An Evening in
the 1920s
Saturday, May 3, 5:30-11:00pm at the Portland Masonic Temple
Picture yourself in the 1920s! The Maine Historical Society's annual fundraising event celebrates the decade that is known for prohibition, jazz, roadsters, dancing and parties. Bring your friends and enjoy:
Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to the music of The Fogcutters--a new kind of Big Band. Plus, an auction, roaring 20s photobooth, and tours of the historic Portland Masonic Temple. Don't miss our one-night-only 1920s-themed exhibition drawn from the MHS collections!
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Winter Hours
Museum & Store
Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Brown Library
Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm
The Wadsworth-Longfellow House reopens in May for the 2014 season.
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Spotlight On
Kathleen Neumann, Manager of School and Interpretive Programs
MHS is pleased to introduce Kathleen Neumann, our new Manager of Student and Interpretative Programs. Kathleen brings a range of both teaching and museum experience to the position, which oversees all K-12 programming at the society, as well as the public interpretation of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. Most recently, Kathleen taught high school history in Colchester, CT; previously, she taught at the middle school level. On the museum side, she's a seasoned docent who traveled back to Adams National Historic Park in Quincy, MA, most summers after signing on as a volunteer at age 18. "I've always been curious about where the work of K-12 education and museums connect and want to help those worlds work together. MHS is an incredible resource and an organization that is embracing new ways to reach and connect with the public." In her off time, she loves to read, bike, do yoga, play her violin, and contra dance. Now she's eager to become acquainted with her new home. "Maine is scenic and beautiful, as well as historic, and everyone I've met in my travels here has been incredibly friendly and welcoming."
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MHS Annual Trip
September 19 - October 2, 2014
The Black Sea aboard Oceania RivieraŽ
HIGHLIGHTS: Istanbul, Turkey; Nessebur, Bulgaria; Constanta, Romania; Odessa, Ukraine; Yalta, Ukraine; Sevastopol, Ukraine; Sochi, Russia; Sinop, Turkey; Ephesus, Turkey; Athens, Greece
This MHS trip is proving very popular and space is limited. Book your reservation now to insure you have a spot on this exciting trip.
Call Eric Baxter, Maine Historical Society Trustee, at 207-780-6998, or
Dana Widen, AAA Group Travel Coordinator, at 207-780-6957, for more
information and reservations. From $6,750 per person double occupancy.
Download the program flyer here.
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Historical Object: 'Maine Produces' button, ca. 1980
 | | MMN #74770 |
You may think of the "eat local" movement as being a very recent phenomenon, but the Maine Department of Agriculture started a "Maine Produces" campaign back in 1980 to encourage the production and consumption of locally-grown foods. The origins of these efforts have roots in the earlier back-to-the-land movements.
Join us this week to celebrate our state's food history during Maine Restaurant Week; details below.
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Membership Just Got Better
MHS is pleased to announce new and improved membership benefits! Starting now, MHS members have access to some new incentives, including free or discounted admission to programs, guest passes to the MHS Museum and Longfellow House with a Contributor level membership or higher, and discounts on space rental for Supporter level members.
But being a member is about so much more than perks. Your gift of membership helps preserve Maine history and sustain the team of librarians, curators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing Maine history to life, and making it meaningful, relevant, and accessible.
Support from our community has never been so important and we are delighted to extend these new membership benefits to express our thanks to the people who make it all possible. Thank you!
Read all about the full range of benefits in this new blog post.
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From the Collections
Thomas Smith's Bookplate - Where Art and History Merge
 | | Bookplate from Annaei Senecae Tum Rhetoris Tum Philosophi..., Geneva, 1620 (S.C. 843) |
MHS staff members are continually reviewing and researching the collections and (re)discovering wonderful things.
A beautiful, very early, and very rare, printed bookplate pasted into the front of one of our Special Collections volumes recently drew attention. It reads "Thomas Smith, Hunc Librum Vendicat. Anno. Dom MDCCVII" which translates to "Thomas Smith Claims This Book in the Year of Our Lord 1707." The words are surrounded by a woodcut border of flowers, including roses and thistles. The boldness of the design combined with the early date, and the name "Thomas Smith", warranted further investigation.
Continue reading this blog post by Holly Hurd-Forsyth, Collections Manager & Registrar.
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March Programs & Events
Click on the event title links for details
Tuesday, March 4, 12:00pm
Lunchtime Lecture: History of Portland's Chinese Restaurants with speaker Gary Libby. This program is part of Maine Restaurant Week at MHS, funding support from Rabelais.
Wednesday, March 5, 12:00pm
Thursday, March 6, 7:00pm
Maine Restaurant Fare, Dinnertime Discussion and Sampling, with renowned food historian Sandy Oliver. This program is part of Maine Restaurant Week at MHS, funding support from Rabelais.
Friday, March 7, 5:00-8:00pm From Chop Suey to Washington Pie: Maine Menus. This program is part of Maine Restaurant Week at MHS, funding support from Rabelais.
Tuesday, March 11, 12:00pm
Thursday, March 13, 4:30-7:00pm
Food for Thought: Maine Council for the Social Studies Workshop for Teachers This regional professional development workshop includes presentations about educational resources MHS offers to teachers and an overview of the new "C3" Framework for Social Studies, provided by the Maine Department of Education's Social Studies Specialist. $10; register online by March 7.
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00pm
Veterans Issues: From the Civil War to Today Panel discussion moderated by Congressman Mike Michaud, Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Note: There is limited seating; please register online and arrive by 6:45pm to secure your reserved seat.
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Save the Date
Saturday, April 5, 8:00am - 3:30pm
Maine Genealogical Society Spring Workshop with Maureen Taylor, "The Photo Detective" at the Augusta Elks Club. For details and registration information visit us online.
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Seen at MHS
"Favorite Things" event for the 1822 Founder's Council, February 12
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From left to right: Jamie Rice, Jackie Field, Ted Oldham, Joe Gray, Kathy Smith, Carolyn Murray and Dianne Morrison
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Members of the 1822 Founders Council gathered at MHS on February 12 for a reception and presentation of personal highlights from the collections, chosen by select staff and friends. This annual event, "Our Favorite Things," showcased the recently acquired Maine Charitable Mechanic Association banner, "Our Life is One of Lights & Shadows," from 1841, among other fantastic pieces.
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Museum Store
Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month. Learn something new about trailblazing women from Maine in our selection of great books online and in our store.
Women of the Pine Tree State: 25 Maine Women You Should KnowBy Andrea Murphy and Joyce Ray The spirit of Maine is defined by women of fortitude, strength, and courage. Authors, sports icons, explorers, and scientists have all contributed to the unique character of the Pine Tree state. Paperback, $16.00.
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