It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository in Maine which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance.
Most, if not all, Maine repositories have published materials that introduce its collections and research policy.
Maine archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.
Maine Archives
- National Archives – North East Region, Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452-6399; Phone: (781) 663-0130; Fax: (781) 663-0154; E-mail: waltham.archives@nara.gov . Serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Maine State Archives, State House Station 84, Augusta, ME 04333
Maine Museums
Maine Libraries
- 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.
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, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local 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. - Alexander – Crawford Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 1597, Alexander
- Andover Historical Society, Andover
- Androscoggin Historical Society, 2 Turner Street, Auburn
- Athens Historical Society, Academy Street, Athens
- Bangor Historical Society, 159 Union Street, Bangor
- Bar Harbor Historical Society, 33 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor
- Bath Historical Society, 33 Summer Street, Bath
- Belfast Historical Society, 7 Park Street, Belfast
- Berwick Historical Society, P.O. Box 904, Berwick
- Bethel Historical Society, P.O. Box 12, Bethel
- Biddeford Historical Society, P.O. Box 346, York
- Boothbay Region Historical Society, 70 Oak St, Boothbay Harbor
- Border Historical Society, 74 Washington St, Eastport
- Bradford Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 362, Bradford
- Brewer Historical Society, 199 Wilson Street, Brewer
- Bridgton Historical Society, P.O. Box 44, Bridgton
- Bucksport Historical Society, Main Street, Bucksport
- Bustins Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 118, South Freeport
- Camden Historical Society, 80 Mechanic Street, Camden
- Castine Historical Society, School Offices, Castine
- Center North Yarmouth Historical Society, Route 9, Box 391, Cumberland Center
- Cherryfield – Narraguagus Historical Society, P.O. Box 96, Cherryfield
- China Historical Society, P.O. Box 245, South China
- Cumberland Historical Society, Rt. 2, Box 479-A, Cumberland Center
- Davistown Museum, The, Main St., Po Box 346, Liberty
- Deer Isle – Stonington Historical Society, Deer Isle
- Dexter Historical Society, P.O. Box 481, Dexter
- Dover – Foxcroft Historical Society, Chandler Road, Dover-Foxcroft
- Dresden Historical Society, Brick School House Museum, Dresden 04342
- East Machias Historical Society, P.O. Box 658, East Machias
- Eliot Historical Society, P.O. Box 3, Eliot
- Ellsworth Historical Society, P.O. Box 355, Ellsworth
- Fairfield Historical Society, 42 Main Street, Fairfield
- Falmouth Historical Society, 5 Lunt Rd, Falmouth
- Franco-american Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 180, Biddeford
- Frenchboro Historical Society, Frenchboro
- Fryeburg Historical Society, 96 Main St, Fryeburg
- Ft. Kent Historical Society, P.O. Box 282, Ft. Kent
- Greene Plantation Historical Society, Rt.1, Box 2040, Morrill
- Hampden Historical Society, P.O. Box 456, Hampden
- Harpswell Historical Society, Rt. 1, South Harpswell
- Island Falls Historical Scty, Burley St, Island Falls
- Islesboro Historical Society, P.O. Box 301, Islesboro
- Jay Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 3915, Wilton
- Kennebunkport Historical Society, 125-135 North Street, Kennebunkport
- Kittery Historical Society, Rogers Rd, Kittery
- Knox Memorial Association, 33 Knox Street, Thomaston
- L’Heritage-vivant-living Heritage, P.O. Box 165, Van Buren
- Lakes Region Historical Society, P.O. Box 521, Rangeley
- Le Club Calumet Genealogical Section, P.O. Box 110, Augusta
- Leeds Historical Commission, North Leeds
- Lewiston Historical Commission, 36 Oak Street, Lewiston
- Lincoln County Historical Association, P.O. Box 61, Wiscasset
- Lincolnville Historical Society, P.O. Box 211, Lincolnville Center
- Lovell Historical Society, Route 5, Lovell
- Machiasport Historical Society, Route 92, Machiasport
- Madawaska Historical Society, Main Street, Madawaska
- Maine Civil War Reinactment Society, Hog Bay Rd, Franklin
- Maine Franco-american Genealogical Society, P.O Box 2125, Lewiston
- Maine Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 221, Farmington 04938-0221
- Maine Historical Society, 485 Congress Street, Portland 04101
- Memorial Historical Society, P.O. Box 307, Howland
- Milbridge Historical Society, Main St, Milbridge
- Monmouth Historical Society, P.O. Box 352, Monmouth
- Moosehead Historical Society, P.O. Box 1116, Greenville
- Morrill Historical Society, Rt. 3, Box 585, Belfast
- Mt. Desert Island Historical Society, 1119 Main St, Mt. Desert
- Mt. Desert Island Historical Society, Main Street, Somersville
- New Gloucester Historical Society, Cocc’s Bridge Road, New Gloucester
- New Sweden Historical Society, Capitol Hill Rd, New Sweden
- Norway Historical Society, P.O. Box 167, Norway
- Oakfield Historical Society, Station Street, Oakfield
- Old Berwick Historical Society, P.O. Box 396, South Berwick
- Old Canada Road Historical Society, P. O. Box 742, Bingham 04920
- Old Carratunk Historical Society, P.O. Box 303, Bingham
- Old Town Penobscot National Historical Society, P.O. Box 313, Old Town
- Old York Historical Society, P.O. Box 312, York
- Paris Cape Historical Society, RR 26, South Paris
- Pejepscot Historical Society, 159 Park Row, Brunswick
- Pemaquid Historical Association, Rt. 2, Box 4000-314, Damariscotta
- Phippsburg Historical Society, P.O. Box 21, Phippsburg
- Presque Isle Historical Society, P.O. Box 285, Presque Isle
- Raymond – Casco Historical Society, Casco
- Readfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 354, Readfield
- Rumford Area Historical Society, Congress Street, Rumford
- Sagadahoc Preservation, P.O. Box 322, Bath
- Sainte Agathe Historical Society, P.O. Box 237, St. Agatha
- Sandy River Valley Chapter, Maine Gen. Society,
- Sanford Historical Committee, 263 Main Street, Sanford
- Scarborough Historical Society, U.S. Route 1, Scarborough
- Sedgwick-brooklin Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 4570, Sedgwick
- South Portland-cape Elizabeth Historical Society, P.O. Box 2623, South Portland
- Southern Aroostook Historical Society, 109 Main Street, Houlton
- Standish Historical Society, Oak Hill Road, Standish
- Stockholm Historical Society, Lake and South Main Streets, Stockholm
- Sullivan-sorrento Historical Society, P.O. Box 67, West Sullivan
