Maine Archives, Societies & Publications

It is a good idea to familiarize personally with just about any repository in Maine that you simply might travel to by communicating with to the best suited archive or library in advance.

Most, if not all, Maine repositories have written and published content that present its collections as well as research policy.

Maine archives and historical organizations usually have On-line sites that provide equivalent details. Several also contain down loadable data for some or parts of their collections.

List of Maine Archives

• Maine State Archives, State House Station 84, Augusta, ME 04333

List of Maine Libraries & Museums

• Davistown Museum, The, P.O. Box 144 , Hulls Cove, ME 04644; (207) 288-5126
• Maine State Library, State House Station 64, Augusta, ME 04333
  Located at the Maine Cultural Center, both have been granted additional support for extending and organizing their already diverse collections. Maine State Archives is the only central location in the state for vital records before 1892 and is the permanent “repository” for state documents. In addition it holds all census records, adjutant general’s records, court records, Maine land office records, county marriage returns, and the updated microfilm collection of extant Maine town records.
  The east wing of the building houses the Maine State Library with the largest collection of town histories and family genealogies in the state, microfilm holdings of newspapers, town reports after 1902, and the two collections of cemetery indexes.
• Maine Historical Society Library, 485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
  Open to non-members for a nominal fee, its superior collection includes extensive printed works on state and family history, and manuscripts.

List of Maine Historical & Genealogical Societies

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both.

In addition to their own work, Maine groups many times help coordinate the efforts of local societies throughout the Maine.

Their unique publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those created through the area societies.

Regional and State Societies

• Maine Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 221, Farmington, ME 04938
  Local chapters in the state and state-wide meetings as well as bi-monthly publication Maine Seine. Maine Families in 1790 is published and sold by the society, along with vital records of Mount Desert and the records of Rev. Edward Carter. The organization’s library is presently at Cutler Memorial Library in Farmington.
• Maine Historical Society, 485 Congress Street, Portland 04101
• The 1837 Foundation of Northern Maine

County, Township and City Societies

• Acton Shapleigh Historical Society, 122 Emery Mills Road, Shapleigh, ME 04076
• Albion Historical Society, PO Box 68, Albion, ME 04910
• Alexander – Crawford Historical Society, 216 Pokey Road, Alexander, ME 04694-6012; (207) 454-7476
• Allagash Historical Society, 456 Dickey Road, Allagash, ME 04774-4113; (207) 398-3148
• Andover Historical Society, PO box 280 Andover, Maine 04216; 207-392-4742 or 207-392-3157
• Androscoggin Historical Society, 2 Turner St # 8, Auburn, ME 04210-5978; 207-784-0586 or 786-2129
• Anson Historical Society, P.O. Box 572, 62 Main St., ANSON, MAINE 04911
• Athens Historical Society, Academy Street, Athens
• Bangor Historical Society, 159 Union Street, Bangor, ME 04401; Phone:(207) 942-5766
• Bar Harbor Historical Society, 33 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
• Bath Historical Society, 33 Summer Street, Bath, Maine 04530; PH (207) 443-5141
• Belfast Historical Society & Museum, 10 Market Street, Belfast, ME 04915; Phone:(207) 338-9229
• Berwick Historical Society, P.O. Box 904, 2 Liberty Street, South Berwick, ME 03908; Phone:(207) 384-0000
• Bethel Historical Society, 10 Broad Street, P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217; PH 207-824-2908
• Biddeford Historical Society, P.O. Box 200, Biddeford, ME 04005
• Boothbay Region Historical Society, P. O. Box 272, 72 Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538; Phone:(207) 633-0820
• Border Historical Society, PO Box 95, 74 Washington St, Eastport, ME 04631
• Bradford Heritage: Museum and Historical Society, 1163 Main Road, Bradford, ME 04410
• Brewer Historical Society, 199 Wilson Street, Brewer, ME 04412
• Bridgton Historical Society, P.O. Box 44, Bridgton, ME 04009; Museum Phone: 207-647-3699
• Bucksport Historical Society, Main Street, Bucksport, ME 04416
• Bustins Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 118, South Freeport, ME 04078,
• Camden- Rockport Historical Society, PO Box 747, Rockport, Maine 04856
• Castine Historical Society, 17 School Street, P.O. Box 238, Castine, Maine 04421; Phone: (207) 326-4118
• Cherryfield – Narraguagus Historical Society, P.O. Box 96 , 88 River Road, Cherryfield, Maine 04622; PH 207-546-2076
• China Historical Society, P.O. Box 245, South China, ME 04358
• Corinth Historical Society, P.O. Box 541, 306 Main Street, Corinth, ME 04427
• Cumberland Historical Society, Rt. 2,Box 479-A, Cumberland Center, ME 04021
• Deer Isle – Stonington Historical Society, 416 Sunset Road, Deer Isle, ME 04627; Phone:(207) 348-6400
• Dexter Historical Society, Grist Mill Museum and The Miller’s House, P.O. Box 481, Dexter, ME 04930; PH 207-924-5721
• Dover – Foxcroft Historical Society, 874 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft ME 04426
• Dresden Historical Society and Brick School House Museum, Rt. 128, Dresden, ME 04342; Phone 207-737-8892
• East Machias Historical Society, P.O. Box 658, East Machias, ME 04654-0658
• Edgecomb Historical Society, Post Office Box 6, Edgecomb, ME 04556
• Eliot Historical Society, P.O. Box 3, Eliot, ME 03903
• Ellsworth Historical Society, P.O. Box 355, 40 State Street , Ellsworth, ME 04605
• Fairfield Historical Society, 42 High Street, Fairfield, ME 04937; Phone:(207) 453-2998
• Falmouth Historical Society, 2 Homestead Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105; Phone:(207) 781-4727
• Ft. Kent Historical Society, P.O. Box 181, E Main St & Market St, Fort Kent, ME 04743; (207) 834-5121
• Freeport Historical Society, Harrington House, 45 Main Street, Freeport, Maine 04032; PH 207.865.3170
• Frenchboro Library and Frenchboro Historical Society, Schoolhouse Hill, Frenchboro, ME 04635; (207) 334-2924
• Fryeburg Historical Society, 511 Main Street, Fryeburg, ME 04037-1126; Phone: 207-697-2044
• Gorham Historical Society , P.O. Box 141, 28 School Street, Gorham, Maine, ME 04038
• Gouldsboro Historical Society, P. O. Box 94, Gouldsboro, ME 04607
• Gray Historical Society, PO BOX 544, 22 Main St, Gray, ME 04039; Phone (207) 657-2235
• Greene Plantation Historical Society, Rt.1, Box 2040, Morrill, ME 04952-9729
• Hampden Historical Society, P.O. Box 456, 83 Main Road South, Hampden, ME 04444; Phone:(207) 862-2027
• Harpswell Historical Society, 929 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell, Maine 04079
• Island Falls Historical Society, PO Box 204, 16 Nina Sawyer Lane, Island Falls, ME 04747; (207) 463-2264
• Islesboro Historical Society, P.O. Box 301, 388 Main Rd Islesboro, ME 04848; PH 207-734-6733
• Islesford Historical Society, Little Cranberry Island, Islesford, ME 04646; (207-244-7893)
• Jackman-Moose River Historical Society, P.O. Box 875, Jackman, Maine, ME 04945
• Jay Historical Society, PO Box 208, Jay, ME 04239; Tel: 897-4876
• Kennebec Historical Society, PO Box 5582, 107 Winthrop Street, Augusta, Maine, ME 04332-5582; Phone/Fax: (207) 622-7718
• Kennebunkport Historical Society, Post Office Box 1173, Kennebunkport, Maine 04046; Phone: 207-967-2751
• Kittery Historical Society & Naval Society, 200 Rogers Road Extension, Kittery, Maine 03904; Telephone: 207.439.3080
• Knox Memorial Association, 33 Knox Street, P.O. Box 326, Thomaston, ME 04861; (207) 354-0180
• L’Heritage-vivant-living Heritage, PO Box 165, Van Buren, ME 04785
• Lakes Region Historical Society, P.O. Box 521, Rangeley, ME 04970
• Le Club Calumet Genealogical Section, P.O. Box 110, Augusta ME 04330-0110
• Leeds Historical Commission, Rt 106, North Leeds, ME 04263; PH 207-524-2324
• Lewiston Historical Commission, 36 Oak Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
• Limerick Historical Society, P.O. Box 83, Limerick, ME 04048
• Lincoln County Historical Association, P.O. Box 61, 133 Federal Street, Wiscasset, ME 04578; Phone:(207) 882-6817
• Lincolnville Historical Society, P.O. Box 204, Lincolnville, ME 04849; Phone 207·789·5445
• Litchfield, Maine, Historical Society of, c/o Town Office, 2400 Hallowell Road, Litchfield, Maine 04350
• Lovell Historical Society, Maine 5, Lovell, ME 04051; Phone:(207) 925-3234
• Lubec Historical Society, 135 Main Street, Lubec, ME 04652 ; Phone:(207) 733-2274
• Machiasport Historical Society, PO Box 301, 344 Port Rd, Machiasport, ME 04655; (207) 255-8461
• Madawaska Historical Society, 393 Main Street, Madawaka, ME 04756
• Meddybemps Historical Society, c/o 9 Sand Cove Lane, Meddybemps, ME 04657; PH (207) 454-3216
• Memorial Historical Society, P.O. Box 307, Howland, ME 04448
• Milbridge Historical Society, Main Street, Milbridge, ME 04658; Phone:(207) 546-4471
• Millinocket Historical Society, PO Box 11, Millinocket, Me 04462
• Milo Historical Society, 12 High Street, Milo, Maine, ME 04463; PH 207.943.2167
• Monmouth Historical Society, 70 Court Street, Freehold, New Jersey 07728; Phone 732-462-1466
• Moosehead Historical Society, P.O. Box 1116, 444 Pritham Ave., Greenville Jct., ME 04442; For Information: call: 207-695-2909
• Morrill Historical Society, Rt. 3,Box 585, Belfast, ME 04915
• Mt. Desert Island Historical Society, 373 Sound Drive (Route 3/198), P.O. Box 653, Mount Desert, Me 04660; PH 207.276.9323
• New Gloucester Historical Society, P.O. Box 531 , New Gloucester, ME 04260
• New Sweden Historical Society, 116 Station Road, ME 04762; Phone:(207) 896-3461
• Newcastle Historical Society, P.O. Box 482, Newcastle, ME 04553
• North Haven Historical Society, P.O. Box 322, 77 Pulpit Harbor Road, North Haven, Maine 04853, 207.867.4752
• North Yarmouth Historical Society, 10 Village Square Road, North Yarmouth, ME 04097
• Norway Historical Society, 471 Main St. Norway, Maine 04268; (207) 743-7377
• Oakfield Historical Society, PO Box 274, Oakfield, ME 04763; (207) 757-8575
• Oakland Area Historical Society, & Macartney House Museum, 25 Main Street, Oakland, ME 04963
• Old Berwick Historical Society, P.O. Box 296, South Berwick, ME 03908; (207) 384-0000
• Old Canada Road Historical Society, P.O. Box 742, 16 Sidney Street, Bingham, Maine 04920; 207 672-3440
• Old Carratunk Historical Society, P.O. Box 303, Bingham, ME 04920
• Old Town Penobscot National Historical Society, P.O. Box 313, Old Town, ME 04468
• Old York Historical Society, P.O. Box 312, York, ME 03909
• Orland Historical Society, Castine Road, Rt. 175, Orland, ME 04472; Phone 207-469-2476
• Paris Cape Historical Society, 19 Park Street, South Paris, ME, 04281; (207) 743-2462
• Pejepscot Historical Society, 159 Park Row, Brunswick, ME 04011; (207) 729-6606
• Pemaquid Historical Association, Rt. 2,Box 4000-314, Damariscottta, ME 04543-9766
• Phippsburg Historical Society, P.O. Box 21, Phippsburg, ME 04562
• Pittsfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 181, 114 Central Street, Pittsfield, ME 04967; Phone: (207) 487-4926
• Poland Historical Society, 1231 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274
• Presque Isle Historical Society, PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769-2416
• Raymond-Casco Historical Society, PO Box 1055,, Raymond, ME 04071
• Readfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 354, Readfield, ME 04355-0354
• Rumford Area Historical Society, Rt. 2 , Rumford, Maine, 04276; 207-364-2540
• Sagadahoc Preservation, P.O. Box 322, 880 Washington Street, Bath, ME 04530; Phone:(207) 443-2174
• Sainte Agathe Historical Society, P.O. Box 237, 534 Main Street, St. Agatha, ME 04772
• Sandy River Valley Chapter, Maine Gen. Society
• Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and Sanford Historical Committee, P.O. Box 276, 505 Main St. , Springvale , Maine 04083; Phone: 207-490-1028 or 207-324-2797
• Scarborough Historical Society, 649A U.S. Route One, Scarborough, Maine 04074
• Sebago Historical Society, PO Box 59, Sebago, ME 04029
• Sebec Historical Society, 651 North Road, Sebec, Maine 04481
• Sedgwick-Brooklin Historical Society, P.O. Box 171, Rte 175, Sedgwick, Maine 04676
• South Portland Historical Society, P.O. Box 2623, 55 Bug Light park, South Portland, ME 04116; 207-767-7299
• South Bristol Historical Society, P. O. Box 229, 2124 State Route 129, South Bristol, ME 04568; 207-315-0558
• Southern Aroostook Historical Society, 109 Main Street, Houlton, ME 04730
• Standish Historical Society, P.O. Box 228, Standish, ME 04084
• Stockholm Historical Society, 280 Main St, Stockholm, ME 04783
• Stockton Springs Historical Society, P.O. Box 101, Stockton Springs, Maine, ME 04981
• Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society, P.O. Box 44, Sullivan, Maine 04664; 207-422-0995
• Thomaston Historical Society, P.O. Box 384, Thomaston, Maine, ME 04861; (207) 354-2314 or (207) 354-4121
• Trescott Historical Society, P.O. Box 1, Whiting, Maine, ME 04691; (207) 733-5548
• Union Historical Society, P.O. Box 154, 343 Common Road, Union, ME 04862; 207-785-5444
• Unity Historical Society , P.O. Box 4, Unity, ME 04988; (207) 948-5610
• Vanceboro Historical Society, P. O. Box 200, Water Street, Vanceboro, ME 04491
• Vassalboro Historical Society, 327 Main Street, PO Box 43, East Vassalboro, ME 04935; (207) 923-3505
• Vinalhaven Historical Society, 41 High Street, Vinalhaven, ME 04863; Phone:(207) 863-4410
• Waldoboro Historical Society, P.O. Box 110, 1164 Main St., Waldoboro, ME 04572-0110
• Warren Historical Society, P.O. Box 11, Warren, ME 04864; 207- 273-2726
• Waterborough Historical Society, P.O. Box 498, North Waterboro, Maine 04061; (207) 247-5878
• Waterford Historical Society, P.O. Box 300491, Waterford, MI 48330-0491; Phone: (248) 683-2697
• Waterville Historical Society and Redington Museum, 62 Silver Street Waterville, ME 04901; (207) 872-9439
• Wayne Historical Society, P. O. Box 243, Wayne, Maine, ME 04284
• Weld Historical Society, P.O. Box 31, Wilton Road, Weld, ME 04285; Phone 207-585-2542
• Wells And Ogunquit, Historical Society Of, P.O. Box 801, Wells, ME 04090-0801; (207) 646-4775
• West Bath Historical Society, PO Box 394, Bath, ME 04530-0394; 207-443-6056
• Westbrook – Wilton Historical Society, P.O. Box 33, Wilton, ME 04294
• Whitefield Historical Society, P.O. Box 176, Townhouse Road, Whitefield, ME 04353; Phone 207-549-5064
• Windham Historical Society, P.O. Box 1475, 234 Windham Center Road, Windham, Maine 04062; (207) 892-1433
• Winslow Historical Society, 16 Benton Ave, Winslow, ME 04902
• Winter Harbor Historical Society, P.O. Box 400, Winter Harbor, ME 04693
• Winterport Historical Association, 183 Main Street, PO Box 342, Winterport, Maine 04496
• Winthrop Historical Society, P.O. Box 111, East Winthrop, ME 04343; (207) 377-3597
• Woolwich Historical Society, PO Box 98, Woolwich, ME 04579; Phone: 207-443-4833, Winter number: 207-443-5684
• Yarmouth Historical Society, 215 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096; Phone:(207) 846-6259

Religious and Ethnic Societies

• Maine Franco-american Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 180, Biddeford, ME 04005

Maine Newspapers & Publications

Maine Genealogical publications (magazines, newsletters, periodicals, books, etc.) contain all types of invaluable information about specific ancestors, whole lineages and families, places in time, and about all sorts of genealogical records and repositories.

Newspapers

The Maine State Library, Maine Historical Society, and other libraries and historical societies across the state have vital statistics from newspaper publications on file.

The University of Maine’s Folger Library at Orono has the biggest microfilm newspaper collection in the state. Their holdings can be scanned in the form of a computer-printed list.

They also have a typescript “Maine Newspapers in the Smaller Maine Public Libraries” on file. Members of the NEHGS can also read an article detailing Maine newspapers written by Russell Farnham, CG online.

• Maine Historical Newspapers
• Maine Newspapers Directory Listings
• Historical Newspapers from Maine (1785–1945) – Easily identify names and phrases in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth notices along with other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. All new content and articles added each month!
• Maine Newspaper List

Periodicals

Genealogical journals provide you with plenty of sources of information and facts, they are generally overlooked by genealogy and family history researchers and genealogist in looking around for family history.

Many regional and county genealogical and/or historical societies produce periodicals which have records relating to the region or vicinity they operate.

Frequently these publications have articles involving records that are not obtainable somewhere else.

• Downeast Ancestry, P.O. Box 398, Biddeford Pool, Maine 04066; published six times a year beginning in 1977; has articles and queries.
• Maine Historical Society Quarterly, Maine Historical Society, articles on Maine history, available through membership.
• Maine Seine, Maine Genealogical Society; bimonthly publication available through membership.
• Maine Genealogist and Biographer (1875–78), primarily for Kennebec County
• The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder (1884–98) for Cumberland and York counties;
• Bangor Historical Magazine (1885–95) for Penobscot Valley, Sprague’s Journal of Maine History (1913–26) published in Dover, Maine
• Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine (1909), 4 vols., which has been made somewhat obsolete by later research.
• Genealogical Advertiser: A quarterly Magazine of Family History, Vol. I-4
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. IX
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. IV
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. III
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. VI
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. II
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. V
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. VII
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. VIII
• Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. I
• List of memoirs printed in the “Collections” of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Books

• Maine Books at Amazon.com
• Maine Historical Books (1749 – 1900) – rare and fully searchable old books, historical maps and documents give fresh insights into the daily lives of your early Maine ancestors.
• Genealogy Publishing Company (genealogical.com)