Maine Memory Network
Maine's Online Museum

Title: World War I Honor Roll, Guilford, ca. 1920

Contributed by: Guilford Historical Society

Date: circa 1920

Location: Guilford

Media: Photograph

Title: World War I Monument, Fairfield, ca. 1935

Contributed by: L.C. Bates Museum / Good Will-Hinckley Homes

Date: circa 1935

Location: Fairfield

Media: Photographic print

Title: World War I soldiers, Kennebunk, ca. 1918

Contributed by: Kennebunk Free Library

Date: circa 1918

Location: Kennebunk

Media: Photograph

Great War and Armistice Day

In 1954, November 11 became known as Veterans Day, a time to honor American veterans of all wars. The holiday originated, however, as a way to memorialize the end of World War I, November 11, 1918, and to "perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations." Mainers were involved in World War I as soldiers, nurses, and workers on the homefront aiding the military effort.

Women, War, and the Homefront

When America entered the Great War in 1917, the government sent out pleas for help from American women, many of whom responded at the battle front and on the home front.

"Twenty Nationalities, But All Americans"

Concern about immigrants and their loyalty in the post World War I era led to programs to "Americanize" them -- an effort to help them learn English and otherwise adjust to life in the United States. Clara Soule ran one such program for the Portland Public Schools, hoping it would help the immigrants be accepted.

Lincoln, Maine

The history of a long-time mill town as depicted by seventh and eighth grade students at Mattanawcook Junior High School, with help from Lincoln Historical Society and Lincoln Memorial Library. The site includes exhibits on the paper industry, founding fathers, wartime Lincoln, Main Street, influential institutions, and communication and transportation.