Curated by Tiffany Link, Collections Curator
On view June 20 – October 7, 2023
Maine Historical Society staff come across unique and unforgettable items in our collections every day. While it's difficult to choose favorites from a dynamic collection, this exhibit features memorable highlights as selected by members of the MHS staff.
Some are old favorites finally getting a chance to be featured, and some are new discoveries—found during a collection move or while researching a related topic. Some are chosen for their beauty, others for historical or personal significance, and some for their humor.
Daily, we receive new acquisitions and rediscover items in MHS archive. This process of discovery is one of our favorite parts of the job. The items showcased here represent not only the breadth of the collection, but also the varied interests of our staff members. We’re excited to share our selections of standout pieces from two hundred years of collecting.
North School pupil reading, ca. 1920
Collections of Maine Historical Society/MaineToday Media
2005.061.6075
North School pupil reading, Portland, circa 1920
Unrecorded photographer
Photographic print and reproduction
Collections of Maine Historical Society and
Maine Historical Society/MaineToday Media
MaineMemory.Net #10392 and 2005.061.6075
Staff Member: Sofia Yalouris, Image Services Coordinator & Collections Technician
The damaged photographic print of a young girl reading is part of Coll. 808, North School Records at MHS. MHS discovered the negative while digitizing Coll. 1949, Portland Press Herald glass negative collection. It's unusual to have both the negative and print appear in two separate collections, donated at two separate times.
Sofia often admired the printed image but thought the damage of the photograph unfortunate. She was excited to discover the undamaged negative during the Coll. 1949 digitization project in 2017. She’s thrilled the intact negative makes it possible to create new prints over 100 years later.
Dirigo House, Long Island, circa 1930
Unrecorded photographer
Photographic print
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #6276
Staff Member: Nancy Noble, Archivist & Cataloger
This hand-colored photograph features hollyhocks, morning glories,
and nasturtiums surrounding the Dirigo House on Long Island. One of
several historic grand inns on the island, it operated until the 1930s.
Nancy lives on Long Island and loves the vintage feel of this handcolored
print. As an amateur photographer and garden lover, this
photograph always catches her eye.
Thomas Burnham deposition against Rachel Clinton, Ipswich, Massachuestts, ca. 1692
Item Contributed by
Maine Historical Society
Thomas Burnham deposition against Rachel Clinton,
Ipswich, Massachusetts, circa 1692
Thomas Burnham, Jr.
Ink on paper
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #7309
Staff Member: Kathleen Flynn Neumann, Curator of Education &
Public Programs
This 1692 court deposition details Thomas Burnham’s witchcraft
accusation against Rachel Clinton in Ipswich, Massachusetts. His
testimony, taken when witch trials were underway in nearby Salem,
describes Rachel turning into a cat and jumping forty feet onto his roof
after he allegedly caught her milking his cows. The deposition is part
of Coll. 77, Autographs of Special Note. A popular pastime in the 19th
century, MHS has several autograph collections containing intriguing
and significant documents, not all of which are from Maine.
Kathleen enjoys using this letter as a conversation starter when
working with K-16 school groups. Students are struck by the outlandish
claims described in Burnham’s deposition, and by what a court of law
considered credible testimony at the time. The document is also an
excellent example of 17th century spelling, grammar, and handwriting.
View of Portland harbor by moonlight, circa 1905
Ernest R. Rowe (1876-1962)
Reproduction photographic print
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #12535
Staff Member: Jamie Rice, Deputy Director
Amateur photographer Ernest R. Rowe made the original handcolored
lantern slide of Casco Bay in the moonlight. The hand coloring
technique adds drama, while the slight crack in the glass confirms the
fragility of the medium.
Lantern slides are positive, transparent photographs made on glass,
traditionally viewed with a “magic lantern” that shone light through
the slide, projecting the image onto a wall or screen. The medium was
popular from about 1850 to the 1940s.
Jamie picked this captivating image for the striking contrast of the ships
silhouetted against the moonlight sky. It is one of her many favorites in
the MHS collections.
International Appalachian Trail route map, Saint Croix Lake, 1995
Item Contributed by
Maine Historical Society
International Appalachian Trail route map, Saint Croix Lake, 1995
Clarence R. Gilman (1922-2007)
Reproduction map
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #110874
Staff Member: Jordis Rosburg, Project Archivist
Clarence “Charlie” Gilman greatly contributed to the northern Maine
section of the International Appalachian Trail, a hiking trail spanning
three continents. He drew this map of routes in the Saint Croix Lake
area, northwest of Houlton, Maine.
The International Applicational Trail (IAT) generally follows the path of
the Appalachian-Caledonian Mountains as they existed during Pangea,
the earth’s landmass before it physically separated. Today, twenty-three
IAT chapters across modern-day North America, Europe and Africa
maintain trails throughout this historic mountain range.
In 2021, Jordis worked as the archivist for the IAT collection at MHS.
She enjoys the artwork on this hand-drawn, manuscript map, but also
appreciates its significance in establishing the IAT. It is representative of
the many enthusiasts who worked together to bring the idea of the IAT
to life, by exploring different routes the trail could follow. This map also
focuses on the Maine portion of the trail, a reminder that while the IAT
spans many countries, the idea originated in Maine.
Item Contributed by
Maine Historical Society
Tavern sign, Raymond, circa 1850
Unrecorded artist
Reproduction oil on wood painting
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #26511
Staff Member: Abby Zoldowski, Collections Manager & Registrar
Both sides of this hand-painted sign for Samuel Witham’s tavern
feature a different figure—perhaps “before and after” versions of a
pub customer. Located on what is today Route 302, Samuel Witham’s
tavern, later called the Raymond Inn, was near the intersection of
Webbs Mill Road in Raymond, Maine.
Abby came across this sign during MHS’s recent collections move.
She was initially drawn to the whimsical folk-art aesthetic and intrigued
by the unique figures on either side of this sign. Abby enjoys finding
surprising items through her work caring for and tracking the
MHS collections.
Bridgton Highlands, circa 1955 Joseph B. Kahill (1882-1957) Reproduction oil on artist board Collections of Maine Historical Society 2014.150.001
Bridgton Highlands, circa 1955
Joseph B. Kahill (1882-1957)
Reproduction oil on artist board
Collections of Maine Historical Society
2014.150.001
Staff Member: Tiffany Link, Collections Curator
Joseph B. Kahill’s painting features a view of Mount Washington from
the Bridgton Highlands. Kahill, an Egyptian-born American artist who
emigrated to Maine in 1898, owned a successful art studio in Portland
and is widely remembered as a portrait artist.
Tiffany happened across this painting during a recent collection move.
It immediately drew her attention because it features many of her
favorite things: a view of the White Mountains, snow, and fall foliage.
She recently hiked Mount Washington and always looks forward to fall
and winter adventures. Tiffany admires how this painting captures all
those sentiments in one image.
View from a balcony at Caen, France, 1892 John Calvin Stevens (1855-1940)
View from a balcony at Caen, France, 1892
John Calvin Stevens (1855-1940)
Reproduction of graphite on paper
Collections of Maine Historical Society
Coll. 209, Series G box 3, John Calvin Stevens
Staff Member: Kathy Amoroso, Manager of Information Technology
The original graphite (pencil) drawing appears in a sketchbook kept by
well-known Portland architect John Calvin Stevens during a bicycling
trip through France. It illustrates Stevens’s view from his balcony at
Caen in northwest France. At the time, much of the city’s architecture
dated to the 11th century. This is one of many beautiful sketches Stevens
created during his journey.
Kathy encountered the 1892 sketchbook while researching. Having
always wanted to visit France, she spent time looking through the
sketches. While familiar with Stevens’s work as an architect, Kathy was
surprised, impressed, and envious of his artistic talent—especially
his ability to create quick, simple sketches worthy of display. A
photographer herself, the fact Stevens carried a sketchbook and took
the time to draw scenes from his travels when most (especially today)
would take photos, resonated with Kathy.
What they Discovered at the North Pole, 1909
Ink on paper, with reproductions
Collections of Maine Historical Society
Pamphlet 2033
Staff Member: Katie Alleman, Research & Administrative Librarian
City Job Print in Waterville created a humorous publication
featuring ads for local businesses, including this item printed during
Robert E. Peary’s second (and successful) expedition to the North
Pole aboard the S.S. Roosevelt. Commodore Peary designed the ship to
withstand Arctic conditions and had it built off the coast of Bucksport
using Maine lumber.
Katie came across this pamphlet while fulfilling a research request
related to the construction of the S.S. Roosevelt. Katie expected this
small booklet to contain images, or a list of Arctic species. Instead,
she found one word,“ICE,” on the first page and nothing but blank
pages following. Caught by surprise, she laughed out loud. Katie loves
someone’s past effort to print this booklet, save it, and eventually donate
it to MHS.
Letter to John Winthrop, circa 1645, Coll. 60, box 1/1
Letter to John Winthrop, circa 1645
Ink on paper
Collections of Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #126358
Staff Member: Gail Dodge, Museum & Digital Technician
This letter demonstrates secretary hand, a script used from the late 15th
century to the mid-17th century to help standardize writing and make
correspondence or recordkeeping easier. Often used by secretaries
to write official documents and correspondence, the letters, words,
and spellings are somewhat like modern English, but difficult to read.
Several examples of secretary hand are found in Coll. 60, the Plymouth
Company records, also known as the Kennebec Proprietors, which
relates to colonial settlement along the Kennebec River.
Gail recently digitized Coll. 60 as part of MHS’s Beyond Borders project.
This document, and others like it, stood out because of their llegibility.
While resembling a different language, they actually represent the
preferred way of writing official documents and correspondence in
the 1600s. This particular document includes an historic transcription
below the original script, making it especially unique.
Wadsworth-Longfellow House sign, 1901
Reproduction ink on paper
Collections of the Maine Historical Society
MaineMemory.Net #16153
Staff Member: John Babin, Visitor Services Manager
Ann Longfellow Pierce, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s sister, donated
their childhood home to Maine Historical Society upon her death in
1901. This sign hung outside the House, advertising tours after the
building opened to the public.
John came across this sign while researching the House and garden.
Being the front-line of MHS’s visitor services department, he found this
especially relevant since he still enjoys welcoming visitors over 120 years
later. MHS still exhibits, in his opinion, the world’s best collection of
Longfellow’s family belongings!
Summer & Early Autumn Sketchbook, Kennebunk, circa 1900 William Edward Barry (1846-1932)
Summer & Early Autumn Sketchbook, Kennebunk, circa 1900
William Edward Barry (1846-1932)
Reproduction graphite on paper
Collections of the Maine Historical Society
1992.94.1
Staff Member: Steve Landry, Facilities Manager
An architect by profession, William Edward Barry created several field
sketchbooks featuring New England plants and wildlife. This page is
one example of his detailed artistry. Originally from Kennebunk, Barry
designed summer cottages, combining shingle, colonial revival and
Queen Anne styles. In addition to two botanical scrapbooks, MHS
houses Barry’s drawings featuring furniture and architectural elements.
Steve came across Barry’s work while planning a small pop-up exhibit
focused on botany collections. Steve was impressed with Barry’s
attention to detail and found his work to be a fantastic example of a field
sketchbook. Steve also appreciates the thorough annotations and the
use of color to bring the sketches to life.
Leave Her to Heaven movie poster, 2020
Reproduction print
Collections of Maine Historical Society
2023.052
Leave Her to Heaven movie poster, 2020
Reproduction print
Collections of Maine Historical Society
2023.052
Staff Member: Steve Bromage, Executive Director
This poster heralds one of the first (and last) events commemorating
Maine’s Bicentennial. Based on Maine author Ben Ames William’s
book, the majority of the film noir classic Leave Her to Heaven is set at
a Northern Maine lakeside lodge. The film’s digitally-restored version
premiered at the Waterville Opera House in March 2020—just before
the world shut down due to COVID-19.
The film’s premier was the last public event Steve attended before
the pandemic. He loves film noir, and enjoys this movie all the more
because it is set in Maine. He’s also a fan of Williams’s books, which
often take place in the fictional village of Fraternity, Maine. He’s drawn
to the bold colors, the mysterious woman behind the sunglasses, and
the little glimpse of the lake over her shoulder. Steve recommends the
film as a “great Maine experience!”
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