History By Era: New Deal Era to WWII
1933-1945
Timeline
Online chronologies of events in Cheshire County at different periods of time.
Monadnock Moments
Short historical articles about people, places, or events in the Monadnock region.
Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve
High School, Film. Available on DVD or via Vimeo How does a teacher training school in rural New Hampshire transform itself into a leading public liberal-arts college? This documentary chronicles Keene State's rise from Keene Normal School, founded in 1909, to an...
Flannels to Fuses
Middle School, High School. Film. Available on DVD or via Vimeo For over 100 years, textile mills were the foundation of the industrial economy in the Monadnock region. These were the cotton and woolen mills located at various sites such as Harrisville, Jaffrey, Troy...
History of the Jewish Community
High School. From Peddlers to Shopkeepers to Professionals:A History of the Jewish Community in Cheshire County. The story of Jewish immigrants to Cheshire County, New Hampshire, at the turn of the 20th century. Learn about Jewish presence in our communities and...
Kingsbury Toys for Boys and Girls
Grade School, video. The story of how toys came to be made in Keene, NH, from the 1890s-1940s. Introduction by Jennifer Carroll, Director of Education, Historical Society of Cheshire County.
Local Immigration History- the Finns of Cheshire County
Grades: 6-8, 9-12. Lessons (2). Students will learn about local immigration history by analyzing primary sources pertaining to the Finnish community in Cheshire County. These lessons are made available to teachers for free thanks to the support of the Finlandia...
Logging & Woodworking Industries
Grades 3-6. Primary Source Packet. Designed to help students understand one of the most important industries in the region. This packet contains enlarged photographs depicting lumber-related industries in Cheshire County. Images range from the harvesting of trees to...
Lost Boundaries
The story of fair-skinned African American family, the Carters who move to Keenham, New Hampshire. Parents Scott and Marsha decide to 'pass' as white and lead a successful life in town until World War II when an investigation reveals the family's black heritage. ...
Our Finnish Community
Grades 3-6. Touchable Artifact Kit. A collection of Finnish objects, children's literature, musical instruments, and music CDs related to Finnish culture in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. This wonder box comes in an old suitcase, allowing kids to imagine...
The Ghost Army in World War II
Middle School. High School. Film. During World War II, a hand-picked group of American GI's undertook a bizarre mission: create a traveling road show of deception on the battlefields of Europe, with the Nazi German Army as their audience. The US 23rd Headquarters...
The Great Hurricane of 1938 (in Keene)
Middle School, High School. Film. Available on DVD or via Vimeo Keene residents who experienced the hurricane which struck Keene, NH on Sept. 21, 1938 share their stories in a series of interviews. This film includes historic film footage and photographs at the scene,...
Toy Manufacturing in Cheshire County
Middle School, High School. Online exhibit reveals technological innovations in Cheshire County, NH, the history of childhood play in America, the impact of popular culture on industry, and how both national and international forces impacted the toy industry. Toys...
Western Abenakis, the Sadoques Family
Middle School & High School. Primary source packet. Contains historic photographs representing four generations of the Sadoques family of Keene. Students will note an Abenaki presence in the Connecticut River Valley region that persists today. Each photograph...