Maine Memory Network

Laboring in Maine

Workers in Maine have labored in factories, on farms, in the woods, on the water, among other locales. Many of Maine's occupations have been determined by the state's climate and geographical features.

The Mainspring of Fashion

The mainspring of fashion is the process whereby members of one class imitate the styles of another, who in turn are driven to ever new expedients of fashionable change.

Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine

As early as 1633, entrepreneurs along the Piscataqua River in southern Maine utilized the force of the river to power a sawmill, recognizing the potential of the area's natural power sources, but it was not until the 1890s that technology made widespread electricity a reality -- and even then, consumers had to be urged to use it.

Patriotic Imagery: 1861-1880

Imagery on letterhead soldiers used, on soldiers' memorials produced after the war, and on many other items captured the themes of the American Civil War: union, liberty, and freedom.

Belfast During the Civil War: The Home Front

Belfast residents responded to the Civil War by enlisting in large numbers, providing relief from the home front to soldiers, defending Maine's shoreline, and closely following the news from soldiers and from various battles.

Away at School: Letters Home

Young men and women in the 19th century often went away from home -- sometimes for a few months, sometimes for longer periods -- to attend academies, seminaries, or schools run by individuals. While there, they wrote letters home, reporting on boarding arrangements and coursework undertaken, and inquired about the family at home.

Promoting Rockland Through a Stereopticon, 1875

Frank Crockett and photographer J.P. Armbrust took stereo views of Rockland's downtown, industry, and notable homes in the 1870s as a way to promote tourism to the town.

Maine and the Civil War - Regiments: Images, Documents

"Regiments: Images, Documents A few of Maine's more than 50 Civil War regiments and batteries are represented here."

Maine and the Civil War - Communities and the War

"Communities and the War In nine communities, historical organizations, libraries and schools worked together between 2013 and 2015 to study what…"

Maine and the Civil War - Legendary Participation

"Legendary Participation War veterans, Kittery, 1932Maine Historical Society Maine's participation in the Civil War is legendary: heroes and…"

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

"… Individuals: Stories, Letters, Diaries"

Maine and the Civil War - The Homefront: Before, During, and After the War

"… The Homefront: Before, During, and After the War"

Maine and the Civil War - Headstone, unknown Confederate soldier, Gray, 1979

"Headstone, unknown Confederate soldier, Gray, 1979 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description In 1862 a grieving Gray family…"

Maine and the Civil War - Togus Veterans' Hospital view, 1885

"Togus Veterans' Hospital view, 1885 Contributed by Boston Public Library Description This bird's-eye view shows the Togus home for…"

Maine and the Civil War - Offer for war battle images, Houlton, ca. 1862

"Offer for war battle images, Houlton, ca. 1862 Contributed by Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum Description A poster advertises…"

Maine and the Civil War - Poster seeking cavalry horses, Aroostook County, 1861

"Poster seeking cavalry horses, Aroostook County, 1861 Contributed by Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum Description A Civil War…"

Maine and the Civil War - Bluehill Academy Journal, 1863

"Bluehill Academy Journal, 1863 Contributed by Blue Hill Public Library Description Written during the Civil War by students at Bluehill…"

Maine and the Civil War - Letter from Daniel Lord to his wife, July 21, 1861

"… Letter from Daniel Lord to his wife, July 21, 1861 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description Daniel Lord wrote to his second…"

Home: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Portland - Census, Timeline

"… census, PortlandMaine Historical Society 1880 census page, PortlandMaine Historical Society 1900 census page, PortlandMaine Historical…"

In Canada During the Civil War

One surviving letter from the family of Francis Pratt to the young man who was in Canada in 1865 suggests that going to Canada to escape military service during the Civil War was not unheard of. The letter also suggests money was removed to Canada to protect it.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Neal Dow

"1880 Collections of Maine Historical Society; gift of Nathan Goold X The Portland Herald, March 20, 1894 Collections of Maine Historical…"

Music in Maine - Community and School Marching Bands

"… Society/MaineToday Media John Francis Susep (1880-1964) was a member of the Penobscot Nation. Susep attended the infamous Carlisle Indian School…"

Lillian Nordica: Farmington Diva

Lillian Norton, known as Nordica, was one of the best known sopranos in America and the world at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. She was a native of Farmington.

Irish Immigrants in Nineteenth Century Maine

With the popularity of all things Irish in modern America, many people have forgotten the difficulties faced by nineteenth century Irish immigrants.