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October is Family History Month
If you are curious about your family tree but aren't sure where to start, the Brown Library at MHS is the place for you! Our staff provides individualized guidance on how research your family's history using our collection material and online databases (available in our library).
Here are some tips on how to get started with your family's history:
- Begin with your immediate family. - Find out as much as you can about your family history by talking to parents, relatives, and family friends. - Ask about:
- Names of ancestors, their spouses, and their siblings
- Dates of birth, marriage, death, and divorce
- The places (town, county, state or province, and country) where these events occurred
We'd like to help you get started by offering two free ways to record your family history. Download these PDFs:
Whether you're new to genealogy, or have devoted a lifetime to it, here are a few ways to celebrate Family History Month with us:
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 MHS will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day, but throughout next week and weekend we're offering several interesting programs both at MHS and at other locations. Mark your calendars for Crystal Ward Kent's book talk Harvest Maine: Autumn Traditions and Fall Flavors on Tuesday, October 14; Holly Hurd-Forsyth's behind-the-scenes look at researching in the museum collections (this month is on political ephemera) on Wednesday, October 15; the NEDCC workshop on Identification and Care of Photographs on Saturday, October 18 ( RSVP now!); and Walking Wilmot: The Ghosts of Bayside--a special tour on Sunday, October 19. For those with kids ages 4-9, join us on Tuesday, October 14 for The Children's Hour: Weekly Story & Craft Activity for Kids. Folks who live in the Moosehead Lake area are invited to attend Local History & Maine Memory Network: Moosehead Lake Region on Sunday, October 19 in Greenville. Longfellow's "Haunted House" is back for its second year, and we're offering seven evening tours on the following dates: October 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, and 30, from 6:00-7:30pm. In the week leading up to Halloween, James Horrigan orients his special tour of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House to stories about the various family members who died there. RSVP by e-mailing John Babin or calling 207-774-1822 ext. 212. Visit our programs and events page for full details. |
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John Calvin Stevens' Family Tree
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The Stevens family record was drawn as a tree in front of the family homestead in Standish by John Howard Stevens, son of noted Portland architect John Calvin Stevens. John Calvin Stevens and his offspring are at the middle left ( zoom in for details). This tree was drawn in 1933 and updated in 1936.  | |
John Calvin Stevens, ca. 1930
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John Calvin Stevens was born on October 8, 1855 to Maria Wingate and Leander Stevens in Boston, but moved to Maine at age two. His grandfather, Calvin Stevens, was raised in Kennebunk but established his business in Standish. His great-grandfather Jotham Stevens, born in England, was a soldier of the Revolution. John Calvin married Martha Louise Waldron in 1877, and they had four children, John Howard, Caroline Maria, Margaret Louise, and Dorothy Wingate. Stevens opened his architecture office in Portland in 1884. Maine Historical Society is currently exhibiting some of his architectural drawings in Wholesome Habitations: Architectural Collections at Maine Historical Society. The Maine Memory Network has a collection of family trees, registers, and genealogical charts that will inspire you to work on yours.
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A Tale of Two Sisters
by Susanna Dorr
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Left to right: Cynthia and Susanna Dorr
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In the summer of my sixty-third year, a miracle occurred in my life, resulting from a confluence of circumstances: One woman's courage, my own late-night idle curiosity, and the continued existence of the genealogy discussion forum on the Maine Historical Society's website.
The courageous woman is Cynthia Dorr, who grew up not knowing her father, Paul Dorr, except in the pages of a scrapbook she found tucked away in her mother's garage. He'd left it behind upon hastily departing from Cynthia's household and life when she was a mere six months old. The book contained photos and a treasure trove of clues about him. She learned that he was born and raised in Maine, that he was handsome and artistic, and that his father, her grandfather, Thomas Dorr, had been the superintendent of the Maine fish hatcheries.
On one page, her father had written two names in calligraphy, "Gladys" and "Paula." Upon pressing her mother about the identity of these two women, Cynthia learned that her father had had another family. Gladys was his former wife and Paula was his other daughter. Excited at discovering the existence of a new sibling, Cynthia immediately wanted to meet her, but, if her mother knew about the whereabouts of Paula, she refused to say. Then there was a fire and the scrapbook was destroyed. In January 2009, Cynthia had a moment of longing to know more about her own identity. She found the website of the Maine Historical Society and spent anguished hours composing a simple query for the forum she found there. She tweaked and tweaked the wording. Announcing her own existence in her father's birthplace was a sort of coming out, and it was terrifying to her. Finally, summoning all the bravery she could muster, she clicked the submit button.
It began: "Thomas and Maude Dorr were my grandparents. My father is Paul Hadley Dorr. I am looking for any information available." ...
Continue reading this exceptional tale of the Dorr sisters' quest to connect to family, and how MHS helped, in this blog post (originally published in the Summer 2011 MHS Newsletter, and then on the MHS blog also in 2011).
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| All our programs and events are listed online, visit us for details. |
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Tuesday, October 14, 12:00pm
Book Talk
Harvest Maine: Autumn Traditions and Fall Flavors
Speaker: Crystal Ward Kent
Location: MHS Lecture Hall
Cost: Free for MHS members; $5 for non-members
Details online.
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Tuesday, October 14, 3:30 - 4:30pm
The Children's Hour: Weekly Story & Craft Activity for Kids
Book this week:
The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Location: check in at the Museum Store
Cost: Free; open to kids ages 4-9 and their caregivers. Space is limited, please reserve a spot by calling 207-774-1822 ext. 214 or e-mail us. .
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Wednesday, October 15, 12:00pm
Researching in the Museum Collections: Political Ephemera Facilitator: Holly Hurd-Forsyth, MHS Collections Manager
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Saturday, October 18, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Workshop: Identification and Care of Photographs
Presented in partnership with Northeast Document Conservation Center and Maine Archives & Museums
Facilitator: Monique Fischer, Senior Photograph Conservator, NEDCC
Location: MHS Lecture Hall
Cost: $100 MHS members; $110 non-members. Details online.
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Sunday, October 19, 2:00 - 3:30pm
In partnership with Maine State Library, Moosehead Historical Society, and Shaw Public Library in Greenville
Local History & Maine Memory Network: Moosehead Lake Region
Location: Center for Moosehead History, 6 Lakeview Street, Greenville Speaker: Candace Kanes, Curator, Maine Memory Network
Cost: Free and open to the public; no registration required.
Details online.
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Sunday, October 19, 1:15 pm
Presented in partnership with Bayside Neighborhood Association
Walking Wilmot: The Ghosts of Bayside Tour Leaders: Steve Hirshon and Deborah Van Hoewyk
This hour-long walking tour of the multi-ethnic Bayside neighborhood focuses on houses of worship, specifically the now-demolished Anshe Sfard Synagogue. Part of MHS's Jewish History Project led by Susan Cummings-Lawrence.
Location: Meet at the Armenian Memorial near the northeast corner of Franklin Street and Cumberland Avenue, across the street from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Rain date: Sunday, October 26, 1:15 pm.
Details online.
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ONGOING PROGRAMS & EXHIBITIONS
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Wadsworth-Longfellow House Tours
House tours given by friendly guides and docents offer a glimpse into the life of America's beloved poet and his family, as well as into the cultural and social history of 19th-century Portland. Click for information and tour times.
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Historical Walking Tours of Portland
Walking Tour Times: Daily at 1:30pm. Call for details and group bookings 207-774-1822 ext. 212.
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The Children's Hour, an after school story and craft program
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was often called "the children's poet" and his love of children is well known. Maine Historical Society invites children ages 4-9 to celebrate reading and literature at Longfellow's childhood home with a new program called The Children's Hour. The program begins with a read aloud of a favorite children's book in or around the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, followed by a fun craft-making activity inspired by the story. The program is led by Kathleen Neumann, Manager of School and Interpretative Programs. Upcoming Children's Hour dates: October 14, 21, and 28 at 3:30pm. The program is free and refreshments will be served. Participating children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver; check-in at the Museum Store. Space is limited. Please call or email Kathleen the Friday before a program to reserve a spot: 207-774-1822, ext. 214, kneumann@mainehistory.org.
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SUPPORT MHS 
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MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
489 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
207-774-1822
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The MHS e-Connection is your online source for news, exhibitions & events.
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