5 November 2015
Jim Garman Named President of the Portsmouth Historical Society
Portsmouth Town Historian, Jim Garman, has been named President of the Portsmouth Historical Society, replacing Herb Hall, who has stepped down for health reasons. Hall will become the President Emeritus and remain a key advisor to the Society.
Garman brings a wealth of knowledge on the history of Portsmouth and the rest of Newport County. He has authored several published works on a variety of local history topics and was a frequent guest lecturer during Portsmouth 375th anniversary celebration. A professional photographer, He also has significant collections of historic photographs of his own. In addition, he frequently teaches courses on local and world history in Salve Regina University’s Circle of Scholars. He is also a frequent contributor to this newspaper, writing about and providing information on local historical events and personalities.
Garman is a former board member of the Historical Society and has returned to it as President to oversee an expansion of membership and to increase the value of the Society to town residents. The Society is housed in a 150 year old former church building at the corner of Union Street and East Main Road. The building was damaged during last year’s winter storms and is undergoing significant repairs. This past year, the downstairs museum section of the Society could not be opened to the public due to mildew problems. It is hoped that this damage will be repaired in time for next year’s opening. The Society is currently closed for the winter and will reopen again next May.
With the strong support of the Historical Society Board, Garman intends to continue to expand the activities of the Portsmouth Historical Society and increase awareness in the local community to the very rich history of Portsmouth.