News & Announcements
Posted: November 3rd, 2025
Humanities@Work: Trust and Reputation: Women Business Owners in 18th-Century Portsmouth
This is a new quarterly feature in partnership with Business NH Magazine and New Hampshire Humanities that examines the history of NH’s economy from different perspectives to provide more context for our current economy.
By Marcia Schmidt Blaine
Running a successful bar in the Seacoast mecca of Portsmouth is an ambition for many. But when Eliza Harvey did so, Portsmouth was not the genteel tourist magnet it is today. Like many women today she had a challenging, fulfilling career running her own business, including working with a variety of customers and vendors, doing her own accounting, making sure she did not run afoul of stringent laws and industry regulations—all while taking care of her children who often joined her at work. She rose early and stayed up late. At times, there were too many demands on her finances and not enough available cash to meet them. Many of us can relate. But Eliza did it all in 18th-century Portsmouth when the city was a rough-and-tumble seaport.
Read more
