Misbehaving Themsleves

A lecture on the human stories and the true scope of prostitution in 19th century New Hampshire. Learn about the tragedy and triumph of these working men and women beyond the seacoast, from Berlin to Manchester, and what research can tell us about their lives on the other side of the law.
This lecture returns a part of New Hampshire’s untold history to the wider narrative of working-class women and the industries they served in the Granite State. Gathered from over 2,600 separate documents, this ground-breaking research covers the economic and legal realities of historical prostitution, all while providing a candid look at the incredible women who challenged the expectations of their era by daring to be themselves, evading the law, or struggling to demand justice.
Kim Simmons is a Granite State native and historian, with a recent MA in History & Archives from Keene State College. Her passion for untold women’s history led her across the state on a two-year journey to capture previously untold stories from NH’s past.