TERENCE FIFIELD  (2022–2025)

PRESIDENT | Presentations | Facebook

Terence Fifield is a retired federal archaeologist and tribal liaison. He did not grow up in Plymouth or New Hampshire, but has lived in many places, mostly in North America. Terry has a deep interest in the patterns of history and workings of cultures and societies in the past, how the patterns of peoples’ lives change over time and how the patterns of the past express themselves in our lives today. Most of Terry’s archaeological career was lived out West, 22 years in Alaska on the Tongass National Forest. Terry feels drawn to New Hampshire, where a branch of the Fifield lineage settled in the mid-1600s and connections to the past are scattered through the cultural landscape.One particular project stands out in Terry's time on the Tongass National Forest. The Shuká Káa Cave Project (known originally as the On Your Knees Cave Project: 1996–2008) was an archaeological and paleontological investigation of a 10,300 year-old cave site with human remains on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska,. It was a partnership among researchers, tribes, and a federal agency. The partners in the research produced a 30-minute video highlighting the relationships that led to a successful project. See the link below. The video was released in 2004. Subsequently the human remains from the cave were returned to the custody of the tribal partners and buried at an undisclosed location. A monograph describing the research and the consultation process leading to burial is in press and is expected to be out and publicly available in 2024.   Kuwoot yas.ein: His Spirit is Looking Out from the Cave

 

 

KATHARINA KELSEY (2022–2025)

VICE PRESIDENT  | Technology | Membership |Fundraising

Katharina Kelsey joined the board in the fall of 2022. Retired from the tech world she assisted establishing a shared cloud drive, mass email client, and online donation site for the organization. Prior to joining the board she was somewhat allergic to any kind of history given that her experience was only having to memorize dates and names with little regard to stories. As a teenager she wrote these lines to highlight her displeasure with her high school history class. "History's a mystery to me. I'm a child of the future you see....Who wants to feel sorrow. I'm built for tomorrow.!"

 

Now, however, her work with the historical society and the stories she has heard have piqued her interest about our wonderful town. Recently, while helping research a coming exhibit at the Museum of the White Mountains, she learned about all the Plymouth floods and the effect on the town, the most devastating being the hurricane of 1938.

 

She looks forward to learning more, connecting with community members to hear their compelling stories, and working on new initiatives with energetic members to “leave the wood pile higher and build for tomorrow.”

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FRAN SMITH (2025–2028)
TREASURER
 

Fran was born and raised in Western New York. To attend UNH, he moved to New England, loved it and stayed. He married a New Hampshirite and together they raised three boys in Swampscott, MA.

 

Fran has retired from his career in quantitative finance in Boston and he and Laura now reside full time in Campton. Fran is an avid hiker and pickleball player and a long time passholder at Cannon.

 

He has served as treasurer for the Swampscott Yacht Club and the 501(c)(3) organization The Friends of Swampscott Sailing. Fran’s lifelong passion

for history and propensity for numbers make him a good fit as Treasurer of the Plymouth Historical Society.

 

 

REBECCA WHITE

SECRETARY | Archives

 

Born and raised in Manchester, NH, Becky grew up a lover of history. She first fell in love with Plymouth during a college visit to Plymouth State University where she ended up getting her Bachelor's Degree in History. Inspired by an internship at the Museum of the White Mountains, Becky went to Simmons University to get her Master's Degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management.

 

Currently, Becky is the Director & Archivist at Pease Public Library here in Plymouth. She has been at the library since 2017 and has been the director since 2024. She was instrumental in revamping Pease’s Rosalie Downing & Elsa Turmelle NH Room to make it more browse-able and user friendly. She also created the library’s online archives site using the Omeka platform provided by the NH State Library. Becky also serves as the board of the New England Archivists as well as on the scholarship and legislative committees for the New Hampshire Library Association.

ABIGAIL BATCHELDER (2025–2028)

Archives | Retail

 

Abigail Batchelder grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire. She came to Plymouth in 1998 to attend Plymouth State College, and met her husband there. They have called Plymouth home since 2004. Abby’s deep connection to the community has continued to grow over the years, both personally and professionally. She is the proud mother of two children and values spending quality time with her family.

 

Abby has always loved working with children. She works as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Plymouth Elementary School, where she enjoys supporting students and being part of their learning journey. She is an active member and Treasurer of the PTA and currently serves as a Trustee of the Pease Public Library.

 

Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Abby enjoys photography, crafting, jigsaw puzzles, and is in a three-season curling league. Since joining the Board in Feb. 2025, she is looking forward to discovering ways that she can contribute to the Plymouth Historical Society.

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CHARLOTTE CRANE  (2025–2028)

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JUDY FARAN  (2025–2028)

At Large

 

Judy is a resident of Bridgewater, where her family and ancestors have lived since the early 1800s.

 

Before moving back to New Hampshire, she spent many years working for and traveling in the National Parks.

 

Currently Judy is filling up her retirement with projects. Besides the Plymouth Historical Society, she is secretary/treasurer of the Bridgewater Historical Society; is the secretary for the Pemigewasset River Local Advisory Committee; serves on the Bridgewater Old Home Day Committee; and is a Commissioner for the Lakes Region Planning Commission. 

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LISA LUNDARI  (2024–2027)
Exhibits| Website | Promotions | Page In History Project
Lisa was born in New Hampshire and grew up in Nashua. She came to Plymouth for work after college and fell in love with the town. She first worked at Kwik Print and then helped to found True Colors Print & Design. She also volunteered and served on the boards of several non-profits as well as helping to start the long-standing fundraising events Keep the Heat On! and the Town-Wide Yard Sales.

She is a past president of PHS (2008–2014), was co-chair of Plymouth's 250th Anniversary (2012–2013) celebration, and a contributor to and designer of the book, Five More Decades in Plymouth, New Hampshire 1963–2013. She also worked with Louise Samaha McCormack on her book, Draper and Maynard Sporting Goods Company: A Community Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow and is currently working with Louise on her forthcoming book, Bits and Pieces from Plymouth's Past.

Lisa is a graphic designer with over 40 years of experience, most of which has been in the greater Plymouth area. She enjoys using her design skills to tell the stories of Plymouth's past through exhibits and books, and is currently launching PHS's Page In History project to proactively encourage and assist others in sharing their stories with future generations. Please contact her if you are interested in taking part in this project. (lisalundari@gmail.com|603-481-1236).


LOUISE SAMAHA McCORMACK  (2024–2027)
Community Liaison | Oral Histories  

Louise Samaha McCormack was born, educated, taught in, and lived in

Plymouth/Holderness for most of her life. Professionally, she taught at Brooklyn College from 1973–1976, yet retired from Plymouth State

University in 2016 after 36 years as a Physical Education and Health

Education faculty member and coordinator of its Teacher Education

Preparation Program.

Although her love of teaching is still visible, she found her passion when delving into the history of the town where she was born and the university she attended and at which she taught. Since retirement, she has become involved with the town historical society as a member as well as a past vice-president and past president.

Her greatest contribution has been creating the Memories of

Plymouth program that has been supported by Pemi-Baker TV

for the last nine years. Each episode is an approximately one-hour interview of persons from Plymouth and surrounding communities, who were born, educated, worked, and/or socialized in this town. She thanks the individuals she has interviewed, some of whom spent hours with her prior to, during and after the interview. The stories of their background and memories share what an incredible place Plymouth is. Louise has also authored/co-authored four books— all historical accounts of the town or Plymouth State.

She is married to her best friend, Phillip McCormack, and they have two children, Brenten, and Devin-Jean who currently live in Oregon and Texas, respectively.

Louise’s message — Save your family history through pictures, CDs,

and DVDs making sure to identify the people, locations, events, and relationship to one another. Future generations will thank you!