General Support

Spinner Publications was founded in 1981 when Donna Huse, a professor at UMass Dartmouth, collaborated with Joseph Thomas, a freelance photographer, to produce a series of publications that would tell the story of immigrants and neighborhoods, of farms and factories, whalers and fishermen. Their shared vision struck a chord in the community and since then Spinner has published over 40 major book titles and numerous small publications, employing hundreds of local artists, writers, photographers, historians and educators. As the area’s only independent, non-profit publishing house, we are proud that our name is synonymous in the region with the telling of history.

Special Funds & Projects
When making a contribution donors may select a specific fund or project to help support or make contributions to the General Support Fund which will be used on a variety of projects and programs. 

Spinner Photographic Archives
      Containing more than one million images, the Spinner Photographic Archives is an important community resource, accessible and affordable to the general public. As we seek and obtain images of industry, recreation, and events, we build a scrapbook of daily live and familiar places. Just as Spinner books celebrate people and culture, our images present an inexhaustible exposé of architecture, art, hard work, leisure, celebration, innovation, tragedy, and more.

Local History Publications
      We create documentary, photographic and illustrative accounts that tell the story of the individual, the city, the land; stories of families and their work. We seek to promote the humanities and arts of the region and collaboration among artists to present local history in an accurate, dramatic and entertaining way. Spinner’s aim is to bring out the story of individuals, to show how people’s lives have impacted the community, and to portray the culture as it is realized in the lives of community members. To date Spinner has published over 45 works and has nearly a dozen projects currently in various stages of production.

Writing Workshops
      New Bedford Blubber Free Writers Workshop