Preserving History • Engaging Minds • Connecting Maine maine historical society FAll 20 FAll 12 From the Director I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Maine Historical So- MAINE ciety. The creative challenge that first drew me to MHS ten years ago HISTORICAL remains—the opportunity to build a modern cultural organization that is designed to thrive in its time; one that is dynamic, relevant, SOCIETY and deeply connected to its community. That is the work we now Incorporated commence together. 1822 We are fortunate: while many institutions are struggling to figure out where they fit in this changing world, MHS has been testing and demonstrating what OFFICERS a 21st century museum can be. MHS is leading a fundamental shift in how many people Katherine Stoddard Pope, President perceive, experience, and contribute to Maine history: we are striving to make Maine his- Lendall L. Smith, 1st Vice President tory active, participatory, representative, and part of people’s daily lives. Preston R. Miller, 2nd Vice President Carolyn B. Murray, Secretary Horace W. Horton, Treasurer This is reflected in our cover photograph, an item recently contributed to the Maine Memory Network by the Surry Historical Society. A team from Surry worked closely with maine historical society TRUSTEES MHS staff over the past year to build a website dedicated to their history. This image was scanned by students at the local elementary school and, until this past spring, was all but Eleanor G. Ames Eldon L. Morrison inaccessible. Richard E. Barnes Theodore L. Oldham Robert P. BaRoss Neil R. Rolde Eric Baxter Charles V. Stanhope Here’s what I love about it: the photograph is recent and hence a litle surprising. (I still Carl L. Chatto Alan B. Stearns remember my mother’s amazement that we were studying the Korean War as “history” Joseph E. Gray Frederic L. Thompson when I was in high school.) It is personal, intimate, imperfect, a keepsake: these are the Bob Greene Jothan A. Trafton kinds of objects that get saved, have meaning, and are the foundation of many historical Jean Gulliver Lee D. Webb collections. The photograph is firmly rooted in its time and place. There is a story here, and Patrick T. Jackson Paul A. Wescott one that is connected to the broader narrative of Maine and American history. Who isn’t David Lakari Charles D. Whittier II Peter G. McPheeters Jean T. Wilkinson curious about Ben Smith and Carol McNeil, and who can’t relate to their day at the fair? Peter Merrill I look forward to working closely with all of you. Your participation, engagement, and

STAFF support are essential to MHS. Steve Bromage ADMINISTRATION Executive Director Stephen Bromage Executive Director Laura Webb Assistant to the Director Jacqueline Fenlason Director of Finance & Administration ABOUT THE COVER: Cynthia Murphy Finance/Human Resource Assistant Deborah Stone Director of Development Surry Day Fairground, 1967. Photo by Lynn Bonsey. Elizabeth Nash Marketing & Public Relations Manager Ben Smith and Carol McNeil, along with another child, are seen Jennifer Blodgett Membership Coordinator enjoying one of the many attractions on the Fairground at the Steven Atripaldi Facilities Manager Claude L. Bonsey school during the Surry Day celebration. Con- tributed by the Surry Historical Society, MMN # 67378. To read more about the Maine Community Heritage Project and the Maine EDUCATION Memory Network, see page 5.

Bridget McCormick Education Coordinator Larissa Vigue Picard Community Partnership Coordinator Table of Contents

LIBRARY 3...... ON VIEW: Wired! The S. Morgan 8...... SPOTLIGHT ON MMN contributing PARTNER Nicholas Noyes Head of Library Services smith Turbine and General Jamie Rice Public Services Librarian electric Generator • The Patten Lumbermen’s William D. Barry Library Reference Assistant Museum Nancy Noble Archivist/Cataloger 4...... RECENT SUCCESSES • MHS Hosts First Annual Junior 9...... SUPPORTING MHS MUSEUM Docent Camp • New Acquisition: John Mayer Curator of the Museum • Summer Walking Tours The David Atherton Registrar Holly Hurd-Forsyth Hooked Rug Melissa Spoerl Museum Store Manager 5...... SHARING KNOWLEDGE • Leaving a Legacy Robert Kemp Visitor Services Coordinator

Allan Levinsky Visitor Services Coordinator • MHS Staff Member Jamie Cantoni Attends Rare Book School 10-11.... PEOPLE AND EVENTS MAINE MEMORY NETWORK • Maine Community Heritage Project • MHS Out and About • 2012 Annual Meeting Kathleen Amoroso Director of Digital Services Candace Kanes Curator 6-7...... MAINE MEMORY NETWORK Dani Fazio Image Services Coordinator • Violin Master and Student: Franz Jamie Cantoni Cataloger & Production Assistant Kneisel and Elise Fellows White 2 On View:

The S. Morgan Smith Turbine and General Electric Generator

The current MHS exhibit features the largest and heaviest object in the collections of Maine Historical Society. This turbine and generator—with a governor and pressure tank—weighs an estimated three and a half tons. It operated from around 1904 to 1963 in Jackman, a small community in northern Maine. The machinery came to MHS as part of the Central Maine Power collection.

Installing this object was no easy task. Building engineers surveyed the flooring in the building and designed a system of columns to support the weight. Mechanical engineers helped align the turbine and generator, support them on modular pallets, and then assemble the machinery as a unit. Riggers moved all the machin- For comparison, one of the largest generators ery into place. in the state is at the Wyman Dam on the Kennebec River, which can produce 25,000 killowatts of power. It took a lot of effort from a lot of people—but the result was worth it. We are extremely grateful to our friends at Casco Bay Engineering, Originally, small systems like this produced electricity for nearby Enel Green Power North America, and Central Maine Power for their homes and businesses. Eventually, the current was brought into the help. We could not have installed the machinery without them! electrical grid built to provide power to customers throughout Maine.

The turbine and generator are an important part of the exhibit story. It’s a fascinating piece of history that is timely in its focus Machinery like this operated at dam sites throughout Maine beginning considering current interest about the conservation of energy, the use in the late 1800s. Hydro-power is still being generated today and is an of natural resources, and the development of new sources of power. important part of Maine’s energy resources. The exhibit will be on view through May 26, 2013. n A turbine uses the force of water moving from a dam through a penstock to create rotary power. As the water hits the blades in the John Mayer turbine, a shaft rotates, and then turns the rotor of a generator, which Curator produces electricity. This generator can produce 100 kilowatts of power—what today would be considered a “micro” power generator.

The S. Morgan Smith Turbine and General Electric Generator on view in the exhibit Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine.

Installing the turbine and generator required additional support columns and help from members of Casco Bay Engineering, Enel Green Power North America, and Central Maine Power. 3 r e c e n t s u c c e s s e s 4 House duringourwinterholidayprograms.n You canmeetJuniorDocentsinDecember whensomewillreturntohelpinterpretthe Docents. ers. Theyreceiveddiplomas—andbusinesscards—recognizingtheirnewstatusasJunior and entertainingtoursoftheWadsworth-Longfellow Houseforfriends,families,andteach- Square, andtheFirstParishChurch.Atendofweek,campersconductedinformative Henry wasaboy. TheyvisitedthePortlandObservatory, thefarmer’s marketinMonument The JuniorDocentsalsoexploredthestreetsofPortlandtolearnwhatlifewaslikewhen polite society, anddecipheredsomeofHenryWadsworth Longfellow’s actualhandwriting. documents thatcomeintoMHS,actedoutwhatGeorgeWashington wroteNOTtodoin cleaning collectionitems,learnedhowmuchresearchisrequiredtounderstandobjectsand how museumcollectionsarestored,protected,andexhibited.Theypracticedhandling this credential,campersstudiedwithMHSeducation,curatorial,andlibrarystafftolearn students workingindustriouslytobecometheorganization’s firstJuniorDocents. To earn If youvisitedMHSinJuly, you mighthaveseenagroupoffourth,fifth,andsixthgrade MHS HostsFirstAnnualJuniorDocentCamp h ThecamperswithEducationAssistantRachelMillerintheBrownLibrary Education Coordinator Bridget McCormick Tours Walking Irish community. the heartofPortland’s once Gorham’s Corner, tour throughwhatwas center, leadsawalking city’s midst.JohnSerrage, discover thehistoryin welcome thechanceto Locals andtouristsalike Trail” walkingtours. Port” and“Longfellow gust, MHSoffers“Old During JulyandAu- MH S to hismother,Zilpah. next toatableHenry WadsworthLongfellowgave Junior DocentErich standsintheParlorChamber after Sarah’shousetour Junior DocentSarah(ontheright)withhersister Nature drawingsinthegarden research people,places,andartifactstotellastory. uted toPelegWadsworthanddiscusseshowcurators Museum CuratorJohnMayershowsaswordattrib-

Book Talk: g n i r a h s

MHS Staff Member Jamie Cantoni Attends Rare Book School K o n

Imagine what it would be like to hold a gift from a king; specifically a copy of Erasmus’ In Praise of Folly given to King Louis XIV’s mistress, Madame W

de Pompadour. This past summer I had the opportunity to study that book e g d e l and other fascinating objects when I attended Rare Book School at the h MMN Cataloger Jamie E. O. Cantoni (far left) and University of Virginia. instructor David Whitesell discuss justification while setting type. The school provides continuing education for professionals across a wide array of history, library, museum, and scholarly disciplines. It focuses on the study of the history of written, printed, and born-digital materials, and offers an incredible opportunity to learn from leading scholars and profes- sionals in the field.

The course I took was Printed Books to 1800: Description and Analysis, taught by David Whitesell. We learned to study books as physical objects, not their specific content. We studied paper, type setting, illustration tech- niques, printing process, bookbinding, collation, and provenance, as well as historical and descriptive bibliography.

Since my return I have been sharing my new knowledge with colleagues at MHS and looking at our collections with fresh eyes and new appreciation. There are approximately 1,000 catalogued books from the hand press pe- h Binding Demo: Jamie riod in our collection, as well as manuscript materials created with similar (far right) and fellow students gather round to techniques. Benjamin Titcomb’s Catalogue of Dummer Academy Students get a good view of Program is an interesting example. You can learn a great deal from this manuscript: Director, Amanda Nelson, the folding of the sheets, watermarks, inconsistencies within the paper, and during the 4th of July book- the binding all clearly indicate where, when, how, and why this piece was binding demonstration. created. ! Benjamin Titcomb’s Catalogue of Dummer In the words of Michael Suarez, director of Rare Book School, “knowledge Academy Students presents inspires wonder and wonder inclines to love.” I look forward to sharing an interesting example more of my knowledge and love of this material in years to come. n of watermarks and inconsistencies. MHS Col. S-447 Jamie E. O. Cantoni MMN Cataloger

Fourth Maine Community Heritage Project Cohort Begins

We are pleased to welcome two new super-communities to the Maine Community Heritage Project. In July, teams from Mt. Desert Island and the Rumford/Mexico area met at MHS for a comprehensive orientation to the year-long exploration of local history that they have embarked on under the guidance of MHS staff (July 2012-May 2013). The teams cross traditional town boundaries, and will look at the broader regional community of which they are part. The July orientiation included tours of MHS and a chance to meet our staff. Training, led by the Maine Memory Network team, included sessions focused on doing “good history,” scanning and cataloging, and project planning. A panel of MCHP veterans shared their experiences and advice. Look for the websites that the teams are creating on Maine Memory next May! Team members enjoy a lively discussion during the Larissa Vigue Picard Maine Community Heritage Project orientation session. Community Partnership Coordinator

5 K o r W n e t iolin Master and Student: Franz Kneisel Elise Fellows White m e m o r y & m a i n e V

n 1886, Mary Elise Fellows, a 13-year-old studyingI violin in Boston, heard her first string quartet. She recalled, “I gazed at the beautiful face of the first violin and felt deeply moved. That young man’s face, so spiritual, so sensuous actually haunted me.”

The man in the first violin chair was Franz Kneisel, then about 21, and the group the Kneisel Quartet, the first professional string quartet in the United States. That encounter began a close friendship and sometimes chal- lenging musical relationship that would endure for 40 years.

Kneisel, born in Bucharest, Romania, was 20 years old when the Boston Symphony Orchestra recruited him to come to the U.S. in 1885. He started the Kneisel Quartet the same year. Vi- enna, where he had studied and performed, and Berlin, where he had been named concertmeister of the Bisle Orchestra at age 19, already loved the young violinist. Critics called him Unfehlbar (infallible). One of his teachers, Jakob Grün, said, “He never played a false note in his life.”

Fellows, who was from Skowhegan, had gone to Boston in 1883 as a nine-year-old prodigy in order to study at the New England Conser- vatory. When Aimee and Winthrop Sargent “adopted” her in 1886 to support her musical career, they arranged for her to study with the young Kneisel.

Fellows, later known as Elise Fellows White, recalled that Kneisel was “severe and exact-

# Franz Kneisel as a young man signed his photo- graph for his student Mary Elise Fellows White.

! Mary Elise Fellows posed with her violin at the summer home of her patrons, Aimee and Winthrop Sargent, in 1887, about the time she began studying 6 with Franz Kneisel. iolin Master and Student: Franz Kneisel & Elise Fellows White

ing, though to me, kind always.” She described the Institute of Musical Art (later Juilliard). strange sense of loss. I didn’t realize how he had herself at that young age as, “Always naturally grown into the fabric of my life as a back- unobservant, I did not learn through what In 1902, the Kneisels began going to Blue Hill, ground for all I might do or say or write. He Vmight be called apperception. I tried to phrase accompanied by students and members of the embodied my best hopes, all of which centered beautifully, with my fingers all wrong.” She Kneisel Quartet. Soon, the summer school at on him and his associations. I have collected all wrote that Kneisel, newly arrived in the country Blue Hill, later known as Kneisel Hall, became his photographs and programs and notices and and unused to the language and customs, had a tradition. Elise Fellows White, in her autobi- put them in a book as a memorial.” “many more important things on his mind” ography, wrote about an impromptu concert at than “dragging his most promising (and best Blue Hill in 1920. She later wrote, “He was not only honored playing) pupil, down to mere finger exercises but greatly beloved. Success, in his later years, and dull technique.” He was newly married, “It was a heavenly summer day. …I refused to and pride in his children, and pupils, made newly a father, and busy with the orchestra and take my violin, being too proud to appear to him more genial—kindly—sympathetic, and his quartet. want to play for my old teacher. We were warm- dominating. I think Kneisel’s last years were ly welcomed, and in a spacious outdoor studio, very happy. I found him changed. And I grew to Later, Fellows boarded with Kneisel and his on Marianne Kneisel’s violin, I played my really love him.” family for some time. She wrote, “I practiced in own Etude Caprice. … Kneisel started to walk a small flat where I shared a room with another about, to wave his hand, and sing the obligato Elise Fellows White kept diaries her whole adult pupil, with every note heard by my critical with me. The famous critic of the New York life and, in 1938, wrote an autobiography. Her teacher. I tried to make the best of German Herald Tribune, Henry Krehbiel, stood attentive grandson, Dr. Houghton M. White, compiled cooking and German ways. Kneisel was jolly throughout. It was a moment of intense feeling, her writings into a book that the Maine Histori- and often very amusing. He said, ‘You cannot and I shall cherish it always.” cal Society published in 2011, A Maine Prodigy: learn the violin, Miss Fellows, unless you drink The Life & Adventures of Elise Fellows White. beer,’ which I found no difficulty in doing.” Kneisel Hall has remained an important sum- mer program for chamber music education Candace Canes She recalled an evening when she, Kneisel, as well as a destination for lovers of chamber Maine Memory Network Curator and his wife, Marianne, walked together to music in Maine. Kneisel’s engagement to play the Brahms violin $ Marianne Kneisel wrote to Elise Fellows White concerto with the Boston Symphony. “It was After Kneisel’s death in 1926, White wrote in in 1926 after the death of Franz Kneisel, Marianne’s on a Saturday evening that we three walked her diary, “The days seem oppressed with a husband and White’s long-time teacher. down Columbus Avenue, he with his violin under his arm,” she wrote. “As we walked they hummed together that same melody from the A minor Concerto of Vieuxtemps, as if it had some special association for them, perhaps from student days together in Vienna when Marianne studied with the young artist who was to be her husband.”

Fellows went to Vienna in 1892 and studied Kneisel’s teacher and mentor Grün. The Kneisels spent the summer of 1892 in Ischl, Austria, and Fellows and her mother visited them often. It was in the Kneisels garden that Fellows met Johannes Brahms. Later, in Boston, Kneisel helped Fellows find her own violin students. In the early 1920s, she again studied with him in New York, where he taught for many years at 7 F with logs and pulpwood pass the museum along the same route. Penobscot. firs, and hardwoods in the upper valley of the East Branch of the woodsmen with their horses and supplies to cut the pine, spruce, has been the highway over which have passed thousands of west of Patten on the Shin Pond Road which, for over 175 years, FOU COLLECTIONS conference room, video station, and gift shop. historic writings, and photographs. handicapped accessible facility now protects the museum’s artwork, Center was constructed in 2005. This climate controlled, well lit, tion, not unlike that of past lumbermen, a modern day Reception aging photographs and printed records. Through sheer determina range of seasonal temperature caused continual deterioration of buildings were not equipped with heat or running water. The vast size and purpose. Operated as a seasonal venture, the original Northern Maine before the Second World War. graphic record of the lumber industry as it existed in the forests of They established the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum to preserve a of our fathers and grandfathers would not be forgotten. importance of keeping Maine’s role in history preserved so the lives PURPOSE created “ThePattenLumbermen’sMuseum.” the baseofMt.Chasetoitspresentlocaleandin1963officially Shin PondRoad.Together,theymovedacabin,logbylog,from Game WardenCalebScribnersecuredaparceloflandonthe a storefrontin1958.In1962,Rogersandhislongtimefriend others involvedwiththeloggingindustry.Themuseumbeganin memories ofworkingwithhisfather,alocallumberman,and in Pattenwhenheretiredthelate1950s,workedtodocument ages 6-11; andfreeforchildren under6. for adults(ages12and over);$7forthose65andolder;$3 for on Mondayunlessit isarecognizedholiday.Admission$8 until Oct.8,Tuesday-Sunday from10a.m.to4p.m.Itisclosed V photographs documentingthevisualhistory ofMainelogging. logging sleds,Holttractors,tools, andmanyantique find hereincludeaLombardSteamhauler, vintagechainsaws, number ofuniqueloggingexhibits.Some oftheexhibitsyou’ll acilities: ISIT Contributing partners 8 N : TheMuseumisopenseasonally.In2012,itwillbe DED: I : n more recent years an endless stream of trucks loaded Lore Rogers and Caleb Scribner knew the great Dr. LoreRogers,whoreturnedtohisboyhoodhome The Museum has grown to nine buildings of various , , E X HIBITS : The Museumhasdevelopeda I t also contains a small library, I t is located just - On theRiver: theBateau P S drives downthe Penobscot. them theboats of choice,especiallyforlog for betterspeedandhandling made tween bowandstern.Thischange made widest beamtwo-thirdsoftheway be- between 800and900poundswith the or Penobscotbateaux,whichweighed in themiddleofboat,to Maynard Kennebec bateaux,withitswidestpoint In the1800stherewasashiftfrom sometimes calledthe“whiteman’s canoe.” Introduced bytheFrench,bateauis river haveoftencelebratedthebateaux. venturers, andthosedrivinglogsdown- Arnold’s problemsaside,explorers,ad- planned toleavethebateauxbehind. were betterthantheriverandtroops on thesameday, hewrotethattheroads falls andrapidwaters.”Inanotherletter [losing] anumberofloadedBattoesatthe “Our provisionswereshortbyreasonof heavy rains&badweather.” Headded, later thanheexpecteddueto“excessive Pond toreportthathewasthreedays to GeorgeWashington fromChaudière On October27,1775,Arnoldwrote Maine, however. little usetoArnoldinhismarchthrough history tellsit,theboats’qualitieswereof rivers ortributaries.As an advantageinnarrow by oars,poles,orpaddles, It alsocouldbepropelled easy tocarryinportages. rapids, andwasrelatively could navigaterocksand large amountofcargo, rivers asitcouldcarrya and stern,wasusefulon boat withpointedbow weight, flat-bottomed bateau, astable,light- built nearAugusta.The had 220ofthesecraft nebec River, andsohe easy passageuptheKen- 1,100 soldiersrelatively bateaux wouldenablehis 1775, thoughtthe Quebec inthefallof who soughttoinvade Col. BenedictArnold, potlight on on potlight atten atten L umbermen’s umbermen’s MAINE j InteriorofbateauatthePattenLumbermen’sMuseum. jam onaloggingdrive. h Thebateaucanbeseeninthebackgroundasmenclearacenter

MEMORY

NET M Maine waterways.n bateau untiltheboatdisappeared from further reducedtheneedfor oncerevered The endoflogdrivesinthe20thcentury bateaux andcarriedaroundfallsrapids. previously beenpoleduptheEastBranchin overland passageofsupplies,whichhad to theEastBranchofPenobscotallowed early as1820whenatoteroadfromPatten The lifeofthebateaubegantochangeas teau willnotliveforamoment…” quite aseaonthesewaters,inwhichbat- Chesuncook. “Amoderatewindproduces bateau, basedonanobservationmadenear waters.” Hedescribedonehazardforthe cargo andmanyaboatmanislostinthese veyed uptheriverinbateaux;andmanya and utensilsfortheexplorer, mustbecon- and theploughofpioneer, flour, pork, “In thesummer, allstores,thegrindstone size, shape,andconstruction.Hethennoted, Old Town in1846anddescribedtheboat’s Maine Woods. Hevisitedabateaufactoryin bateau in“Ktaadn,”thefirstpartofhisThe Maine woodsinthe1840s,wroteabout Henry DavidThoreau,whoexploredthe of the the of A useum ll images from this page are courtesy courtesy are page this from images ll W OR Patten, ME04765|(207)528-2650 61 ShinPondRoad|POBox300 P P atten atten K K atten atten CONTRIBUTING L umbermen’s umbermen’s L umbermen’s umbermen’s M

M PARTNER useum useum :

Recent Museum Acquisitions: g n i t r o p p u s The David Atherton Hooked Rug

This recent acquisition—a circa 1885 hooked rug made by the ship captain David Hooper

Atherton of Falmouth (b. 1831, d. 1913)—adds­­ to an important collection of Maine-made s h m rugs at Maine Historical Society.

The great-grandchildren of Atherton donated this rug along with a collection of objects, ephemera, and research notes that document the experiences of life at sea on a Maine mer- chant vessel during the late 1800s. Captain Atherton, who took command of the ship C. F. Sargent in June of 1878—sailed to foreign ports in England, South America, and the Orient. When his wife Cecilia suddenly died in 1881, he brought his young daughters on board and they sailed with him until 1886.

According to the family record, Atherton used some of his spare time aboard ship to make rugs. The design, featuring a friendly looking dog, reflects Atherton’s affection for the mascot of the Sargent who traveled aboard ship with the crew.

The rug is made from wool yarn on burlap and is roughly two by three feet. It’s a rare example of a rug made by a man, and sur- vives in wonderful condition.

We appreciate the generosity of the many families, individuals, and businesses who share an interest in preserving Maine his- k David Hooper Atherton, captain of the tory. If you would like to know more about ship C.F. Sargent, ca. 1880 Give a meaningful gift the collections or our collecting interests and procedures, please contact John Mayer, h Hooked rug made by David Atherton, that costs you nothing Curator of Museum Collections or Nicholas 1885. Noyes, Head of Library Services. n i A copy photo of a painting of the C. F. during your lifetime. Sargent, made in Yarmouth in 1874 Planned gifts are a significant way to provide generous support for Maine Historical Society. They require no outlay of financial re- sources while you are alive and the long-term benefits of such foresight are immeasurable.

Speak with your financial advisor about the tax advantages of chari- table gift annuities, real estate, and gifts of appreciated stock. Leave a legacy at MHS and become a part of Maine’s history.

For more information, contact the MHS Development office at (207) 774-1822 x231.

9 p e o p l e a n d e V e n t s 10 Pope andSallyOldham President Katherine Oldham withBoard g NewTrusteeTed Derby instyle. watching theKentucky g Galaguestsenjoy T MHS OutandAbout: f DanielleandBradBetts of MHSprograms! sponsors, andauctiondonors,whoraised$58,000insupport Churchill Downs. Thank you tothis year’s patrons, corporate socialized, danced,andwatchedtheKentucky Derby live from Affair on May 5atThe WoodlandsClubin Falmouth. Guests Members andfriendsofMHSattendedtheMad Hatter he he M ad ad H atter atter husband Chris Harte. husband ChrisHarte. Stoddard Pope, andher of Board President, Katherine Cumberland Foreside home annual July gatheringatthe Founders Councilenjoyed the Trusteesof and1822 Members oftheMHSBoard Ev S 1822 Elizabeth Astor Moody, ConnieRobinson, f MaryNelson,Jane Russell, CarolynMurray j MartaMorse,Anne ociety ociety A ent ffair Vintage Base Ball ClubofAugusta. the EssexClubofMassachusetts andtheDirigo andcustomsof1861,inacontest between rules watching vintagestylebaseballgames,usingthe on June 30,2012.Friends andmembersenjoyed nization atFort Williams Park inCapeElizabeth MHS teamedupwiththeEssexBase Ball Orga- B aseball e aseball v ent 2012 Annual Annual Meeting Meeting

The 2012 annual meeting was held in June and, de- award is given to honor outstanding contributions spite inclement weather, the event was festive and to the field of Maine History and was established the room was filled to capacity. Retiring Executive by the Maine Historical Society Board of Trustees Director Richard D’Abate thanked the MHS com- in memory of Neal W. Allen; distinguished histo- munity for its longstanding support, and handed rian, teacher, administrator, and president of MHS. the ceremonial keys to MHS over to his friend and successor Steve Bromage. Following the presenta- The Elizabeth Ring Service Award was established tion of awards, described below, Governor Angus by the Maine Historical Society to recognize out- King delivered his keynote speech, “History and standing volunteer service. In remembering the Rachel Miller Leadership: JFK, Mark Twain and The Guns of Au- exemplary contributions of Elizabeth Ring, it hon- gust.” After lunch, the newly installed Children’s ors exceptional dedication, commitment, and ef- Gate officially opened in a ceremony that included fectiveness. Over the past 25 years it has gone to a ribbon cutting and poetry readings by students a stellar cast of the Society’s most devoted friends who had participated in our Local History, Local and workers. This year Imelda Schaefer accepted Schools program. the award for her important contributions to the House and Garden Committee and her service as The following awards were presented for a Trustee. extraordinary contributions to MHS:

Phil Jordan and Katherine Stoddard Pope were The James Phinney Baxter Award, a cash prize giv- recognized with the Distinguished Trustee Award en each year for the best article published in Maine to honor their extraordinary service. After a suc- History, was given to our own Education Depart- cessful career as a professor of history and presi-

ment colleague Rachel Miller, for her article, From dent of Kenyon College, Phil Jordan devoted his o e p Dustbowl and Dairy Farm to Defense Housing: prodigious energies for more than 9 years to MHS Dr. Joseph Conforti Understanding the Farm Security Administration as a Trustee, Board President, campaign volunteer, d n a e l p Photographs of Bath Iron Works, which was pub- and chair of the Long Range Planning Task Force. lished in Volume 46 of the journal, October 2011. Katherine Pope, a practicing physician, environ- The award, named for the Maine history scholar mentalist, and leader of the hospice movement in who served as MHS President from 1891 to 1921, southern Maine, has been a member of the MHS is determined by the vote of the editorial board. board since 2005. She chaired the Strategic Plan- ning Committee, which produced the comprehen- V e

The Neal Woodside Allen Jr. History Award was sive 2010 to 2013 Strategic Plan, served as first s t n e given to Dr. Joseph Conforti, Distinguished Uni- vice-president of the Society from 2009 to 2011, versity Professor of American and New England and as current President has led MHS through the Studies at the University of Southern Maine. The executive search process and transition year. n Phil Jordan and Katherine Stoddard Pope

Imelda Schaefer

! Rising 4th graders of Lyseth School in Portland, Fiona Trusty and Nathaniel Hawthorn, celebrate the official opening of the children’s gate while Education Coordinator Bridget McCormick and Executive Director Steve Bromage look on.

11 maine h is torical society Non-Profit Org. Museum & STORE U.S. Postage Brown Library PAID Portland, ME Longfellow House & garden Permit No. 1054 Maine Memory Network

489 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101-3498 t 207- 774-1822 F 207- 775-4301 maine historical society

FALL Hours 2011-2012 MHS Annual Fund Call ahead for holiday hours We can’t do it without you.

MHS Brown Library Tues-Sat 10-4 Closed Sat; Sept 1, Oct 6 Local History Closed Thurs-Sat; Nov 24, 25, 26 Local Schools, one of our many Longfellow House and Garden great programs Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 supported by the (Last tour at 4:00) Annual Fund, Closed Mon Sept 5 will be running Closes for season Oct 31 for its eighth Open Saturdays in Nov consecutive year starting this fall. Museum Exhibit Sept–Oct: Mon-Sat 10-5 Our fiscal year ends September 30, 2012, and we need your help to reach our goal of $260,000. Sun 12-5 Your Annual Fund participation supports our daily operations and strengthens Nov: Mon-Sat 10-5 every area of MHS—today and into the future.

Museum STORE Sept–Oct: Mon-Sat 10-5 Every day MHS works to preserve the history and heritage of Maine through rich public programs, exhibits, Sun 12-5 and collections; support for local communities; innovative online resources; and unique museum education Nov: Mon-Sat 10-5 programs that help students throughout the state develop skills and connect to Maine. Help us make Maine history accessible and meaningful to all. MHS Administrative Offices Mon-Fri 9-5, Closed Holidays Please make your gift online today at http://www.mainehistory.org/support_annualfund.shtml Tel: (207) 774-1822 Fax: (207) 775-4301 E-mail [email protected] Thank you.

Mailing Address: Now available in our museum store: Maine Historical Society 489 Congress St. “Maine -The Wilder Half of New England” Portland, ME 04101 by William David Barry

Websites: From the Age of Exploration to Whoopie Pies, this concise narrative www.mainehistory.org

traces 500 years of Maine history. Maine State Historian, Earle Shettle- .mainehistory.org www.mainememory.net www.vintagemaineimages.com worth, Jr., calls this “an accurate, articulate, informative, insightful, and www.hwlongfellow.org visually attractive account of Maine for the twenty-first century.” www

Newsletter design: Paperback. 290 pgs. $30 in our museum store and online. Elizabeth Margolis-Pineo http://mainehistorical.stores.yahoo.net/ 12