Welcome to
Peter E. Randall Publisher's Town History Herald, an e-newsletter for groups and individuals who are planning a history related book project
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Jean Doyle, author of Life in Newburyport says:
"Peter Randall, my publisher, encouraged me from the beginning to continue with my work. Since this was my first attempt to write a book, I needed someone like Peter E. Randall Publisher to show me the way. The quality of the book, the layout and design work done... all contributed to the appeal of my book."
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 New from Peter E. Randall Publisher...
Strawbery Banke: A Seaport Museum 400 Years in the Making, by J. Dennis Robinson, is now available from the Strawbery Banke Museum store and will soon be in bookstores.
Ken Burns, filmmaker, calls it "an important book." The clothbound, heavily illustrated volume is a lively, candid account of 400 years of history, relating the founding of Strawbery Banke Museum, on the waterfront in historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Award winning author J. Dennis Robinson writes in a compelling style that makes for an enjoyable read and accessible history.
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Ten Good Reasons to Publish History Part I
[Part 2 coming in February, 2008]
By Deidre Randall, CEO
Collecting, archiving and sharing the history of your community are the basic tasks of historical societies. Creating a town history in book form can be the next step for groups that have amassed a large amount of valuable information, who are wondering how to make it more accessible to the public. Many times a group may have differing opinions about what to do with the information and items they have collected.
Often there is a physical display somewhere in the town, but usually it is only available at limited times of the week or year. For it to be shared, folks must come in and view it, perhaps take an organized tour, or attend a speaker series. The idea of a book often comes about when an anniversary approaches. The idea of writing and publishing a book can be overwhelming, which can halt the process before it gets off the ground. It generally takes the effort of a group of dedicated members to make a publication happen, but an individual with motivation and a clear vision can also be the guiding force.
We have created this list of ten good reasons to publish, in order to highlight the advantages of publishing a book and assist you in sharing your dream with the larger group. This list can also be used to help in communicating to funding sources the importance of a book project. The first five reasons are presented here and the next five will be in the February edition. We appreciate your feedback and invite you to share your own reasons with us, if we don't cover them here.
- Preservation is important. It's a sacred trust.
- Celebrate your community's longevity.
- Establish a legacy for the future.
- Memorialize community leaders and activities in a touchable archive.
- Unite your community around a concrete common goal.
ˇPreservation is important, a sacred trust - Historical preservation is clearly an important task and, some would say, a sacred trust. There are many benefits to be gained from creating a history in book format. So why publish a history? "Why not?" says David Dutch, co-editor of Doughty Falls, a town history for North Berwick, Maine. Dutch suggests, "Do it for posterity. It's the duty of the town to preserve the heritage of their community." Publishing a town history is going to take time and effort, but it will bring about great rewards in the long-run.
ˇCelebrate your community's longevity - The anniversary of a community's longevity is an important benchmark for celebration. Some towns choose to embark on the creation of a town history to celebrate an anniversary, such as a centennial. Most towns begin the planning process for such a celebration several years in advance. Plans may include special events that will be held in the town over a period of time, but the publication of a book insures that this celebration will have a special significance. It will be a time remembered by all for years to come.
ˇEstablish a legacy for the future - History projects often attract support and interest from a diverse collection of individuals and groups. The creation of a quality book establishes a legacy that provides the town with a focus for the future. The groups that cooperated to create and fund the book project will have a connection to a success that is evident throughout the community. The legacy of publication becomes a source of pride for all.
ˇMemorialize community leaders and activities in a touchable archive - Many communities can point to certain key individuals who were instrumental in their growth and development. There are also events of interest to the town residents and to visitors. Having these people and activities memorialized in a book, which is an easy to access, "touchable" archive, brings this information to the public in a wonderful way.
ˇUnite your community around a concrete common goal - Communities can become fragmented over time. It's important to have projects and goals that bring about unity. Books are relatively permanent. Publishing a town history offers a cache that is undeniably effective in bringing the mark of quality to a preservation effort. This creates a sense of unity among the many diverse groups that make up each town.
Read the rest of the "Ten Good Reasons to Publish History" in the February 2008 edition of Peter E. Randall Publisher's Town History Herald, an e-newsletter for groups and individuals who are planning a history related book project.
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