History Buzz Reader Survey Results
Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey. The results are in!
History Buzz’s thoughtful readers shared their feedback and ideas for year 2 of the Buzz. Thank you!
Overall satisfaction
97% of respondents were satisfied with History Buzz
89% ranked the topics covered by History Buzz as a 4 or 5
95% thought the length of posts was just right
Opening and reading History Buzz
An even number of respondents, 46.5% each, open every issue or most issues, so 93% of respondents were frequent readers
Frequency of posts
81% would prefer posts to be emailed once a week
15% would prefer emails twice a week
4% would like posts 3 times a week
About survey respondents
No surprise here, the majority of History Buzz readers like history!
54% responded that they are history buffs. 42% said they are somewhat history buffs
84% of respondents are 55 years of age or older. 45-54 and 35-44 are tied for the next position
68% of survey respondents are from Andover and North Andover
Other readers live in New Hampshire, Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Washington state. One respondent wrote, “I learned of the History Buzz from a friend who has lived in California for many years, so you have a national audience.” Love that!
Posts and topics that stood out as particularly interesting include:
Skating on Baker’s Meadow
Witchcraft and trials
Stories about Black history and residents of Andover
Lucy Foster
Bessie Goldsmith’s travel diaries and letters
History of Andover in 10 (or so) trees
What’s It Wednesdays and odd or mysterious items
Feaster Five
Stowe School
Skeet Shooting
Follansby Rockery (aka Turtle Mound)
There were a number of readers who commented on liking the variety of posts.
Most respondents answered the “uninteresting” question with general comments:
One reader wrote, “I’m interested in local history, but sometimes I find it difficult to put snippets in the Buzz into my understanding of the larger history appropriately.”
Another would like map overlays to place early settlements and homes.
More on the culture of Native peoples who were here before European settlers
A few respondents are less interested in the ongoing witch trial stories
What books, articles, or websites would readers recommend to other History Buzzers?
Books
“Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewell,” Eve LaPlante
“Exploring the Legacy: People and Places of Significance,” Rosalyn Delores Elder
“Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America,” David Hackett Fischer
“Immigrant City: Lawrence, Massachusetts 1845-1921,” Donald Cole
Other publications
Preservation magazine
The New Yorker magazine
The 1619 Project
Historic New England’s membership magazine
Websites
Andover Historic Preservation, https://preservation.mhl.org
UMass Lowell’s website documenting the history of immigrants and immigration to the Merrimack Valley, https://lnei.uml.edu
Samuel Chamberlain photo digital collection on the Digital Commonwealth, https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/
Other resources
“Reconstruction: America After the Civil War,” by Henry Louis Gates, book and PBS series, https://www.pbs.org/weta/reconstruction/
Other story ideas respondents shared:
Girl Scout Camp on Pomp’s Pond
A series on the oldest houses in Andover
Earliest European settlers
Founding families including the Chandlers and Abbots
Thank you again to everyone who took the time to respond to the reader survey!
The History Buzz editorial team met to discuss the results. Based on reader survey responses, here are some of the ideas we’re working on for year 2 of the Buzz.
Do more to place local stories into the larger context of history
Keep the balance of locally-focused and broader stories
Vary the frequency of posts to between 1 and 2 times a week
Seek out stories that reflect the diversity of Andover’s residents and history
Research and post stories on Native people before European settlement
Research and write about the earliest European settlers to the area
Find a way to index published stories
Other ideas for paid subscribers include:
Interviews - with experts, historians, and authors
“Tangents” – following research rabbit holes and deeper historical context
Discussion Threads for paid subscribers
History Buzz book club
If you have thoughts on these ideas - or any of the reader survey results - please let us know in the comments.
Always, thanks for reading!
~Elaine
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If you’re new to the Buzz, welcome! I hope you enjoy the stories. You can explore them all on the History Buzz website.