Since its inception in 2016 and in keeping with its mission, the ongoing objective of SAC is to acquire, preserve, and make accessible historical documents and memorabilia unique to the Squam community including its organizations and its families within the Squam Watershed and to make that history accessible to the general public for research, education, and a thorough understanding of its people’s enthusiastic “pride of place.” From the serene natural beauty and established guardianship of Squam Lake to the region’s unique cultural heritage, those who reside in the Squam Watershed as well as frequent visitors consider Squam and its surrounds to be one of the most beautiful and well-preserved places in the world. 

 

This sense of being a “special” place did not happen by chance but has been carefully nurtured for many decades by families and preservation societies who identify and promote Squam’s distinct “sense of place.” While this perspective of “What makes Squam, Squam” may vary somewhat from community to community, the collective point of view is a distinct blend of Squam culture that it's people actively strive to preserve for future generations – and that is the primary objective of the Squam Archives Center. 
 
It has essentially been the generations of Squam families that created the culture of “What Makes Squam, Squam,” and it is they who most treasure the virtues of keeping the land and way of life “just as it is.”  This continuous dedication to conservation and preservation has also provided a clear historical path for future generations to follow.

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Considerable volumes have been written about Squam that accurately describe the lake’s history from the activities of its indigenous inhabitants to its current listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The lake has even been celebrated in the 1981 movie “On Golden Pond,” a name now synonymous with Squam and adopted by several local establishments.

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But what gives the lake its most treasured character has been a distinctive culture dedicated to protecting and renewing both the natural beauty of the land and man’s respectful rustic interface with nature. It is hoped that a heritage of these values celebrated and perpetuated by successive generations will also honor and sustain future efforts to do the same – to instill and preserve Squam’s admirable “sense of place” and “normal’” way of life that honor this unspoiled land and local culture “exactly as is.”

 

But the essence of this established and sustainable attitude that comes with obligations is best understood and revealed by Squam’s residents and their extended families, as well as frequent visitors who have repeatedly experienced Squam’s “sense of place.”  Only they are truly qualified to divulge the attributes of this contagious phenomenon.  

 

The Squam Archives Center Is Born

In 1999, with sponsorship from the Squam Lakes Association (SLA), author Rachel Carley researched and published the book SQUAM, the first comprehensive history of the Squam Lakes region. During this process, extensive historical information was gathered. In 2010, the Squam Lakes Conservation Society (SLCS) launched an initiative to place historic properties around the lake on the National Register. Consultant Liz Hengen documented each property with family history, maps and deeds.  

 

To preserve all this material, the SLA created an Archives Committee in 2012 and in 2016 became the independent Squam Archives Center. A capital campaign was launched in 2018 with seed money provided from a generous grant by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Since then, many individuals and families have also contributed enthusiastic support. Their trust and generosity assured that the Squam Archives Center got off to a strong start and will continue as a vibrant organization.

 

To provide first-hand access to their experience and the attitudes that truly make Squam, Squam, the memories of many families are chronicled in the Squam Archives Center website where you can explore Squam’s cultural heritage through family photographs, objects, descriptions and recorded stories. Only then, like identifying a regional accent, will you recognize and understand the full meaning of this “sense of place.” The Squam Archives Center vividly brings back to memory (or introduces) the involvements of all generations who have passionately kept Squam exactly as they’ve always known it.

 

The Squam Archives Center is the perfect place to consolidate and safely preserve documentation of Squam’s long and distinct past. SAC collects items related to all aspects of regional history including, but not limited to, items relevant to the indigenous inhabitants of the area, early settlers, 19th and 20th century vacationers, artists, celebrities, and contemporary individuals, families, and organizations that cherish and nurture the love of place that has been passed down to them from generation to generation.  

 

Squam Archives Center is an independent 501(c) (3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization here to serve the Squam Community and all others who are interested in learning about local history. The Center is run by a Board of Directors and currently has no members and no paid staff except for our consulting Archivist.