Nathaniel Burwash was an important WPA (Works Progress Administration) artist who lived and worked in Warner, N.H. during the 1930s. The State Library has appraised forty-two works of art done by Mr. Burwash for the WPA in New Hampshire. These forty-two works of art will be on display at Rivier College Art Gallery, Nashua, September 19th-October 25th, 2005. The art exhibited is but a portion of Mr. Burwash's work for the WPA, whose office was headquartered in New Hampshire by Omer Lassonde. A part of these works has been exhibited previously, but the major part has never been shown publicly before. If you are in Nashua, take an opportunity to visit Rivier College Art Gallery. Curator for the exhibition is Sister Theresa Couture, Director of the College Art Gallery.

Portraits of Governor Henry W. Keyes (1862-1938; Governor 1917-19), U.S. Senator for New Hampshire James W. Patterson (1823-92; Senator 1867-1873), State Representative (for Moultonborough) James E. French (1845-), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and "the guardian of the treasury" 1897-1917; and Captain Francis W. Butler (1841-1864), of the 5th New Hampshire Volunteers, are currently being examined for conservation needs. They were removed for examination from a basement store room. Two bronze standing lamps that were originally located in the State Library front hall in 1895 are receiving conservation estimates. The hope is to restore both the portraits and lamps to their former glories, pending their conservation/restoration estimates.

A photo replica of the State House portrait of Johannes deGraff, Governor of the Dutch Republic's island of St. Eustacius, 1770-1778, will be featured in a new exhibit being planned for the Yorktown Victory Center, at Yorktown, VA. deGraff was the first representative of a foreign power to recognize the newly declared nation of the United States. The British protested to the Dutch Republic and Mr. deGraff was called home for "consultations." On the very day of deGraff's 1778 appearance before his superiors, word was received that France, Russia and Prussia had recognized the new American flag and nation. These nations wanted the Dutch Republic to also recognize the United States. Suddenly deGraff was a hero. He was offered his job back, but retired with honor.