Guide to the Stephen P. Barba/ The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel Collection

Collection Summary

Repository: Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University

Collection number: MWM2018.0004

Creator/ Collector: Stephen P. Barba

Collection title:  Stephen P. Barba/ The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel Collection

Dates: 1804-2017 [bulk 1895-2006]

Extent: 29 boxes (12.08 linear feet), 1 flat file drawer, and 3 shelves

Abstract: The collection of Stephen P. (Steve) Barba, formerly of Concord, NH and Dixville Notch, NH. Materials include Barba’s personal collection of memorabilia, ephemera, photographs, objects, artwork and related materials gathered from his 48 year career working at The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, NH.

Acquisition information: The Barba collection was pledged to the Museum of the White Mountains in December 2010. The majority of the pledged materials were delivered to the MWM by the donor in April 2018. He will deliver the remaining materials at a future date (for a full list of undelivered materials, see the accession files).  

Language(s): Collection materials are in English

Processed by: Rebecca Enman, 2019

Rights and Access

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research

Publication rights: Copyright has not been assigned to the Museum of the White Mountains. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and obtain permission for any publication or proposed use beyond “fair use.”

Preferred citation: Stephen P. Barba/ The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel Collection, 2018. Museum of the White Mountains, Plymouth State University.  

Biographical Information

Stephen P. Barba worked for 48 years at The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire starting in 1959 when, as a thirteen year old, he attended the 40-member caddy camp. He spent the succeeding summer seasons there serving in a variety of jobs including pool boy, greens-keeper, bell hop, doorman, waiter, and bartender. Through to his graduate teaching assistantship in English literature at Michigan State University, and whenever school was out, Barba returned to Dixville Notch. In 1970, faculty and students and 500 colleges across the country went on strike in protest of the war in Southeast Asia, so Barba once again went back to The BALSAMS. Along with his friend and fellow employee, Warren Pearson, Barba accepted the responsibility for the general management of The BALSAMS in 1971.

With his managing partners, Barba soon owned the operating company for the 15,000 acre destination resort. His continuous management spanned 35 years until his retirement in 2005. During those years, Barba was Dixville Notch’s senior selectmen and was among the 20-some citizens who voted “first in the nation” every four years. Barba served as Innkeeper Emeritus until 2006 to provide on-site counsel and continuity to the new management.

In 2006, Barba accepted a senior administrative position with Plymouth State University (PSU) as Executive Director of University Relations. In that role, he integrated his professional experience in the North Country and personal connections on behalf of Plymouth State University. In particular, Barba was instrumental in developing the concept of the White Mountains Institute/ Museum of the White Mountains, and served for several years on the Museum’s Advisory Council. Barba retired from PSU in 2015.

In April 2018, Barba donated his personal collection of memorabilia and related materials gathered from his career spent working at The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel to the Museum of the White Mountains.

Historical Note

The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, as it was known during the years it was managed by Stephen Barba, is located in Dixville Notch and is the northernmost grand hotel in the White Mountains. It traces its origins to one of the early families who settled in the land grant given to Timothy Dix in 1807. The hotel first opened in 1874 as the Dix House and was owned by George Parsons. In 1895, Henry S. Hale purchased the hotel, renamed it The Balsams, and spent the next 23 years transforming the property into a substantial, self-sufficient resort complex that could sleep up to 400 guests. The original Dix House stood on the spot where the oldest portion of The Balsams still stands.

The hotel prospered through the Great Depression, but like many of its counterparts, faced a financially uncertain future during the World War II era. In 1954, the hotel went bankrupt and was put up for auction. It was purchased by Neil Tillotson, a native Vermonter, inventor, and entrepreneur who manufactured modern latex balloons and latex gloves. Tillotson set about developing the hotel and surrounding lands into a successful four season resort. In 1971, it was leased to a management team (which included Stephen Barba), who oversaw careful renovation of the entire complex and operated it successfully for many years afterwards. In 2011, the Tillotson Corporation sold The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, and the property, which sits on 11,000 undeveloped acres, closed. As of 2019, the hotel remains closed and faces an uncertain future.

Hotel ownership during the period represented in the Stephen P. Barba Papers includes (for more information about the hotel managers, see Box 1, folder 1):

• George Parsons [Dix House], 1866-1894
• Henry S. Hale, 1894-1918
• Joseph J. Lannin, 1918-1927
• Frank Doudera, 1927-1942
• Alvan E. Kallman, 1943-1954
• Neil E. Tillotson, 1954-2001
• Tillotson Corporation, 2001-2011

Scope and Content Note

The Barba collection is arranged in 29 boxes and is a total of 12.08 linear feet, plus 1 flat file drawer and 3 shelves The original order of the creator has been preserved. The collection is organized into 6 series:

1. The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel and its Environs
2. Hotel Ephemera
3. Photographs and Postcards
4. Objects
5. Artwork
6. Books