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The Years of the Life of Samuel Lane, 1718-1806: A New Hampshire Man and His World Visitors experienced a slice of 1700s New Hampshire life in the exhibition The Years of the Life of Samuel Lane, 1718-1806: A New Hampshire Man and His World. The exhibition, made possible by Priscilla Lane Moore Tapley, was on view at the Museum of New Hampshire History from March 25, 2000, through January 7, 2001. A "Renaissance Man" from Stratham, New Hampshire Samuel Lane - whose life in and around the town of Stratham, New Hampshire, spanned much of the 18th century - was truly a "Renaissance man." In exploring the life and writings of this talented New Hampshire farmer, tanner, shoemaker, and surveyor, the exhibition offered a compelling view of life in colonial New Hampshire. In addition to maps and writings, the exhibition included furniture and other belongings of Samuel Lane, including a clock, a quilt, and a canopy bed. His remarkable 60 years of diaries and financial records noted the happenings of Samuel Lane's family and work. The rare and rich documentary legacy presented in the exhibition offered a thought-provoking exploration of the life, career, and concerns of a man and his family in 18th-century America.
Book Chronicles Samuel Lane and 18th-Century Life The New Hampshire Historical Society also produced a major book on Samuel Lane published in the fall of 2000 by the University Press of New England. It was written by Jerald Brown, head of the history department at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, and edited by Donna-Belle Garvin of the Society's staff. You can purchase the book The Years of the Life of Samuel Lane online or by calling the museum store at 603/856-0625. "One thing that's especially interesting about Samuel Lane is how carefully he went about providing for his eight children's futures. The boys got land and farms. The girls received butter churns and household furniture. Samuel Lane worried about the same kinds of things people worry about today, but against the backdrop of the challenges of surviving in 18th-century New Hampshire," said Donna-Belle Garvin. Weather Researchers Study Lane Diaries Lane's meticulous diary entries have drawn the interest of a range of researchers, including a team from the University of New Hampshire's Climate Change Research Center. These scientists are looking at the diaries, which include almost daily accounts of the weather, as they work to determine how the earth's climate has changed over the past 200 years. The carefully preserved Lane family papers are an unusual record of life in 18th-century New Hampshire, telling a fascinating tale of a colonial New England artisan and tradesman. The material items presented in the exhibition - shoes and wallets made by the Lanes, tools that Samuel Lane used to survey land, and even a quilt made for a member of the family - gave visitors a glimpse into their world. Together with his business records and family papers, Lane's diaries form an important part of the New Hampshire Historical Society's collections. Who Are We? The New Hampshire Historical Society is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing New Hampshire history through the Museum of New Hampshire History and the Tuck Library. The Society presents exhibitions and workshops to thousands of visitors each year.
For more information, please contact the New Hampshire Historical Society (dcopeley@nhhistory.org)
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