Maine Memory Network

John Young Merrill diary, Leeds, 1860

Contributed by: Leeds Historical Society Date: 1860–1861 Location: Leeds Media: Ink on paper

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Rebecca Usher diary, 1865

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 1865 Location: City Point Media: Ink on paper

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John Y. Merrill: Leeds Farmer, Entrepreneur, & More

John Y. Merrill of Leeds (1823-1898) made terse entries in diaries he kept for 11 years. His few words still provide a glimpse into the life of a mid 18th century farmer, who also made shoes, quarried stone, moved barns, made healing salves -- and was active in civic affairs.

Maine and the Civil War - Individuals: Stories, Letters, Diaries

"… Individuals: Stories, Letters, Diaries"

Historic Hallowell - Martha Ballard

"… fact is that it was recorded for history in her diary-- a diary that covered the last 27 years of her life and included 10,000 entries over a…"

Hiram Historical Society

View collections, facts, and contact information for this Contributing Partner.

"Mama sings 'get your hands up'": Maria's Diary June 2020
by Maria

Maria, 7 years old, records impressions of staying with her grandparents in Somesville in June 2020.

Reverend Thomas Smith of First Parish Portland
by Kristina Minister, Ph.D.

Pastor, Physician, Real Estate Speculator, and Agent for Wabanaki Genocide

Longfellow Studies: Longfellow and Dickens - The Story of a Trans-Atlantic Friendship

Grade Level: 9-12 Content Area: English Language Arts, Social Studies
What if you don't teach American Studies but you want to connect to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in meaningful ways? One important connection is Henry's friendship with Charles Dickens. There are many great resources about Dickens and if you teach his novels, you probably already know his biography and the chronology of his works. No listing for his association with Henry appears on most websites and few references will be found in texts. However, journals and diary entries and especially letters reveal a friendship that allowed their mutual respect to influence Henry's work.