Research & Collections
Research at FHS
Research at FHS — Freeport Historical Society collects materials and artifacts related to the history of Freeport dating from the late 18th century to the present. Among the items which we actively collect are objects, paintings, books, manuscripts, diaries, letters, account books, cemetery records, maps, postcards, ephemera, photographs, and various media formats. All of these are organized, cataloged and available for research.
Access to the FHS archives for research is provided on an hourly basis. An initial 15-minute period of research assistance is provided free of charge. Subsequent time is billed at $25.00 per hour or part thereof, payable in advance. Photocopies are twenty cents each plus postage. Postage and handling will be charged at cost if materials are mailed.
Initial 15 Minutes of Research Assistance
FreeEach hour of Research Time
Paid in advance
$25Photocopies
$0.25 + Postage
Research services can be paid for by check or cash.
So that we can provide the best service to you and given our volume of work, we require appointments to conduct research.
Research requests may be made in person (45 Main Street, Freeport, ME), but initial contact via phone (207-865-3170) or email is requested before you stop by so that our staff may research and gather information pertaining to your request. Be certain to include contact information and detailed information on your topic/subject matter of your research. Our staff will be in touch with you as soon as possible to set-up an appointment and/or discuss next steps.
A note on early records
When searching for resources about early Freeport history, be aware that Freeport was originally part of North Yarmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony. This North Yarmouth proprietary, which we now call ancient North Yarmouth in order to distinguish it from the present-day town of North Yarmouth, encompassed a large geographic area and was chartered in 1681. Because of the long distances to the only meeting house (located at Route 88 and Gilman Rd. in Yarmouth), remote settlements petitioned to be set off and incorporated as separate towns. These towns are Mere Point (1739), Small Point (1741), Harpswell (1758), Freeport (1789), Pownal (1808), and Cumberland (1821). The final split between Yarmouth and North Yarmouth occurred in 1849. Thus, early records for each of these towns will be found in more than one location. For example, official records for Freeport from its first settlement until its separation in 1789 will be included with the Town of North Yarmouth records.
Our Collections
A shoe last from our rich collections of Freeport’s shoemaking industry.
The Freeport Historical Society holds in public trust the materials and artifacts that help connect the Freeport of the past to the present. FHS maintains a research library, archives, and object collection with the primary collecting focus on materials that relate to the history of Freeport, Maine from prehistory to present. The organization also serves as an approved Alternative Repository for the Storage of Non-Confidential Local Government Records for the Town of Freeport through the Maine State Archives.
WW1 Stowell Service Flag
We actively encourage you to engage with our collections, whether it’s through our exhibits, research, programs, or newsletters. The two most significant collection items are our buildings — the Harrington House and Pettengill Farm. These properties were both generously donated by Eleanor Houston Smith and her husband L.M.C. “Sam” Smith.
Collecting Focus
FHS collects objects, including maritime, agricultural, economic‐related, humanities, and other textiles, paintings, books, manuscripts, diaries, letters, books, cemetery records, maps, drawings, postcards, photographs, ephemera, and other items, the majority which have been organized and cataloged, and made available for research.
We continue to actively collect items in these categories, from individual objects and documents to major multi‐item resources. Audio, video, and digital items are now sought to document both historic and contemporary archival materials.
Donate to the Collection
Interested in Donating to the Collections? Please visit our Donate to Collections page to learn about why we collect, what we collect, and what your donation means to the organization.