Fall 2026 Workshop & Annual Meeting
October 21, 2026 / 9:30 to 3:00 • Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center Street, Wolfeboro, NH
October 21, 2026 / 9:30 to 3:00 • Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center Street, Wolfeboro, NH
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Join us at the Wright Museum of WWII for the New Hampshire Archives Group's Annual Meeting and Fall 2026 Workshop.
IntroductionFrom collections care and exhibit curation to research methods and community outreach this workshop touches on all aspects of archival practice in the context of our host site, the Wright Museum. We are exploring material culture through its collection and exhibits, and we are researching the home-front archives of local towns and colleges. A special how-to presentation illustrates the use of research and headstones in the creation of themed cemetery tours. The museum will be open for approximately one hour after the workshop for self-guided tours.
ProgramWe are pleased to offer the following presentations (click on title for synopsis & presenter):
9:30 ANNUAL MEETING
A brief annual meeting to hear reports from the President and Treasurer, approve a minor change to our by-laws, and vote on nominations to the executive board. 9:45 WORKSHOP WELCOME
NHAG President Dennis Pedley will introduce the workshop and program for the day. 9:50 Curating the Wright Museum
From Sails to Atoms: The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is on display as part of the museum's celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Behind every case and every carefully written label is a curator, a team of volunteers, and a story chosen just for you. Justin Gamache did not grow up dreaming of being a curator. He set out to earn a college history degree without any clear picture of what came next. In his senior fall he enrolled in UNH’s then-relatively new museum studies program, interned at the Wright Museum, and never left. 11:00 First & Final FLIGHT...
First and Final Flight: S/Sgt Kneeland “Mike” Parshley A look at the world war service flag, blue and gold stars, and the fate of New Hampshire native Kneeland “Mike” Parshley — downed on his first bombing mission over occupied Poland in 1944. This presentation pieces together his life and death using a variety of archival sources, including the U.S. Army and German Luftwaffe. A years-long collaboration between a local town archives and a remembrance group in Poland concluded shortly after the pandemic with the dedication of a new World War II memorial on the outskirts of Gdynia in 2022. Jim Perkins has served as Town Archivist in New London since 2009, works statewide as an independent historic preservation consultant, and leads adult education classes for Adventures in Learning at Colby-Sawyer College on topics related to local history and archives. LUNCH BREAK / Discussion
1:00 FROM ARCHIVES TO HEADSTONES
From Archives to Headstones: Using Your Local Records to Craft Cemetery Tours. Have you ever noticed that the local archive is a mirror of the local burial ground? The names on the headstones are often names that appear in the town histories, city directories, newspapers, and town reports. As archivists, genealogists, librarians, and historical researchers, we are prime candidates to preserve these stories — and share them with the public. Learn how to use your archive to develop a fascinating cemetery tour. We’ll puzzle over potential themes, discuss research pathways, consider partners, and brainstorm ideas. Erin E. Moulton writes books and tracks dead people. As a genealogical researcher and Derry Public Library Genealogy and Reference Librarian, she has explored the lives of the departed for over 16 years. Erin is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists. When she isn’t tracking down just the right word or just the right clue, she can be spotted sleuthing New England’s burying places, serving as a cemetery trustee and sharing local history everywhere she goes. You can find her online at www.erinemoulton.com 2:00 Dartmouth at war
Dartmouth at War. A look at how Dartmouth students, faculty and administrators responded to World War II in the 1940s. Julia W. Logan is the Archivist and Records Manager at Dartmouth College, where she oversees the stewardship, preservation, and accessibility of the institution’s archival and institutional records. In this role, she leads records management initiatives and supports long-term preservation strategies that strengthen Dartmouth’s historical and administrative continuity. Previously, she served as Assistant Archivist for Acquisitions at Dartmouth, building and refining the college’s collections, and earlier worked as a Processing Specialist in Rauner Special Collections Library. Before entering the archival field, she spent four years as a history faculty member at Kimball Union Academy. Julia brings a strong commitment to thoughtful preservation, researcher access, and sustainable records practices. A Bates College ’08, where she majored in history, she earned a masters’ degree in library and information sciences at Simmons College of Graduate Studies in 2015. Post-workshop tour: Wright Museum exhibits (self-guided) and archives (small groups). |
Handouts, Resources, etc.
We will add a resource page for this workshop to distribute handouts and other resources related to this workshop. You can also browse resource pages from past workshops for helpful resources on other topics.
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