. Later, the ballad was transplanted in the New World and carried through history to more recent balladeers such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. New England culture continues to be preserved, celebrated, and reinvigorated by this genre. Discuss the evolution of the ballad; listen to vocals and guitar by presenter John Perreault. Hosted by the Hollis Social Library. Contact: Gaye Kulvete, 465-7721

May 15 Hillsboro Thursday, 7 p.m., Fuller Public Library
First Light by Philip R. Craig & William G. Tapply
This debut of the first Brady Coyne/J.W. Jackson story is written by two acclaimed crime novelists and fishing buddies who know Martha’s Vineyard intimately. Told in alternating chapters by each author’s protagonist, the suspenseful search for two missing women evolves through a story studded with local island lore, a love of fishing, and details of parenting young children, meal preparation (three recipes are included), and persistent investigation. This month’s discussion is led by Olivia Smith Storey, Colby-Sawyer College. Contact: Robin Sweetser, 464-3595

May 15 Marlow Thursday, 7 p.m., Jones Hall
New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones
Rubbings, photographs, and slides illustrate the rich variety of gravestones to be found in our own neighborhoods, but they also tell long-forgotten stories of the Great Awakening, the Throat Distemper epidemic, the American Revolution. Find out more about these deeply personal works of art and the craftsmen who carved them. Learn how to read these stone “pages” that give insight into the vast genealogical book of New Hampshire. This program is presented by Glenn Knoblock and hosted by the Marlow Historical Society. Contact: Pamela Little, 446-7810

May 15 Berlin Thursday, 2 p.m., Coos County Nursing Home
Better Than a Poke in the Eye
Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto. Contact: Diane Booth, 752-2343

May 15 Jaffrey Thursday, 7 p.m., Jaffrey Public Library
Flashpoint by Linda Barnes
Library Journal hailed Flashpoint as an “intelligent mystery,” and Publishers Weekly praised its strong sense of “turf.” Hard-edged private investigator Carlotta Carlyle uncovers the truth behind the murder of an elderly client; and, as a good-hearted woman, she deals with a homeless young friend, her hapless roommate, and an old boyfriend. This discussion is led by William Doreski, Keene State College. Contact: Jacqueline Johnson, 532-7301

May 16 New London Friday, 8:30 a.m., Kearsarge Council on Aging, 37 Pleasant St.
As We Are Now by May Sarton
Sarton’s novel in the form of a diary tells of Caroline Spencer, a 76-year-old retired schoolteacher who has suffered a heart attack and been deposited by relatives in a nursing home. Subjected to subtle humiliations and petty cruelties, she fights back with all she has, and, in a powerful climax, wins a terrible victory. This discussion is led by Maren Tirabassi. Contact: Earl Abbe, 526-4888

May 16 Hillsboro Friday, 6 p.m., Hillsboro-Deering High School
NH, the Cornish Colony & the American Experience
In 1885, Augustus Saint-Gaudens sought “Lincoln-shaped men” as models; Maxfield Parrish wanted a good place to live and paint. Modern Art and World War I ended Cornish’s halcyon days, but the Colony’s artists, poets, musicians, and philosophers left their mark on the cultural landscape just as surely as they rooted the study of the human condition in New Hampshire’s landscape. James Atkinson presents this program which is co-hosted by the Fuller Public Library. Contact: Denis Chasse, 757-784-7102

May 16 Belmont Friday, 7 p.m., Corner Meeting House
Better Than a Poke in the Eye
Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto. Hosted by the Belmont Historical Society. Contact: Linada Frawley, 528-5667

May 17 Lempster Saturday, 6 p.m., Lempster Meeting House
I Doctored Myself As Well as I Could: Laywomen & Medicine on the American Frontier
Whether using “whet Sheets” to break a threatening fever, enticing a “very long tape worm” from a toddler’s bowels, or bringing an infant through scarlet fever, frontier women practiced a folk medicine - and exhibited a folk wisdom - that served themselves, their families, and their communities well. Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith explain how folk medicine fared in the overall picture of
19th-century medical history, and compare lay medical practice on the frontier to alternative medical treatments in vogue today. Hosted by the Lempster Historical Society. A pot-luck dinner will precede this event at 5 p.m. Bring a favorite dish. Contact: Laura Pinkney, 863-8180

May 18 Dover Sunday, Noon, First Parish Church, 218 Central Ave.
Colonial NH: Origins of Church Life in Dover
The town of Dover had a richly textured early church history. Three different religious groups battled for control during the 1630s. Orthodox Congregationalism won out and managed to adjust when necessary to changing times. The town’s last colonial minister became New England’s most respected historian. Jere Daniell, Dartmouth College, will present this talk - part of the 375th anniversary celebration of First Parish Church - and both describe these local events and link them to the general history of New England. Contact: Diane Fiske, 749-0933

May 18 Keene Sunday, 3 p.m., Congregation Ahavas Achim
Faith, Tradition and Change: The Sunni-Sufi-Shi’i Rivalry for the Soul of Islam
When Muhammad brought the message of Islam to his followers, he revolutionized social, religious, and political systems. In place of the tribe he ordered a new focus, namely the “Ummah,” the community of Muslims believing in the oneness of God. As Islam expanded, differences developed among the faithful. The majority of Muslims adopted the Sunni path of interpretation. But for Sufis, Shi’ites, and fundamentalists such as the Wahhabis, other roads beckoned. Against this background, Glen Swanson looks at the riddle of identity within Islam, the rivalries, and the responses —- responses which too often have led to armed conflict and civil war. Contact: Robert Gewanter, 355-1585

May 18 Antrim Sunday, 3 p.m., Antrim Presbyterian Church, 73 Main St.
Four Hundred Miles Down the Connecticut River
This 400-mile-long river played an important role in New Hampshire’s development during the days of the first settlers, the French and Indian Wars, and other key historical moments. Today it represents an environmental success story. Michael Tougias presents this program which is hosted by the Antrim Historical Society.
Contact: Thelma Nichols, 588-6766

May 19 Merrimack Monday, 12:30 p.m., Merrimack High School
Rediscovering Afghanistan: Lessons from the Home
Using images, historical sources, material artifacts, ethnography, geopolitical data, and personal anecdotes, Jennifer Fluri, Dartmouth College, will share insights garnered from her extensive experiences of Afghan homes and communities. This event is part of Merrimack High School’s 7th International Festival and is open to the public. Contact: Mohamed Defaa, 930-9765

May 19 Laconia Monday, 7 p.m., Laconia Public Library
Sprightly Steps: New Hampshire’s Contra and Square Dancing Traditions
If you would rather dance than eat, if you hanker after live fiddle tunes, if you crave the merriment of plain old kitchen junkets, then it’s time to bring your two left feet to the celebration of country folks’ old-time frolics, which is presented by Adam Boyce and hosted by the Laconia Historical and Museum Society.
Contact: Jennifer Carroll-Plante, 527-1278

May 19 Campton Monday, 7:30 p.m., Campton Historical Society
Better Than a Poke in the Eye
Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto. Contact: David Bartholomew, 536-1077

May 21 Berlin Wednesday, 7 p.m., Berlin-Fortier Library, NHCC
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
A hilarious parody of D. H. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy’s earthy, melodramatic novels, the deliriously entertaining Cold Comfort Farm is “very probably the funniest book ever written” (The Sunday Times). This discussion is led by Ingrid Graff and co-hosted by the Berlin Public Library. Contact: Katie Doherty, 752-1113

May 21 Sunapee Wednesday, 7 p.m., Sunapee Methodist Church
A Tribute to Sarah Josepha Hale
In 1866, Ann Wyman Blake was a resident of West Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this program, Blake (as portrayed by living history presenter Sharon Wood) talks about Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer, editor, and champion of women’s right to a formal education. Hale, born in Newport, NH, edited Godey’s Lady’s Book from 1837-1877. Hale served as a major editorial force for more than fifty years. She authored the classic “Mary’s Lamb,” and led the effort to have Thanksgiving decreed a national holiday. Hosted by the Friends of the Abbott Library. Contact: Derek Tatlock, 763-9757

May 21 Greenland Wednesday, 7 p.m., Weeks Public Library
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
When the Countess Ellen Olenska returns from Europe, fleeing her brutish husband, her passionate awareness of life stir the educated sensitivity of Newland Archer, already engaged to be married to her cousin May Welland, “that terrifying product of the social system he belonged to and believed in, the young girl who knew nothing and expected everything.” As the drama unfolds, Wharton’s sharp ironic wit and mastery of form create a disturbingly accurate picture of a society that denies humanity while desperately defending “civilization.” This discussion is led by Holly Perrault, UNH. Contact: Denise Grimse, 436-8548

May 21 Milford Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall
Better Than a Poke in the Eye
Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto. Hosted by the Milford Historical Society. Contact: Richard D’Amato, 673-2156

May 22 Bristol Thursday, 7 p.m., Old Firehouse, High St.
Sprightly Steps: NH’s Contra Dancing Traditions
If you would rather dance than eat, if you hanker after live fiddle tunes, if you crave the merriment of plain old kitchen junkets, then it’s time to bring your two left feet to the celebration of country folks’ old-time frolics, which is presented by Adam Boyce which is hosted by the Bristol Historical Society. Contact: Lucille Keegan, 744-2751

May 22 Derry Thursday, Marion Gerrish Community Center
Connections Book Discussion
This is the last in a four-part Connections book discussion series led by Hope Godino and conducted by the Adult Learner Services of Greater Derry and the Derry Center for Adult Studies. Connections is a literacy program for adult new readers and adults who are learning English as another language. Preregistration is required. Contact: Kathy Mercer, 432-1907. Learn more about Connections.

May 22 Center Harbor Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Schoolhouse Museum
Better Than a Poke in the Eye
Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto. Hosted by the Centre Harbor Historical Society. Contact: Kathryn Beij, 279-4929

May 27 Candia Tuesday, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 188 Deerfield Rd.
Horace Greeley: The Curious Candidate
Coming to your town: the ever-popular and controversial Horace Greeley, 1872 presidential candidate who opposed incumbent Ulysses S. Grant. Greeley was born in Amherst, although his family fled the state, one step ahead of the sheriff. As the most famous newspaper editor in the nation, Greeley inserted himself into virtually all significant issues of mid-19th century America. In print, he was irrepressible; in person, more so. His terse, colorful, eccentric speeches guaranteed a full house, if only because people wished to hear what outrageous, or perhaps bravely prophetic, position he would espouse. Christopher Emerson portrays Greeley in this living history program which is co-hosted by the Fitts Museum Foundation and the Candia Historical Society. Contact: Ron Thomas, 483-8189

May 27 Sutton Mills Tuesday, 7 p.m., Sutton Free Library
Monkeys by Susan Minot
Minot’s novel is a collection of nine stories which together tell the story of the Vincents, a New England family with seven children, a Catholic mother and Brahmin-background father. The stories cover twelve years in the life of the children, their mother’s “monkeys,” during which a tragic accident alters their lives. This discussion is led by Patrick Anderson, Colby-Sawyer College. Contact: Carrie Thomas, 927-4927

May 27 Nashua Tuesday, 7 p.m., Nashua Public Library
A Stranger in the Kingdom by Howard Mosher
Mosher has earned both critical acclaim and a wide readership for his vivid historical portraits of northern New England residents in his fictional Kingdom County, Vermont. This novel tells the story of a brutal murder in a small town and the devastating events that follow. The town’s new African-American preacher finds himself on trial more for who he is than for what he might have done in this powerful drama of passion and prejudice. This discussion is led by Jennifer Lee. Contact: Carol Luers Eyman, 589-4610

May 28 Dover Wednesday, 1 p.m., Wentworth Home
The Road to War: America and World War II
Most Americans believe Pearl Harbor launched the U.S. war with the Japanese. They’re right - and wrong. That attack and its aftermath were precipitated by events that took place during the years following World War I. While this country experienced the highs of the “roaring twenties,” reeled from the lows of the Great Depression, and enjoyed the “protection” of splendid isolation, we moved ever closer to the next war. Lawrence Douglas, Plymouth State University, presents this program. Contact: Maura Byrne, 742-7406

May 28 Concord Wednesday, 7 p.m., Concord Public Library
Bruculinu, America: Remembrances of Sicilian-American Brooklyn by Vincent Schiavelli
Schiavelli brings to life the stories of his childhood in a Sicilian section of Brooklyn (called Bruculinu by its denizens) and tales from his parents’ and grandparents’ times with humor and boundless affection. Schiavelli remembers the food, the everyday family suppers and the elaborate holiday feasts, the rituals of cooking and eating that punctuated each day. He includes 70 recipes — most passed down from his immigrant grandfather, who had once been a monzù (master chef) to a baron in Sicily. This discussion is led by Jennifer Lee. Contact: Robbin Bailey, 225-8590

May 28 Temple Wednesday, 7 p.m., Friendship Hall, Main St.
A Soldier’s Mother Tells Her Story
You won’t read about Betsy Phelps in history books. She’s no one important, just a mother of a Civil War soldier who takes letters from the battlefield and memories from the home front to weave a dramatic story of life in the 1860s. Sharon Wood portrays Phelps in this living histor program which is hosted by the Temple Historical Society. Contact: Honey Hastings, 878-0862

May 29 Hillsboro Thursday, 6 p.m., Hillsboro-Deering High School
Selected Poems by Robert Frost
No poet is more emblematically American than Robert Frost. From “The Road Not Taken” to “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” he refined and even defined our sense of what poetry is and what it can do. T. S. Eliot judged him “the most eminent, the most distinguished Anglo-American poet now living,” and he is the only writer in history to have been awarded four Pulitzer Prizes.
This discussion is led by David Watters, University of New Hampshire, and co-hosted by the Fuller Public Library in Hillsboro. Contact: Denis Chasse, 784-7102

May 29 Nashua Thursday, 7 p.m., Nashua Public Library
The Guitar and the Devil: Music, Magic and Ritual Among Ecuadorian Indians
Music plays a key role in the festivities associated with the summer solstice and annual corn harvest in Ecuador, as do ritual belief in supernatural forces. The guitarist, for example, makes a pact with the “diablito” in order to gain strength to play and dance without tiring. This talk by Jose Manuel Lezcano, illustrated with slides, recordings, and live performance, explores the connections between ritual, music, and the supernatural, especially among indigenous Andean peoples. Contact: Carol Eyman, 589-4610

May 30 New London Friday, 8:30 a.m., Kearsarge Council on Aging, 37 Pleasant St.
The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner
Joe Allston is a retired literary agent whose parents and only son are dead, and who feels that he has been a mere spectator through life. Then a postcard from a friend causes him to return to the journals of a trip he took to his mother’s birthplace to search for his roots; memories of that journey reveal that he is not quite spectator enough. Winner of the National Book Award. This discussion is led by Sandra LeBeau, Colby-Sawyer College. Contact: Earl Abbe, 526-4888

May 30 Durham Friday, 10:30 a.m., Durham Public Library
Short Stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This book discussion is part of a series titled “The Many Faces of God: Wrestling with Good and Evil.” From the author who gave us The Scarlet Letter, here is a comprehensive selection of his best short stories, including “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “ Young Goodman Brown.” This discussion is led by Laurie Quinn, Granite State College. Contact: Luci Gardner, 868-2390

June 2008

June 2 Concord Monday, 7 p.m., Concord Public Library
A Visit with Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln shares stories of his early life, his 1860 visit to New Hampshire, and the Civil War that followed his election to the Presidency. Steve Wood portrays Lincoln in this living history program. Contact: Robbin Bailey, 225-8590

June 4 Sanbornton Wednesday, 7 p.m., Lane Tavern
Abraham and Mary Lincoln: The Long & Short of It
This program tells the story of the distinctly different paths that led the Lincolns to Springfield, Illinois, where they met, married and began a family. The years that followed their move to the White House were filled with personal and national crises. This presentation is set just after Lincoln’s death, with Mary mourning the loss of her husband, and is geared to an audience of adults and students age 12 and older. Steve and Sharon Wood portray the Lincolns in this living history program which is hosted by the Sanbornton Historical Society. Contact: Linda Salatiello, 286-4526

June 5 Hancock Thursday, 7 p.m., Hancock Town Library
New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones
Rubbings, photographs, and slides illustrate the rich variety of gravestones to be found in our own neighborhoods, but they also tell long-forgotten stories of the Great Awakening, the Throat Distemper epidemic, and the American Revolution. Find out more about these deeply personal works of art and the craftsmen who carved them. Glenn Knoblock explains how to read these stone “pages” that give insight into the vast genealogical book of New Hampshire. Co-hosted by the Hancock Historical Society. Contact: Maribeth Sullivan, 525-4181

June 5 Hillsboro Thursday, 7 p.m., Fuller Public Library
St. Alban’s Fire by Archer Mayor
Booklist says, “Mayor’s long-running Joe Gunther series continues to display this multitalented author’s ability to construct compelling plots and build full-bodied characters. Second in command at the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, Gunther finds his latest adventure in the rural farming community of St. Albans. When the Cutts’ family barn is burned down, all the dairy cows inside are killed--as is teenager Bobby Cutts. As he starts to investigate, Gunther discovers other suspicious fires in the area. Was Bobby in the barn by accident? What do the fires have in common?” This book discussion is led by Clia Goodwin. Contact: Robin Sweetser, 464-3595

June 7 Goffstown Saturday, 2 p.m, Congregational Church
New England Town
This talk is part of Goffstown’s Old Home Day celebration. Jere Daniell, Dartmouth College, will discuss why the incorporated town has endured as New England’s most widespread minor civil unit, the role that Old Home Day (or Week) has played in defining communal identities, and Goffstown’s own experience with town institutions as a whole. Contact: Elizabeth Dubrulle, 497-4272

June 9 Washington Monday, 7:30 p.m., Camp Morgan Lodge
The War at Home: World War II New Hampshire
More than 60 years later we can still witness the cultural effects of World War II. A one-hour video documentary by filmmaker John Gfroerer takes a look at life in the Granite State during the 1940s and helps generate discussion of the War’s impact on citizen’s lives and actions, and how it redefined the way we work, live, and play. Lawrence Douglas, Plymouth State University, presents this program which is hosted by the Washington Historical Society. Contact: Jim Crandall, 495-3416

June 10 Salisbury Tuesday, 7 p.m., Salisbury Historical Society
New Hampshire Gravestones
Gravestones illustrate the religious beliefs, history, and community values of the dead and the living. David Watters, University of New Hampshire, explores the development of Colonial New England traditions through a series of vignettes on New Hampshire burying grounds and cemeteries such as the Point of Graves in Portsmouth, the Derry and Chester Scotch-Irish burying grounds, family graveyards across the state, and Concord’s rural cemetery. Contact: Linda Denoncourt, 648-2551

June 11 Concord Wednesday, 7 p.m., Concord Public Library
Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
New York Times restaurant critic Ruth Reichl shares lessons learned at the hands (and kitchen counters) of family members and friends throughout her life, from growing up with her taste-blind mother to the comfort of cream puffs while away at boarding school on “Mars” (Montreal seemed just as far away) to her most memorable meal, taken on a mountainside in Greece. Reichl’s wry and gentle humor pervades the book, and makes readers feel as if they’re right at the table, laughing at one great story after another. This discussion is led by Suzanne Brown, Dartmouth College. Contact: Robbin Bailey, 225-8590

June 12 Hanover Thursday, 7 p.m., Howe Library
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few have gone before? Simpson’s vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. This book discussion is led by Suzanne Brown, Dartmouth College. Contact: Ellen Lynch, 643-4120

June 12 Ashuelot Thursday, 7 p.m., Sheridan House Museum
Baked Beans and Fried Clams: How Food Defines a Region
Baked beans, Indian pudding, fried clams, and lobster rolls. So many foods are distinctive to New England. Does food have anything to say about who we are as a region? Informative, humorous, and chuck full of fascinating nuggets about the history of our regional foods, this program by Edie Clark covers some of New England’s more famous foodies, such as Fannie Farmer, Hayden Pearson, and Julia Child, as well as an analysis of how the changing times have affected the way we eat. Hosted by the Winchester Historical Society. Contact: Rene Brewer, 239-6350

June 13 Orford Friday, 6:30 p.m., Orford Free Library
Amoskeag: Life and Work in an American Factory City by Tamara Hareven & Randolph Langenbach
Amoskeag belongs to the literature of testimony, offering up insight on work experiences, family practices, patterns of sociability, the pleasures and miseries of life and labor in Manchester’s mills. This book discussion is led by Suzanne Brown, Dartmouth College. Contact: Susan Kling, 353-9166

June 16 Campton Monday, 7:30 p.m., Campton Historical Society
A Soldier’s Mother Tells Her Story
As Betsey Phelps, the mother of a Union soldier from New Hampshire who died heroically at the Battle of Gettysburg, Sharon Wood offers an informative and sensitive living history program from a mother’s perspective. This program includes stories of soldiers from across the state. Co-hosted by the Waterville Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Contact: David Bartholomew, 536-1077

June 17 Stratham Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Stratham Park, Route 33
Popular Music During World War II: Using Propaganda to Boost Morale
World War II brought about a government-sponsored drive to unify the country and increase morale both at home and in the military. Hundreds of songs were written with those goals in mind. This program focuses on these songs and pulls from presenter Calvin Knickerbocker’s list of over 1000 titles, some well-known and others obscure. This event is co-hosted by the Stratham Recreation Commission and the Stratham 76ers. Contact: Frances Masi, 778-0143

June 17 Durham Thursday, 7 p.m., Durham Public Library
Spies in Time
How have spying and intelligence activities influenced the course of history? Douglas Wheeler, UNH, explores the ways great powers have used spies in war and peace. This program traces the history of spying from the Dreyfus case in France (1894-1906) to the Aldrich Ames case in the U.S. (1980s and 1990s). The discussion will focus on how human motives shape the search for secret information and how that information is used and misused in international affairs. Contact: Nicole Moore, 868-6699

June 18 Peterborough Wednesday, Monadnock Community Hospital
Literature and Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Healthcare
This is the second in a six-part Literature and Medicine book discussion series for employees in healthcare settings. Registration is limited to hospital employees. Learn more about Literature and Medicine or contact Kathy Smith at 224-4071 x15

June 18 Francestown Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Old Meeting House
Four Centuries of Fishing in NH: Yankee Character, Yankee Priorities
Nets, spears, guns, clubs, weirs, seines, and fish pots served as inland-NH fishing gear well into the 19th century. The Yankee tinkering and tampering instinct, confidence in new technologies, and the rise of sport fishing brought many new fish species to the state after the Civil War, often with unforseen results. The drift of compromise and short-term economic self interest have taken priority over long-term natural resource health, resulting in a generational tail spin of environmental degradation. The history of fishing illustrates these changes. Is there any good news? Jack Noon presents this program which is hosted by the Francestown Improvement and Historical Society and the Francestown Recreation Committee. Contact: Diana Place, 547-2719

June 18 Berlin Wednesday, 7 p.m., Berlin Fortier Library
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Set in an unnamed Caribbean seaport, Marquez’s extraordinary novel relates one of literature’s most remarkable stories of unrequited love. “This shining and heartbreaking novel,” Thomas Pynchon wrote in The New York Times Book Review, is one of those few rare works “that can even return our worn souls to us.” This book discussion is led by Craig Doherty and co-hosted by the Berlin Public Library. Contact: Katie Doherty, 752-1113

June 19 Grantham Thursday, 7 p.m., Grantham Town Hall
Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez
Arctic Dreams is an unforgettable study of the Far North, the marvelous and mysterious land of stunted forests and frozen seas, of muskox and narwhal, where sunrise and dusk are seasonal rather than daily phenomena. Lopez offers a thorough examination of this obscure world and the history of the Eskimo natives and intrepid explorers who have arrived on its icy shores. This is the first in a two-part book discussion series titled “Ultima Thule: Literature of the Far North” hosted by the Dunbar Free Library. This month’s discussion is led by Suzanne Brown, Dartmouth College Contact: Donna Stamper, 863-2621

June 19 Harrisville Thursday, 7 p.m., Harrisville Public Library
The Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Sir Ernest Shackleton’s voyage in 1914 to explore the South Pole ended when his ship Endurance was crushed by ice. The captain and crew survived for months on floating ice in the harsh Antarctic climate before escaping in a lifeboat. This is the first in a three-part book discussion series titled “Journeys to the Edge.” This month’s discussion is led by Julia DiStefano, Southern New Hampshire University. Contact: Peggy Saunders, 827-2962

June 22 Hampton Sunday, 2 p.m., Tuck Museum, 40 Park Ave.
Songs of Old New Hampshire
Drawing on the repertoire of traditional singer Lena Bourne Fish (1873-1945) of Jaffrey/Temple, presenter Jeff Warner offers the songs and stories that, in the words of Carl Sandburg, tell us “where we came from and what brought us along.” These ballads, love songs, and comic pieces reveal the experiences of daily life in the days before movies, recordings, and for some, books. Songs from the lumber camps, sailing ships, textile mills, and the war between the sexes offer views of pre-industrial New England and a chance to hear living artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries. Hosted by the Hampton Historical Society. Contact: Betty Moore, 926-2543

June 22 - 26 Bethlehem Sunday through Thursday, White Mountain School
Documenting the Past, Imagining the Future Residential Institute for Teachers
This residential institute for North Country teachers of grades 8 to 12 will be conducted by the New Hampshire Heritage Project. It will focus on teaching methodologies in project-based learning using community memory and heritage as a vehicle for reading, writing, research and critical thinking. For more information on this summer institute or to register, contact Kay Morgan at 603-868-2485.

June 24 Greenland Tuesday, 7 p.m., Weeks Public Library
Perspectives on Arab Culture
It is an understatement to say that current events have sparked curiosity about Arab culture and renewed interest in Arab-American relations. Nabil Migalli, originally from Egypt, discusses the cultures of the Middle East, especially the influence of Islam on various nations and peoples. Learn more about the status of Arab-American relations both at home and abroad. Contact: Denise Grimse, 436-8548

June 24 Milford Tuesday, 7 p.m., Wadleigh Memorial Library
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop: A Perry Mason Mystery by Earle Stanley Gardner
When a wealthy man is murdered, a long-lost claimant to his estate appears, as does a bishop. Rife with imposters and mysterious disappearances of key characters, this mystery finds Perry Mason very close to being jailed and disbarred. This book discussion is led by Donna Decker, Franklin Pierce College, and co-hosted by the Daland Library and the Wilton and Gregg Library. Contact: Susan Amann, 673-2408

June 24 Gilmanton Tuesday, 7 p.m., Old Gilmanton Town Hall
New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones
Rubbings, photographs, and slides illustrate the rich variety of gravestones to be found in our own neighborhoods, but they also tell long-forgotten stories of the Great Awakening, the Throat Distemper epidemic, and the American Revolution. Find out more about these deeply personal works of art and the craftsmen who carved them. Glenn Knoblock explains how to read these stone “pages” that give insight into the vast genealogical book of New Hampshire. Hosted by the Gilmanton Historical Society. Contact: John L. Dickey, 267-6098

June 24 - 26 Keene Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Historical Society of Cheshire County
The Civil War & Reconstruction Teacher Workshop
This workshop is designed for educators who wish to expand their understanding of how people from the Monadnock region lived and responded to a divided nation, war, and reconstruction from 1860 through 1877. The workshop will also help teachers become more familiar with the types of primary materials that are available to teach about the Civil War and how to use those documents in the classroom. The workshop will include interactive lectures, demonstrations by reenactors, and the development of a “Cemetery Quest.” Learn more or contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895.

June 25 Andover Wednesday, 7 p.m., Masonic Building, Potter Place
This Is the Awfles Mess I Ever Was In: Women in Waiting on the Home Frontier
Explore the experiences of “women in waiting,” that hidden army of women whose paid and unpaid labors on the home frontier helped support and finance the exploration and settling of the American West. Also featured is farmer Augusta Perham Shipman; former mill girl Almira Fay Stearns; and portraitist Abiah Warren Hiller of Jaffrey. Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith present this program which is hosted by the Andover Historical Society. Contact: Joanna Sumner, 735-5200

June 26 Bristol Thursday, 7 p.m., Old Firehouse, High St.
The Fifties: Getting There and Being There
Sandwiched between the emotional years of the 1940s (the final years of the Great Depression and World War II), and the 1960s (civil rights struggle and the Vietnam War), images from those “middle years” of the 20th century seem rather bland. According to the myth of the 1950s, the nation followed a path of least resistance with tail-finned cars, grey flannel suits, and cookie-cutter homes. Lawrence Douglas, Plymouth State University, explains that in reality, the 1950s set the stage for momentous changes during the second half of the century. Hosted by the Bristol Historical Society. Contact: Lucille Keegan, 744-2751

June 26 Littleton Thursday, 7 p.m., Littleton Public Library
St. Alban’s Fire by Archer Mayor
This is the first in a four-part book discussion titled “Mysteries on Both Sides of the Pond.” Mayor’s Investigator Joe Gunther finds his latest adventure in the rural farming community of St. Albans. When the Cutts’ family barn is burned down, all the dairy cows inside are killed--as is teenager Bobby Cutts. As he starts to investigate, Gunther discovers other suspicious fires in the area. Was Bobby in the barn by accident? What do the fires have in common? This month’s discussion is led by Suzanne Brown, Dartmouth College. Contact: Mary Daly, 444-3959

June 26 Deerfield Thursday, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Church St.
Civilians of Gettysburg: 1863
Ever wondered what life was like for the townspeople of Gettysburg during the great Battle? Sarah Broadhead and Charlie McCurdy can tell you what it was like for them. Despite thousands of dying and dead soldiers, precious few provisions, and the horrors of war, they managed to survive and even find moments of humor. Lew and Ginny Gage present this living history program which is hosted by the Deerfield Historical Society. Contact: Joe Stone, 463-8309

June 28 Unity Saturday, 7 p.m., Unity Town Hall
Wacky Songs that Made Us Laugh
Ever wanted to laugh in church or at the libary? We all need comic relief, and songs provide some of the best, sometimes unintentionally. Calvin Knickerbocker follows the evolution of humorous song from the 1920s to the present. Listen and laugh. Hosted by the Unity Historical Society. Contact: Roberta Callum, 863-3468

June 29 Hopkinton Sunday, 2 p.m., Long Memorial Building, 300 Main St.
Native American History of New Hampshire
The Pennacook Indians of the Merrimack Valley were the largest and most powerful coalition of native people on the northern New England frontier during the 17th and 18th centuries. They, along with their Abenaki allies from Maine and Canada, held off Europeans for almost 90 years during a succession of “Indian Wars,” culminating in the end of the French and Indian Wars in 1761. During this time, Indians and colonists exchanged and encountered each other’s cultures, religions, trade goods, and even kinship. This program is presented by David Stewart-Smith, Vermont College of Norwich University, and hosted by the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society. Contact: Heather Mitchell, 746-3825

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