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Lg Ms 019 Westbrook Citizens For Equal Rights Archives Finding Aid, Maeve Wachowicz

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Westbrook Citizens for Equal Rights (WCER) was a Political Action Committee (PAC) registered in Westbrook, Maine in June of 2002. WCER was formed to promote civil rights in Westbrook, and notably campaigned to uphold the Westbrook Human Rights Ordinance of 2002. The archives contain materials from both the “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” campaigns on the Human Rights Ordinance referendum, such as flyers, pamphlets, campaign signs and stickers, advertisements, volunteer instructions, and correspondence. There is also information on the 2003 election in Westbrook, and on similar ordinance campaigns in Falmouth, Maine, and in Kalamazoo and Traverse City, Michigan, in …

Lg Ms 018 Maine Won’T Discriminate Archives Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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Maine Won't Discriminate (MWD) was an organization created to work toward passing LGBT civil rights legislation in Maine and to advocate against/for citizens referenda that would have overturned/sustained such legislation. The Archives contains organizational records as well as print and audiovisual material created and used by the organization. The majority of the materials relate to MWD’s ultimately successful efforts to oppose referendum Question 1 in 2005, which read: “Do you want to reject the new law that would protect people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit based on their sexual orientation?” The materials include polling …

Lg Ms 011 Northern Lambda Nord Archives Finding Aid, Michelle E. Smith, Kristin Morris

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One of the earliest gay and lesbian groups in the state, NLN began in 1979 as a support network for the rural LGBT community, located in Aroostook County, with members in Maine and New Brunswick. By the mid-1980s, NLN had added an outreach component, working to educate the local community on LGBT identity and acceptance and health and HIV/AIDS issues. They also started a Gay-Lesbian Phoneline which grew into the Maine HIV/AIDS Hotline. The group disbanded in 2000, but re-formed in 2006. The Archives contains an extensive collection of organizational records, promotional materials, photo albums and artifacts.

Date Range: …

Lg Ms 017 Susan Farnsworth Papers Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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Susan Farnsworth earned her undergraduate degree from Bates College in 1969 and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1976. She has worked in several city and state government positions, including Maine State Representative from 1988-1994. Farnsworth has also been active in the LGBT community, serving as a member of the Executive Committee and an organizer of “Yes on 6” PAC in the Statewide Referendum Campaign in 2000. The Papers consist of working papers, publications, and other materials.

Date Range:

1970s-1990s

Size of Collection:

2.25 ft.

Jud Ms 03 Macabee Club Archives Finding Aid, Marieke Van Der Steenhoven

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Macabee Club was a club of Jewish high school students in Portland from 1955 to the 1970s. The Archives contains organizational records of the group, including meeting minutes, newsletters, and event programs.

Date Range:

1955-1972

Size of Collection:

1 ft.

Jud Ms 02 Portland Jewish Community Center Uso Guest Book Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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The Jewish Community Center on Cumberland Avenue in Portland, Maine was the site of United Service Organization (USO) social events, held regularly from at least October 1943 to September 1946. Most of the servicemen (and some women who were nurses) who attended events at the Community Center were in the Navy, stationed on shops docked or anchored in Casco Bay. These social events were sometimes held out on the islands. Although hosted by the Jewish Community Center, anyone was welcome, regardless of religion. Eleanor Edison Taft saved this ledger listing the names of attendees at the USO events when …

Jud Ms 01 Annetta Kornetsky Girl Scout Collection Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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Annetta Kornetsky was the Scout leader of Girl Scout Troops 109 and 177, sponsored by the Portland Jewish Community Center, between 1956 and 1958. The Collection contains records of Troops 109 and 177, including meeting agendas, finances, handbook pages, and minutes from November 1956 to March 1958.

Date Range:

1956-1958

Size of Collection:

0.08 ft.

Lg Ms 014 Jessen Lgbt/Women’S Newsletter & Media Collection Finding Aid, Renee Desroberts, Karin A. France

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Barbara Jessen formed the Maine Tradeswomen's Network, a loose organization of women in the trades and supporting personnel, in 1990, to promote networking, mentoring, and employment. The Collection consists of six newsletter titles, plus newspaper clippings, fact sheets, and articles - all covering LGBT and women’s issues in Maine and nationally.

Date Range:

1970s-2000

Size of Collection:

0.5 ft.

Lg Ms 016 Transsupport Archives Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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Transsupport is a non-profit, educational, non-sexual peer support group for Cross-dressers, Transsexuals, their families, friends and significant others. The Archives contains organizational papers and newsletters from between 1994 and 1998, plus one issue of vol. 1 of the newsletter, dated 1989.

Date Range:

1989, 1994-1998

Size of Collection:

0.5 ft.

Lg Ms 015 May Sarton Scrapbook Finding Aid, Kristin Morris, Karin A. France

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William Barry is a well-known, published local historian. He had a slight connection with May Sarton through his friend Dorothy Healy, co-founder of the Maine Women Writers Collection. The Scrapbook contains documents relating to his correspondence with Sarton regarding her essay for a memorial book for Healy; documents and newspaper clippings relating to celebrations of Sarton’s life and work; documents regarding Barry’s effort to get Sarton’s essay in Healy’s memorial included in a Sarton bibliography.

Date Range:

1983-2008

Size of Collection:

0.25 ft.

Aa Ms 05 Cummings Guest House Register Finding Aid, Karin A. France

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The Cummings family of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, ran a guest house from 1923 until 1993. Register in which guests signed themselves in or were signed in by staff at the Cummings Guest House, 110 Portland Ave., Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Includes signatures of family members who attended reunions after the Guest House ceased operation.

Date Range:

1923-1998

Size of Collection:

1 ft.

Aa Ms 04 Eastern Real Estate Archives Finding Aid, Patrick J. Mooney

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The Eastern Real Estate Company was an association of African-Americans who bought and sold real estate in the Portland area from 1912-2001. The records in the Archives include articles of association, minutes, financial records, stock records, listings of stockholders, tax records, bank books and legal documents.

Date Range:

1912-2001

Size of Collection:

1 ft.

Aa Ms 03 Harold E. Richardson Papers Finding Aid, Susie R. Bock

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Harold E. Richardson (1922-1993) was born in Portland and attended West School and Portland High School. Richardson was elected to the Portland Water District Board in 1963. He served on the Board until at least 1987, including a stint as president in the late 60s. He was very active in the Portland community: his contributions include service on the Maine State Law Enforcement Planning and Assistance Agency and membership in the Mt. Lebanon Masonic Lodge and Deering Lions Club, among many others. The Papers contain his scrapbook, documenting his many contributions to the Portland community, including serving on the …

Lg Ms 012 Act Up/Maine Archives Finding Aid, Lynne Chabot

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ACTUP/ Maine, founded in 1990, was a chapter of the national organization, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) that focused on AIDS issues. The goals of the organization were the empowerment of people with AIDS and the establishment of an AIDS Resource Center. The organization emphasized direct action in communities and an open democratic process within the group. The Archives holds organizational papers, books, photos, promotional materials, correspondence and publications, plus a significant number of publications/papers from ACT-UP chapters in the US and abroad. The bulk of the material spans the years 1990-1994, and there is a good …

Lg Ms 009 Act Up/Portland Archives Finding Aid, Eileen Rowland, Lynne Chabot

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ACT UP/ Portland, established in the 1990s, was a chapter of the national organization, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) that focused on AIDS issues. ACT UP/ Portland sponsored several local youth organizations, had a cooperative partnership with Public Health agencies, leafleted extensively, and held media campaigns. The organization emphasized direct action in communities and an open democratic process within the group. The Archives consists of administrative files, programs/activities, and resource materials from the group and its affiliates. Dates range from 1984 to 1996, with the bulk of materials either undated or 1991-1996.

Date Range:

1984-1996

Size of …

Gen Ms 16 Joseph Porter Papers Finding Aid, Usm Special Collections

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Description:

Joseph Porter was a ship captain of Freeport, Maine. The Papers primarily document the travels of his ship, the Eliza Ann, in the years 1809-1812, although they span the years 1810-1924. They contain 55 original documents, and other materials, including correspondence, accounts, cargo lists, crew lists, receipt for wages, port forms, a Bill of Health and a Roll of Equipage. Also included are documentation on Porter's ship America in 1815, and the building of a corvett (vessel of war) in 1816.

Date Range:

1810-1924

Size of Collection:

0.25 ft.

Gen Ms 23 Esther Wood Papers Finding Aid, Daniel Draper, Megan Turner

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Description:

Esther Wood taught Social Sciences and History at Gorham Normal School from 1930 to 1972. She regularly wrote columns for the Christian Science Monitor and received many awards, including “Woman of the Year” from the Blue Hill Chamber of Commerce and a Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa from Colby College. In 1973, the University named a dormitory building on the Gorham campus in her honor. The Papers consist of her lecture notes on the history of New England from the 16th century through the colonial period and the Revolutionary War to the founding of the State of Maine …

Gen Ms 22 Hayden Anderson Papers Finding Aid, Daniel Draper

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Description:

Hayden L. Anderson was a prominent Maine educator and Maine historian. He graduated from Gorham Normal School in 1925, and subsequently earned degrees from Boston University and Bates College, as well as doing graduate work at Harvard University. He served as principal and superintendent in schools in central and northern Maine, and as Dean of Instruction at Farmington State College. He also worked in the State Department of Education and served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine. He was a student of local history, editing the bicentennial history of Litchfield, Litchfield Yesteryears, and writing a …

Gen Ms 20 Jane And Robert Pickett Papers Finding Aid, Daniel Draper

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Description:

Robert Stanley Pickett and Jane Niles Pickett attended Gorham State Teacher's College from 1949 to 1953. The Papers contain materials concerning academic, athletic and student social activities at Gorham State Teacher's College in the early 1950s, including a scrapbook and newspaper clippings.

Date Range:

1949-1953

Size of Collection:

0.5 ft.

Gen Ms 19 Fitts Family Collection Finding Aid, Daniel Draper

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Description:

Bertha Rice Fitts was born in 1870, in Waterford, Maine. After graduating from Gorham Normal School in 1894, she became Master’s Assistant and eighth-grade teacher in Westbrook, Maine, before accepting a similar position at a grammar school in Quincy, MA. While in Quincy, she boarded with Mrs. Calvin Fitts, and in 1899 married her son, Arthur Fitts. She was involved in the Southern Branch of the Gorham Alumni Association for many years. The Collection consists of primarily late 19th c. commercial photographs of teachers and students of Gorham Normal School, plus photos of Gorham Normal School buildings, Bertha Fitts …

Gen Ms 14 September 11th Collection Finding Aid, Susie R. Bock, Kim Fleming

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Description:

The newspapers were acquired by the Library by subscription and gathered into this collection by the Head of Special Collections following the events of September 11th. The Collection consists of hard copies of Maine newspapers to document how the events were covered in Maine, and a remembrance ribbon, presumably produced during USM’s 2002 Remembrance events.

Date Range:

2001-2002

Size of Collection:

3 ft.

Gen Ms 12 Luther I. Bonney Papers Finding Aid, John D. Knowlton

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Description:

Luther I. Bonney was born in Turner, Maine in 1884. After graduating from Bates College in 1906, Bonney was involved in education for the rest of his life. He was a Professor of Mathematics at Middlebury College, Vermont from 1907-1927, and Dean of Portland Junior College, one of USM’s progenitor schools, from 1933 until 1958. The Papers consist of histories he wrote, poetry, WWII letters from former students, honorary degrees, and a taped 1974 interview of Bonney.

Date Range:

1933-1974

Size of Collection:

0.5 ft.

Gen Ms 13 Kenneth T. H. Brooks Finding Aid, John D. Knowlton

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Description:

Kenneth T. H. Brooks received his undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire and Masters and Doctoral degrees from Boston University. He served as President of Gorham State Teacher’s College from 1960-68, then continued as President of the University of Maine at Gorham from 1968-1970. He stepped down when Gorham merged with the University of Maine at Portland. He wrote See the Green and White Advancing: A History of Gorham Normal School, Teachers College, and State College 1878-1970, which was published in 1995. Kenneth Brooks died December 4, 1995. This small miscellaneous group of papers focuses on Brooks …

Gen Ms 08 Walter E. Russell Papers Finding Aid, John D. Knowlton

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Description:

Dr. Walter E. Russell Papers span the period 1874-1945, the bulk of them 1870s-1880s, consisting of writings on education and allied topics as well as his sermons. There are a small number of printed items and a photograph of the1928 School Summer Session. Russell often used printed material as scrap paper, so forms usually found in the office of an education administrator of the time occur in these Papers.

Date Range:

1874-1945

Size of Collection:

2 ft.

Lg Ms 008 South Portland Citizens For Justice Archives Finding Aid, Siobain C. Monahan

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South Portland Citizens for Justice was a group seeking a local ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The group campaigned in support of the proposed Human Rights Ordinance, which was on the ballot in the November 3, 1998 election. The Archives contains newspaper articles (clippings and entire issues) that relate to the 1998 Human Rights Ordinance. Also included are items from the South Portland Citizens for Justice organization, such as correspondence, publications, posters, stickers, and press packets.

Date Range:

1998

Size of Collection:

2.5 ft.

Lg Ms 006 Cruikshank Feminist-Lesbian Publications Collection Finding Aid, Siobain C. Monahan

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Margaret Cruikshank was an early scholar in the field of Lesbian studies and taught a women’s studies course at the University of Southern Maine. She also teaches lesbian studies at the University of Maine in Orono. The Collection contains almost a full run of The Furies, an important 1970s publication in the field, as well as other scattered issues of feminist-lesbian publications from the 1970s.

Date Range:

1970s

Size of Collection:

0.5 ft.

Gen Ms 04 William W. Layton Collection Finding Aid, John D. Knowlton

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Description:

William W. Layton is an amateur American historian and collector of historical artifacts in Virginia who donated these items in honor of the creation of the Gerald E. Talbot Collection. The Collection consists of 10 original manuscripts, an original lithograph, 2 facsimiles and 14 transcripts and/or photocopies of the manuscripts, regarding Mainers over a period of years in the 19th century, with an emphasis on William Pitt Fessenden and the U.S. Civil War.

Date Range:

1800s

Size of Collection:

2 ft.

Lg Ms 004 Christopher O’Connor Collection Finding Aid, Siobain C. Monahan

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Christopher O’Connor was resident director of USM’s Portland Hall dormitory in the fall of 1999 when there was an incident involving anti-gay graffiti in the dormitory. The Collection includes newspaper clippings regarding the incident, brochures, and a letter to the USM community from O'Connor.

Date Range:

1999

Size of Collection:

0.25 ft.

Lg Ms 002 Barry-Peabody Papers Finding Aid, Siobain C. Monahan

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William Barry is a well-known, published local historian. Frannie Peabody was an early Maine AIDS activist, who established the Peabody House, a center dedicated to assisting individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The Papers contain research materials gathered for the writing of the book, "The AIDS Project : a history." They include correspondence, clippings, photographs, publications, research notes, drafts, and documents from Maine’s largest AIDS service organization.

Date Range:

1974-1997

Size of Collection:

4.5 ft.

Lg Ms 003 Jean Stickney Posters Finding Aid, Siobain C. Monahan

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Stickney was an agent for entertainers. This is a collection of colored posters advertising events of interest to the Gay and Lesbian communities. Many of these events were organized by Wild Iris Productions, Jean Stickney’s business, and held in the First Parish Church in Portland, Maine.

Date Range:

1980s-1990s

Size of Collection:

2 ft.