As many businesses, schools, and organizations moved activities outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic, photographs began appearing in the media showing similar efforts during the influenza pandemic of 1918, a time when hospitals, classrooms, and even some court proceedings were moved outside. Efforts to treat tuberculosis during the first half of the 20th century also recognized […]

Beth’s recent favorite is this copy of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a book published as a promotional piece by the department store Montgomery Ward. Our library’s namesake, Raymond H. Fogler, was president of the New York-based company when the first edition of the book was published in 1939.  Fogler was instrumental in the selection of […]

Several recent articles have highlighted the history of wearing face masks to prevent the spread of disease, particularly during the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919.  This brought to mind a photograph in our Eastern Maine General Hospital School of Nursing Collection of an unidentified patient wearing a face mask, seated with two women, one of them […]

Paul’s new favorite is an image that highlights Cold War air defense in Maine. He explains, “This aerial photograph from the Sewall Aerial Photographs Collection dated July 11, 1955 shows Charleston Air Force Station, an air defense radar site located atop Charleston Hill in Charleston, Maine. The dome housing the radar antenna is seen at […]

A favorite from the WLBZ Radio Station Records is a program titled, The Man from Maine: a Special WLBZ Documentary on Edmund S. Muskie.  The 37 minute program covered the life and career of Edmund S. Muskie and his rise to become one of the most prominent politicians in the United States.  The program included […]

Paul’s new favorite is this image from the Sewall Company Aerial Photograph Collection of the Boston Massport Area in 1992.  He says, “I made this comparison between 1992 and 2020 which shows the dramatic changes, especially those brought about by the Big Dig. On the 2020 image just to the upper right of North Station […]

Desiree’s new favorite is the story of Eliza Allen of Eastport, Maine, who published a memoir in 1851 of many adventures, including disguising herself as a man to serve during the Mexican-American War. An original copy of the publication, The Female volunteer, or, The life, and wonderful adventures of Miss Eliza Allen, a young lady […]

Paul discovered that a portion of the aerial photographs recently donated by Sewall Company include flight paths over Vietnam from the era of the late 1960s. His new favorite is this one, Song Dong Nai River, Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, February 10, 1966. This image is available for download, and many other photographs are being […]

This Maine Militia Flag is a favorite, particularly during this year of celebration of Maine’s Bicentennial of Statehood. After separating from Massachusetts in 1820, new flags were needed to represent each of Maine’s approximately 100 military companies. Inspired by an elegant design that had previously been created for the Westbook Light Infantry Company by the […]

Kari found this favorite, an “All the Way with LBJ” license plate, as she was processing the David C. Smith papers. She explains, “Historically speaking, this license plate caught my attention because during the 1960s most states only required one license plate, so most citizens could display their political party of choice on their car. […]