MHS Library Renovation and Expansion
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Preserving History • Engaging Minds • Connecting Maine MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY and Expansion MHS Library Renovation Summer 2007 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Incorporated 1822 I forgot to say... Officers Philip H. Jordan Jr, President E. Christopher Livesay, 1st Vice President Thanks. That phrase recurs to say thanks to Gary Libby, an Roger Gilmore, 2nd Vice President to me on almost a daily basis. attorney whose tireless pro-bono James F. Millinger, Secretary So many friends—individuals work has helped MHS shape and Robert P. BaRoss, Treasurer and organizations—are regularly modernize its employment poli- helpful and generous to Maine cies—not the most glamorous TRUSTEES Historical Society that try as we assignment, but still essential to Barbara Rich Anderson Katherine Stoddard Pope Eric Baxter Deborah S. Reed might we’re always behind with the well-being of our organiza- David Cimino James M. Richardson thanks. I like to think this is less tion. Thank you, Gary. I forgot Linda M. Cronkhite Neil R. Rolde Josephine H. Detmer Hannah L. Russell an embarrassment than the sign of to say (or don’t say enough, MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Priscilla B. Doucette Donna M. Ryan a healthy, busy organization—and which amounts to the same Harland H. Eastman Imelda A. Schaefer Linda A. Hackett Catherine R. Stockly we know people give of them- thing) thanks to Richard Judd Peter G. McPheeters Frederic L. Thompson selves because they believe in the Margaret Crane Morfit John W. Voorhees and Martha McNamara, at the Eldon L. Morrison John W. L. White greater good—but still, recogni- University of Maine, without Carolyn B. Murray Charles D. Whittier II tion is due. The only difficulty is Mary P. Nelson Nicholas H. Witte whose contributed editorial work to know where to start. it would be impossible for us to produce our journal, Maine Let’s see. I forgot to say History. Thank you Dick and STAff thanks to Meredith Burgess. For Martha. I forgot to say…. Administration many years Meredith and the staff Richard D’Abate Executive Director Stephen Bromage Assistant Director of Burgess Advertising have given Well, enough for the moment. Sara Archbald Administrative Assistant to the Director MHS free marketing and design I’ll keep trying to balance the Steven Atripaldi Facilities Manager Jacqueline Fenlason Director of Finance & Administration services, and were instrumental account of thanks, but I’m afraid Cynthia Murphy Finance: Human Resource Assistant Leslie E. Hahn Director of Development in the production of our newslet- it’s a never-ending task. And for Jane Foden Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator ter. We very much needed that that, I’m thankful. Diana Fish Membership Coordinator Bonnie Vance Development Officer help; it enabled us to grow and Jenny Alfrey Development Officer make better sense of our audience. Richard D’Abate Thank you, Meredith. I forgot - Executive Director EdUCATION Carolin Collins Education Coordinator Bridget McCormick Education Assistant LIBRARY Nicholas Noyes Head of Library Services TABLE OF CONTENTS William D. Barry Library Reference Assistant BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Nancy Noble Archivist/Cataloger Page 11 Gabrielle Daniello Image Services Coordinator MHS MUSEUM Matthew Barker Library Assistant Page 3 SUMMER HOURS; CALENDAR Jamie Rice Library Assistant Virginia Ouellette Project Cataloger OF EvENTS Page 12 Sue Flaherty Project Cataloger MHS LIBRARY RENOVATION AND EXPANSION AROOSTOOK COUNTY MUSEUM Pages 4 & 5 HISTORICAL AND ART John Mayer Curator of the Museum MUSEUM Page 8 Holly Hurd-Forsyth Registrar MAINE MEMORY NETWORK Dana Twiss Museum Cataloger Melissa Spoerl Museum Store Manager Pages 6 & 7 SEARCHING YOUR ROOTS Robert Kemp Visitor Services Coordinator Page 9 Allan Levinsky Visitor Services Coordinator FEATURED CONTRIBUTING PARTNER Page 8 WHAT’S IN STORE Page 10 MAINE MEMORY NETWORK Kathleen Amoroso Director of Digital Services Candace Kanes Curator Cover Page Photo: Frances Pollitt Cataloger, Photo Curator Rick Asam Outreach - North Hand painted lantern slide of the Children’s Gate in the Longfellow Garden as it was in the Patricia Leland Outreach - Downeast 1930’s. Painted by Gladys Pratt, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York. Collection of the Longfellow Garden Club. Ernest Wadsworth Longfellow in his studio. Photograph made by an unidentified photographer around 1901. MHS Collections of Longfellow National Historic Site. M U S E U M ON VIEW THROUGH DECEMBER – DRAWING TOGETHER THE MHS EXHIBIT, DRAWING TOGETHER: THE ARTS OF THE LONGFEllOWS, HAS BEEN EXTENDED AND WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH DECEMBER, 2007. ORGANIZED TO CELEBRATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF HENRY WADSWORTH LONgfELLOW, THIS ORIGINAL EXHIBIT FEATURES A DIVERSE AND COLORFUL SELECTION OF ARTWORK MADE BY THREE GEN- ERATIONS OF THE WADSWORTH AND LONgfELLOW FAMILIES. The Smoker (Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow 1814 – 1901). Oil on canvas portrait painted by Ernest Longfellow in 1880. Collections of Exhibit Notes MHS. Alexander was an experienced adventurer in the woods and on the sea. He was an accomplished surveyor and cartographer, and had From the Curator a playful sense of humor. His sister Anne referred to him as “the cigar smoking, booted presence” when he visited the Wadsworth-Longfellow house. orking with Laura Fecych Sprague, at sea, and then studied civil engi- guest curator on this project, provided neering in Cambridge. Eventually a unique opportunity to collaborate, he worked as a surveyor and explore, and discover information about the cartographer for the Boston and WWadsworth and Longfellow families through the collections at Maine Railroad, on the Northeast MHS and in Cambridge at Longfellow National Historic Site and Boundary Survey of Maine in 1840, Harvard. and later for the Atlantic Coast Survey. During the Civil War, I was struck by the volume of materials that had been preserved Alexander charted the shores around and the number of Wadsworth and Longfellow family members Washington, DC and Richmond, who are represented in these holdings. It seemed like this family Virginia – throughout his career he kept everything – children’s drawings, journals, letters, photo- was witness to important and dra- graphs and more! Looking at their artwork and other documents matic events in Maine and American helped me develop a personal insight about family members and history. In addition, Alexander had a colorful personality, with a place them in a historical and chronological perspective. More than clever sense of humor. He maintained a home in Portland throughout any other aspect of the show, the Drawing Together project revealed his life. He passed away on February 14, 1901 – just a few weeks the personalities of different members of this remarkable family. after his sister, Anne Longfellow Pierce who died January 24 of that One intriguing family member included in the exhibit is Henry’s year. younger brother, Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow. Born in the There is a rich collection of Alexander’s archival materials in Wadsworth-Longfellow House on May 20, 1814, Alexander was the the collections of the Longfellow National Historic Site. The finding third son of Zilpah and Stephen Longfellow. He attended Bowdoin aid is available on line at www.nps.gov/long/historyculture/upload/ College between 1829 and 1833, spent a few years AWLSrfamilyaidNMSCfinal.pdf John Mayer, In 1850, Alexander surveyed and charted the harbor of Richmond’s Island, - Museum Curator near Cape Elizabeth. This playful drawing by Alexander makes light of the work-habits of his surveying partners. Militia Soldiers near Prout’s Neck. A colored ink drawing attributed to Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, ca. 1850. Collections of MHS. This small sketch shows a group of militia soldiers on the beach. 3 Proposed view of the western elevation of the renovated and expanded MHS Library (Brown Street side), presented from garden level, but with the garden retaining wall cut away for purposes of illustration. 100 YEARS LATER: THE MHS Research Library he Standing Committee’s report of 1906 was clear: “The library building is very near its completion. Nothing but its furniture is now wanting. The rooms are finished, the book stacks are in place, a steam plant has been installed…. There appears to be no reason now why the library may not be wholly ready Tfor our use in the centennial year of the poet’s birth, February 27,1907.” And that is what happened. The poet, of course, was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. His family’s gift of land had made the building N E W Add ITION RARY of the library possible. Today, 100 years later, on the 200th anniversary B of the poet’s birth, the Society is about to embark on a project that will LON gf ELLO W G AR D EN prepare that same library for a new century of service. Beginning in the summer of 2007, MHS will undertake the centennial renovation and expansion of its research facility, which now houses one of the largest, M H S L I most valuable, and most comprehensive historical collections in Maine— collections recognized for their state, regional, and national significance. Though still in the quiet phase of a fundraising cam- While retaining the historical character of the building, the $8 million paign, the initial indications are encouraging and the time dollar project will transform the library into a state-of-the-art facility. It is right to take action now. The project is set to begin this will address significant collections care and storage issues, correct struc- summer, once the collections have been moved to a nearby tural and climate problems, upgrade technology, improve patron services temporary annex and services are restored. Under the guid- and amenities, and make Maine history more accessible than ever. ance of Schwartz/Silver Architects of Boston, and Consigli Construction of Portland and Massachusetts, the library will The original library building was designed by Alexander W. receive a 10,000 sq.ft. addition; modern climate and humid- Longfellow, working in close consultation with such prominent ity controls; compact storage units; new office, lounge, and citizen-historians as James Phinney Baxter and John Marshall Brown.