The Maine Women Writers Collection holds books, diaries, essays, photographs, and other materials that provide a view into women’s experiences of place. From island and coastline dwellers to city residents to Northern woods folk to indigenous communities, researchers will find materials that highlight the diverse communities of Maine.
Databases for Maine Life and Culture
Ancestry LibraryBillions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more. Available on-campus only.
Archival Material
Joyce Butler collection, 1969-2014
Editor and columnist for the York County Coast Star, and author of books relating to Maine people and local history. Butler served as a curator of The Brick Store Museum, Kennebunkport Historical Society, and the Maine Historical Society, and she was also the Kennebunk town historian. Her collection includes essays and other promotional material.
Mary R. Calvert collection, 1975-1996
Researcher and photographer who focused primarily on the history and culture of the Kennebec River Valley. Her collection includes material related to the history of the Kennebec River Valley, the relationship between early European settlers and the Abenaki people, and information about the logging industry. Mary Calvert also collected books about Native people from the region.
Marie Donahue papers, 1929-2007
Writer, researcher and teacher, who focused much of her work on Berwick and Sarah Orne Jewett. Donahue’s collection documents her work on historical society boards, as a long-time guide at the Sarah Orne Jewett house, and her research and writing. She also wrote a history of Berwick Academy, as well as many articles for Down East and The Boston Globe.
Donna M. Loring papers, 1956–2016, undated
Loring has served as Police Chief for the Penobscot Nation, Tribal Representative of the Penobscot Nation and the Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to the Governor. Loring’s papers provide insight into the history of Maine’s Tribal communities and the many legal and legislative challenges the Tribes have faced in their relationship with state government.
Manuscript Volumes collection, 1838-1952, undated
Personal writings and memorabilia by unpublished women writers. The writers in this collection document various regions of the state and over a hundred years of Maine history. The collection has diaries, scrapbooks and other manuscript material ranging from poetry to newspaper clippings to wedding invitations.
