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Upcoming Programs and Eventsclick each listing for more information
Th, 2/17, 7pm
Lecture
Pauline Hopkins: Black Daughter of the Revolution
Tues, 2/22, 7pmBook Group
First Meeting
Sat, 2/26, 10am
Longfellow's Birthday Party
Tues, 3/15, 7pm
Lecture
History of American Landscape and Garden Design
Th, 4/7, 7pmBook Talk
Kenneth Roberts' MaineTh, 5/14, 7pm
Genealogy Trip to Boston
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Heads Up!
MHS Annual Gala
will be held on
Saturday
May 7, 2011
5-11 PM
The Woodlands Club
Falmouth, Maine
Stay tuned for details.
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Spotlight On:
Steven Atripaldi, MHS Facilities Manager Herculean. That's the best way to describe Steve's job at MHS. He literally makes the place go. A skilled tradesmen, he is perpetually resourceful, nimble with contractors, and indulgent of the needs of colleagues. He does everything from helping install exhibits and moving collections, to keeping the Longfellow House in tip-top 18th century shape, to managing the state-of-the-art systems that run the new library. And he does it all with a smile. Thank you, Steve.
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A Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
On January 17, along with your This Week at MHS e-mail, you will receive an e-Connection survey.
Your input is a crucial part of keeping our e-Connections fresh, interesting, and relevant. The survey only takes a few minutes, and upon completion, your name will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card to the MHS Museum Store!
Thank you for your support!
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| | Montagnard Snowshoe Club, ca. 1930 |
Snowshoeing took Lewiston by storm during the first half of the 20th century. The spark: Louis-Philippe Gagné, a newspaper editor who immigrated to the area from Quebec in 1922. He brought his love for the sport, and quickly helped form more than a dozen hugely popular snowshoe clubs that hosted athletic events and provided an important social space for the Franco community. Visit the exhibit.
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MHS News
(Always) More Genealogy Resources at MHS
Recently, several high-profile TV shows have premiered that follow celebrities as they trace their family roots. A new season of NBC's Who Do You Think You Are? begins in February. (Current crop includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Rosie O'Donnell, and Lionel Richie.)
Supporting genealogical research is an essential part of what MHS does, and we are constantly looking for the best tools to offer our researchers. Highlights of recently added or soon-to-come resources include:
- Maine marriage, birth, and death records through 1922 are now available in the MHS library through Ancestry.com.
- New Microfilm Machines. Perhaps no tool will make library researchers happier than the three new microfilm machines that will be installed in late January: fast, sleek, state-of-the art. The machines have great digital capabilities, and will enable patrons to scan, create PDFs, email, and print records.
- Genealogy programs. This winter and spring MHS will offer a diverse series of programs, workshops, and trips designed to help genealogists move their research forward. Details to come soon; check our website for the latest information.
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Library staff have recently
| | Elise Fellows White, ca. 1900. Courtesy Skowhegan History House |
finished processing a collection of materials related to Elise Fellows White (1873-1953) given to MHS by Houghton White in 2010. Elise was a violin prodigy from Skowhegan whose musical talents and adventuresome spirit took her around the country and abroad from an early age. She kept journals and saved letters, programs, and photographs throughout her life, all of which offer wonderful glimpses into life in Maine and beyond. The collection is now available to researchers in the library. See the catalog record, and related material on Maine Memory.
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Get Involved:
The Portland History Docents Program
Needs You!
Now is a great time to get involved at MHS and other Portland museums. The Portland History Docent Program offers a chance to immerse yourself in Portland history, a behind-the-scenes introduction to local museums, and an opportunity to become part of an incredible community.
Now in its 15th year, the PHD program is a collaborative effort of Maine Historical Society, Victoria Mansion, Tate House Museum, Greater Portland Landmarks, and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. The 10-week course provides hands-on training for individuals interested in volunteering at one of these organizations. Topics covered range from Maine history to leading tours and working with the public, and the program includes visits to each museum. Graduates then commit to volunteering time at the site of their choice.
The program meets at MHS on Thursday mornings (9am-12pm) from February 17-April 21 with periodic site visits and training. For more information about the PHD program or to register, please contact PHD Program Coordinator Bill Hall by e-mail or phone (207.774.5561 x120). For more information about becoming a docent at the Longfellow House, please e-mail MHS Education Coordinator Bridget McCormick.
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Bill's MythbustersFact Checking with William David Barry, Maine Historian Extraordinaire | Jean Arthur in John Ford's The Whole Town's Talking, 1935.
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CLAIM: Movie star Jean Arthur came from Maine.
REALITY: Yes and no. Arthur, the enigmatic, husky-voiced actress who once charmed the nation as the embodiment of the modern career woman in films such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), The Devil and Miss Jones (1942), and the classic Shane (1953), was born in Plattsburg, New York, but spent her childhood in Portland's "Little Italy."
At the age of seven, Arthur (birth name Gladys Georgianna Greene) moved with her parents to Portland. She attended North School on Congress Street at the base of Munjoy Hill--the childhood neighborhood of famous film director John Ford. Arthur made her film debut in Ford's silent film, Cameo Kirby (1923), and gained popularity in Ford's 1935 gangster comedy The Whole Town's Talking.
Jean Arthur made 46 films during her career, and passed away at the age of 90 in California.
Bill Barry can be reached at rdesk@mainehistory.org.
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MHS on Facebook:
What does it mean to have more than 1,100 friends? In the age of Facebook, the word has taken on a more casual tone--at least in the virtual sense. For us, it's just great to know we've forged such a lively presence on the social networking site and are making new connections every day!
On average, our staff posts daily on a variety of topics- including Maine Memory Network images and exhibits, library and museum collections highlights, program notices, campus news, and notes of national historical interest. We welcome your posts, pics, and of course your thumbs up!
For those of you who want a quick daily dose of Maine history, like us on Facebook and stay connected to MHS. And tell your Facebook friends-whether they are in Portland or Portugal, Augusta or Australia-we want to be their friend, too.
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JANUARY DEAL
When put together, this puzzle displays a colorful map of Portland featuring the Longfellow Monument, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the Portland Observatory, and many other historic and modern landmarks.
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Bring this coupon to the MHS Museum Store in Portland, or use the coupon code "JANUARY2011" at our online store and receive 20% off Portland Maine Puzzle, regularly priced at $14.95.
Offer expires January 31, 2011
Discount not valid without coupon or coupon code.
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Maine Historical Society 489 Congress Street Portland, ME 04101 (207) 774-1822
MHS e-Connection is your online source for news and events at MHS, e-mailed monthly
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