The article covers recent activities, event and concerns of the Maine Historical Society

Maine Historical Society

English

University of Maine

Maine History Volume 15 Number 2 Article 2 10-1-1975 The Society Maine Historical Society Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistoryjournal  Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Maine Historical Society, . "The Society." Maine History 15, 2 (1975): 37-43. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistoryjournal/vol15/iss2/2 This Reports is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu. Maine Historical Society QuarterlyVolume 15, Number two________________________________ Fall, 1975Published quarterly at 485 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04111THE SOCIETYOperating under the theory that retrenchment now will avoid insoluble difficulties later on, several measures have been implemented this fall which will have a noticeable ef­fect upon the Society’s services to the public. These economy moves were indicated in the reports at the last An­nual Meeting as published in the Spring, 1975 issue of the Quarterly.The position of Registrar & Curator was terminated in October. Part of the responsibilities in this area will be as­sumed by the Director’s office. However, it will be impossible to serve the public from the museum collections (requests for photographic reproductions, general infor­mation, etc.) without a Curator on the premises, and the Standing Committee has agreed that there will be no at­tempt to do so during the next two years, or, until such time that the position of Curator can be restored. During this per­iod, as time allows, there will be an attempt to refine and work out systems for adequate retrieval and storage of museum collections which have accumulated over the past century and a half.The position of Reference Librarian has been reduced from full-time to half-time, ironically, just when use of the Society’s printed resources is accelerating. This serious re­duction is possible only because the Cataloger is also an ex­cellent Reference Librarian. However, this will result in a noticeable decrease in the amount of cataloging and catalog revision, and in the number of reference questions answered by mail.These reductions have a human dimension too. We shall all miss Hannah Adams, particularly in her role as admin­istrator and curator at the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. It will take a great deal of effort on the part of the House Com­mittee and the Director to maintain the spontaneity and en­thusiasm we have enjoyed at the House during the past several seasons.It is devoutly hoped that it will become financially pos­sible to restore this lost yardage in due season. Given the strength of its membership and expanded programs, it would seem that the Maine Historical Society is not entering upon an extended period of dormancy—which was most certainly the case in the 1930’s. In order to hold firm to what we now have, the Society will need to rely upon the support and influence of its membership. In raising the dues for Active Membership to $15 this January, the Finance Com­mittee hopes that members will take into consideration that the director and the Standing Committee have done their best to impose serious economy measures before turning to the membership for increased support.Security System: Thanks to a generous gift from two of our Portland members, Mr. and Mrs. J. Weston Walch, elec­tronic surveillance systems are being installed in both the Society Building and the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. The long felt need for an adequate security system becomes more urgent each day. The threat is not so much theft, our se­curity spaces are well guarded, as it is mindless vandalism; and the Society’s gratitude to the Walch’s for their timely gift is great indeed.Honors: In November, the Maine Historical Society achieved national recognition as recipient of the American Association for State and Local History’s Award of Merit. The award was presented to the Society “For its expanded and highly effective programs in publications and manu­scripts.”Certificates of Commendation were awarded by the AASLH this year to two Maine institutions and one individ­38ual: Ralph B. Skinner of Auburn, “For six decades of work in preserving and interpreting the historical heritage of An­droscoggin County, Maine.” The Bethel Historical Society, “For an effective program of preservation, publication, and education.” and to the Old Berwick Historical Society, South Berwick, “For a comprehensive and effective program of local history.”Workshop on Maine State Documents: A daylong work­shop entitled: “An Introduction to Maine State Documents for the Local Historian and Reference Librarian,” to be sponsored by the Maine Historical Society is being planned for next April. The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Edith L. Hary, Librarian of the Maine State Law and Legis­lative Reference Library, Miss Margaret A. Whalen, Director of Special Services at the Maine State Archives, and Mr. David Rabasca, Documents Librarian at the Maine State Library.Although most historians and research librarians have gained some exposure to federal documents during their training, few have had the opportunity to learn about state documents. Thanks to the enthusiastic cooperation of Dr. Hary, Miss Whalen, and Mr. Rabasca, at least an introduc­tion will be offered to this highly important body of source materials.No pre-registrations can be accepted; but if you are inter­ested, be alert for the official announcement and appli­cation forms which will be sent later on this winter. Of necessity the workshop will be strictly limited to fifty participants.39NEW MEMBERSFROM MAINE Addison: Mr. Darryl B. Lamson Augusta: Mrs. Faye W. Sproul Bangor: Mrs. Marjorie M. Quigg Bidde­ford: Mrs. E. Virginia Cole Gay, Dr. Roger J. P. Robert, Mrs. Oscar Rundgren Brewer: Mrs. Dorothy M. Chaison, Mr. Joseph A. Perry Cape Elizabeth: Mr. Michael J. Maroon, Jr., Mr. J. B. Maxwell, Mr. Robert E. Parker Chebeague Island: Mrs. S. C. Hackenberger, Mrs. Martha O. Hamilton Cum­berland Foreside: Mr. John M. Kimball Damariscotta: Mrs. Edward L. Hanley East Baldwin: Mr. Glenn E. Haines East Boothbay: Mr. Page I. Tharpe Easton: Mr. Steven L. Smith Falmouth: Mrs. Arlene W. French Freeport: Mr. Clyde W. Crockett Gorham: Mr. J. Paul Cushman, Mrs. Francis H. Grant Hallowell: Ms. Melissa Mercier Little Diamond Island: Mr. Harold E. Hackett Manset: Miss Geneva H. Pen- ley, Miss Doris M. Riley North Fryeburg: Mrs. Louis Wheaton North Windham: Mrs. Grace M. Worth Old Orchard Beach: Mrs. Martha E. Campbell Orono: Dr. John A. Lynn Portland: Mrs. Richard B. Anderson, Mr. Harold J. Boyle, Mr. Leonard L. Brooks, Mr. Andrews B. Campbell, Mr. Herbert A. Crommett, Mrs. Lloyd I. Drinkwater, Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Lechman, Mr. George H. May, Jr., Mrs. Arlene T. Melcher, Mr. Ralph L. Tucker, Mr. Preston T. Wentworth Prospect Harbor: Mrs. Helen C. Morris Ray­mond: Mr. A. Richard Hamblen Saco: Mr. Kenneth E. Cole, Mrs. Frederick H. Sheehan, Jr. South Portland: Mr. Frank W. Foss, Miss Violet E. Nixon, Mrs. Mary B. Young Wells: Mrs. Shirley A. Tardiff West Baldwin: Mr. Peter T. Cyr Wiscasset: Miss Jane S. Tucker Yarmouth: Mr. Philip Ahrens, Mrs. Patricia A. Crafts, Mr. Thomas C. Purple.Other States CALIFORNIA Menlo Park: Mrs. Sharon S. Schauer CONNECTICUT Norwich: Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Hamblen Riverside: Mr. Edward F Holden Storrs: Mr. J. Parker Huber Woodbury: Mr. John H. Gilchrist FLORIDA Belleair Bluffs: Mrs. Aleena R. Dawson Holiday: Mr. George H. Kent St. Petersburg: Mr. & Mrs. Arthur R. Hinkley 40MARYLAND Annapolis: Mrs. James W Wilson MASSACHUSETTS Cambridge: Mrs. Elizabeth C. Nordbeck Concord: Mrs. Elizabeth Maxfield-Miller Fram­ingham: Mrs. Donald F. Prince MICHIGAN Sand Lake: Mrs. Mary J. Engen MISSOURI Moberly: Mr. James L. Stone NEW JERSEY Maplewood: Mr. A. LeRoy Lightner NEW MEXICO Albuquerque: Mr. Harry M. Murphy, Jr. NEW YORK Bronxville: Mr. Carleton Ashley Far Rockaway: Mr. Barry Tracy OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: Mrs. T. S. Bumpass Tulsa: Mr. Michael W. Whalon.CANADA Saskatoon, Prov. Sask.: Mr. Robert I. Penley.STUDENT MEMBERS: Mr. Herbert C. Adams, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. Eric D. Anderson, U of M, Portland- Gorham; Mr. Brett Buckley, Bowdoin; Mr. Marc N. Capozza, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. Benjamin F. Chandler, Jr., U of M. Portland-Gorham; Mr. Marcus M. Dixon, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. William F. Dove, U of M, Machias; Miss Gail S. Foss, U of M, Farmington; Mr. Tod Goble, Bates; Mr. David B. Googins, King Junior High; Mr. James M. Hennessey, U of M, School of Law; Mr. Jon­athan Howard, Bates; Mr. Ronald Hunnewell, Portland High; Mr. Kenneth Jodrie, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. Thomas Lafavore, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. Marston D. Lovell, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. Daniel McIntyre, U of M, School of Law; Mr. Marlon Morgan, U of M, Machias; Mrs. Dayle Ann Moulton, U of M, Portland- Gorham; Mr. Frederick M. Newcomb III, Dartmouth; Mr. Everett C. Nisbet, U of M, Portland-Gorham; Mr. David A. Sawtelle, Dexter Regional High; Mr. Michael Sawyer, U of M, Presque Isle; Mr. Stewart A. Townsend, U of M, Port­land-Gorham; Mr. Samuel A. Tucker, Jr., Waynflete; Mr. Jon Van Hoogenstyn, Bowdoin; Mr. Allen S. Wright, U of M, Portland-Gorham.41CONTRIBUTORS TO THE BUILDING FUNDMr. Joel W. Eastman, PortlandMr. Ralph E. Hillman, Midland, MichiganMr. William B. Jordan, Jr., PortlandMr. & Mrs. Earle D. Owen, DamariscottaMr. & Mrs. J. Weston Walch, PortlandCORPORATE MEMBERSAcme Engineering Company Portland, MaineBancroft & Martin, Inc.South Portland, MaineBurnham & Morrill CompanyPortland, MaineCanal National Bank Portland, MaineCasco Printing Company Portland, MaineConsumers Water Company Portland, MaineMachias Savings Bank Machias, MaineMaine National Bank Portland, MaineMaine SocietySons of the American RevolutionWest Buxton, Maine42Merrill Transport CompanyPortland, MaineNoyes & Chapman, Inc.Portland, Maine Perkins, Thompson, Hinckley, Thaxter & KeddyPortland, MainePortland Savings BankPortland, MaineRobinson Manufacturing CompanyOxford, Maine George C. Shaw Company South Portland, MaineSun Savings & Loan AssociationPortland, MaineUnion Trust Company of EllsworthEllsworth, MaineVerrill, Dana, Philbrick Putnam & Williamson Portland, MaineS. D. Warren Company FoundationBoston, Massachusetts43

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