Maine Memory Network

Nurses outside Central Maine General Hospital, Lewiston, ca. 1923

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1923 Location: Lewiston; Auburn Media: Photographic print

Mercy Hospital student nurses, Portland, ca. 1960

Contributed by: Northern Light Mercy Hospital Date: circa 1960 Location: Portland Media: photographic print

Practical Nursing in Waterville

The Maine School of Practical Nursing opened a facility in Waterville in 1957 and continued teaching practical nursing there until about 1980 when changes in the profession and in the state's educational structure led to its demise.

Westbrook Seminary: Educating Women

Westbrook Seminary, built on Stevens Plain in 1831, was founded to educate young men and young women. Seminaries traditionally were a form of advanced secondary education. Westbrook Seminary served an important function in admitting women students, for whom education was less available in the early and mid nineteenth century.

Mercy Hospital - School of Nursing Class Photos

"In 1965, all of the nursing school facilities were consolidated into their St. John Street location, creating one space for classrooms, a library…"

Mercy Hospital - School of Nursing Candid Photography

"Mercy continually received praise for the quality of its nursing program. A grateful patient writing in 1967 singled out “Miss Cyr Junior Student”…"

History of Forest Gardens
by Gary Libby

This is a history of one of Portland's oldest local bars

My father, Earle Ahlquist, served during World War II
by Earlene Chadbourne

Earle Ahlquist used his Maine common sense during his Marine service and to survive Iwo Jima

Primary Sources: Healthcare History in Maine

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12 Content Area: Social Studies
This lesson plan will give students the opportunity to read and analyze letters, literature, and other primary documents and articles of material culture from the MHS collections relating to how people in Maine have given and received healthcare throughout history. Students will discuss the giving and receiving of medicines and treatments from the 18th-21st centuries, the evolving role of hospitals since the 19th century, and how the nursing profession has changed since the Civil War. Students will also look at how people and healthcare facilities in Maine have addressed epidemics in the past, such as influenza and tuberculosis, and what we can learn today from studying the history of healthcare and medicine.