Lyme Historians Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LYME HISTORIANS, INC. WAS FOUNDED IN 1961 WITH THE PURPOSE OF HELPING TO DOCUMENT THE TOWN'S HISTORY, KEEPING IT ALIVE AND RELEVANT TO THE PRESENT DAY BY MAINTAINING EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS AND ACQUIRING BOOKS, MAPS, DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS PERTAINING TO LYME, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
- Income
- $148,832
- Spending
- $40,894
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -44.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 25
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 69 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $34,319 spent. THE LYME HISTORIANS MOVED INTO THE CHURCHILL/MELVIN HOUSE AT 15 MAIN STREET, LYME, NEW HAMPSHIRE IN FALL OF 2016. THE MUSEUM EXHIBITS IN 4 ROOMS; 2 ROOMS OF WHICH FEATURE REVOLVING EXHIBITS AND 2 MORE WITH PERMANENT EXHIBITS. AN ENTRANCE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING ALLOWS A VIEW TO FOUR HISTORIC AREAS OF THE TOWN: THE LYME CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, THE HORSE SHEDS, THE OLD JAIL HOUSE AND THE OLD LYME PLAIN CEMETERY. THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATION OF A LYME RESIDENT, WE RECEIVED TITLE TO THE CHESLEY SCHOOLHOUSE, A BEAUTIFULLY KEPT ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE IN LYME CENTER. THE SCHOOLHOUSE HAS MANY OF ITS ORIGINAL FEATURES INCLUDING OLD SCHOOL DESKS AND AN "IN-HOUSE" OUTHOUSE.
- $1,693 spent. 2025 WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE LYME HISTORIANS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND FALL WE HOSTED OVER 200 VISITORS TO EXHIBITS AND EVENTS AT OUR MAIN STREET AND CHESLEY SCHOOL MUSEUMS. OUR APRIL ANNUAL MEETING DREW AN AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 60 RESIDENTS TO A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE 1938 HURRICANE THAT PUMMELED NEW ENGLAND. SPEAKER STEVE LONG GAVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE HURRICANE'S IMPACT ON LYME, INCLUDING THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOGS STORED AND MILLED AT POST POND. AS IN YEARS PAST, THE HISTORIANS HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL PORCH PARTY OVER THE SUMMER THAT ATTRACTED MANY RESIDENTS FOR CONVERSATION AND LEARNING. WE EXPANDED THE CONCEPT TO INCLUDE "PORCH CHATS" WHERE A BOARD MEMBER WAS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING OF INTEREST TO A VISITOR WHILE ENJOYNG A COOL DRINK AND COOKIE. WE CONTINUED OUR SECOND SATURDAY SERIES WHERE SEVERAL LONG TIME LYME RESIDENTS DISCUSSED THEIR OWN SMALL TOWN LIFE EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN TOWN. IN LATE SUMMER, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST OUTDOOR SING-A-LONG, WHERE GUESTS JOINED AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN IN SINGING A RANGE OF SONGS SPANNING 150 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY. IN THE FALL, WE DECORATED THE MUSEUM FOR HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES AND WERE GENEROUS DONATORS OF CANDY FOR CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITY. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON WAS A WELL- ATTENDED WASSAIL PARTY WHERE SINGING WAS ONCE AGAIN FRONT AND CENTER AS GUESTS CAROLED TO THE MUSIC OF OUR ESTES PUMP ORGAN. 2025 WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE LYME HISTORIANS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND FALL WE HOSTED OVER 200 VISITORS TO EXHIBITS AND EVENTS AT OUR MAIN STREET AND CHESLEY SCHOOL MUSEUMS. OUR APRIL ANNUAL MEETING DREW AN AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 60 RESIDENTS TO A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE 1938 HURRICANE THAT PUMMELED NEW ENGLAND. SPEAKER STEVE LONG GAVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE HURRICANE'S IMPACT ON LYME, INCLUDING THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOGS STORED AND MILLED AT POST POND. AS IN YEARS PAST, THE HISTORIANS HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL PORCH PARTY OVER THE SUMMER THAT ATTRACTED MANY RESIDENTS FOR CONVERSATION AND LEARNING. WE EXPANDED THE CONCEPT TO INCLUDE "PORCH CHATS" WHERE A BOARD MEMBER WAS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING OF INTEREST TO A VISITOR WHILE ENJOYNG A COOL DRINK AND COOKIE. WE CONTINUED OUR SECOND SATURDAY SERIES WHERE SEVERAL LONG TIME LYME RESIDENTS DISCUSSED THEIR OWN SMALL TOWN LIFE EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN TOWN. IN LATE SUMMER, WE HOSTED OUR FIRST OUTDOOR SING-A-LONG, WHERE GUESTS JOINED AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN IN SINGING A RANGE OF SONGS SPANNING 150 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY. IN THE FALL, WE DECORATED THE MUSEUM FOR HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES AND WERE GENEROUS DONATORS OF CANDY FOR CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITY. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON WAS A WELL- ATTENDED WASSAIL PARTY WHERE SINGING WAS ONCE AGAIN FRONT AND CENTER AS GUESTS CAROLED TO THE MUSIC OF OUR ESTES PUMP ORGAN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.