Maine Memory Network

Dolly Dingle paper dolls, 1985

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1650 Media: Paper

Circa 1790s "Manikin dolls" illustration, Portland, 1919

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1790 Location: Portland Media: watercolor, ink on paper

Assessor's Record, 1929-2013 Forest Avenue, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: Riverton Realty Company Use: Amusement

Northern Threads: Early Republic era Fashion dolls

A themed exhibit vignette within "Northern Threads Part I," featuring Early Repulic-era (ca.1780-1820) fashion dolls.

Art of the People: Folk Art in Maine

For many different reasons people saved and carefully preserved the objects in this exhibit. Eventually, along with the memories they hold, the objects were passed to the Maine Historical Society. Object and memory, serve as a powerful way to explore history and to connect to the lives of people in the past.

John Martin: Expert Observer - Annie Martin, Bangor, 1864

"… numbered "2," she was making a dress for her doll, telling the cat she could not pick it up because she was busy."

Historic Hallowell - Johnny Stringer ~ A Character of Industry

"He also made dolls' cradles and bedsteads, for the children of the town, for whom he also had a store of broken--and must we add, to be…"

"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.

A Maine Family's story of being Prisoners of War in Manila
by Nicki Griffin

As a child, born after the war, I would hear these stories - glad they were finally written down