September, 2024 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 40, No. 3

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After 27 years Dr. David Richards is retiring from the Margaret Chase Smith Library!

This issue of the newsletter is dedicated to him and his career. It was a treat to search our archives and find so many wonderful photos, stories, and antidotes about David as we created this newsletter. Though he will not be in the office everyday, we know he will not be far away. We still plan to see him here for events and programs. The staff is excited for his next adventure and wish him a happy retirement.

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Directions

by David Richards

This will be my final “Directions” column. I have had a wonderful twenty-seven-plus-year run at the Margaret Chase Smith Library since arriving in December 1996. Now it’s time to head off into a retirement filled with travel, hiking, and catching up with family and friends, who I have neglected too much while working.

I have enjoyed my time at the Library. I have fond memories of the many school teachers and students, museum and library professionals, and community partners with whom I have worked for nearly three decades. I am grateful for the assistance I have received along the way from Library colleagues, both past and present. I appreciate the support I have gotten from the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation board of directors. Most non-profit directors have to spend much of their time raising money. Because of the Foundation board’s wise and steady stewardship, I have had the luxury to focus on programs and projects.

I have been thinking about when to time my retirement for a while. COVID gave my considerations greater urgency, as it completely disrupted the nature of work at the Library for several years. Ultimately, I opted for an early retirement for two reasons. First, none of us knows how long we have, as I was reminded of when I collided with a moose ten years ago. My second thought was that I didn’t want to hang on just to hit a round number like thirty or reach an established retirement age like sixty-five. I would prefer to retire too early rather than too late.

I am confident that I am leaving the Library at an opportune time and in a good condition. Margaret Chase Smith’s legacy remains strong. During the month of July, we experienced a boom in research activity and averaged about a request a day. This included four people who have expressed interest in writing books related to Senator Smith in some way. That list has since grown to five. In addition, the Library has hosted three events this summer that reassured me that we are getting back to the level of activity we had before the pandemic arrived in March 2020. Community Plate brought together a group of about three dozen people for a potluck dinner and best of all, featured the sort of civil conversation that nourishes civic culture. A few weeks later, we welcomed the Mid-Maine Global Forum. I was heartened to hear how many of the guests were visiting the facility for the first time, were impressed by the history and tidiness of the Library, and vowed to return with family and friends in the future.  At the end of August, the Library reprised the annual Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day. It drew a large audience of over seventy people to hear Jerri Whitman talk about her exhibit of portraits of women who have served in the Maine Legislature or have represented Maine in Congress, to see Sylvie Jensen’s National History Day exhibit on Joshua Chamberlain and the Battle of Gettysburg, and to wish me farewell. Finally, we received word that the Portland Stage Company would be hosting a production this fall of the play “Conscience,” which focuses on the contentious relationship between Senator Margaret Chase Smith and Senator Joseph McCarthy during the early years of the Cold War.

I attribute the sudden summer surge in interest to our own politically tumultuous times and the antidotes of conscience and civility that are enduring features of Margaret Chase Smith’s legacy. If anyone needs a reminder of what she stood for, I encourage you to read her “Declaration of Conscience,” preferably right before you vote this fall. It has been rewarding to keep the ideals expressed in her historic speech alive for the past twenty-seven years. I wish my successor, Chris O’Brien, and my colleagues success in keeping the legacy alive for many years to come.

The Community Plate Dinner, July 11, 2024.

Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day, August 26, 2024.

Mid-Maine Global Forum Reception , July 23, 2024.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

My wife Amanda and I moved to Maine in December, 2011 after she had been offered a job as an architectural historian in Augusta. A few years prior, in 2009, I left a state job after learning some harsh realities about the working world. For the next few years I took some unsatisfying and rather demoralizing jobs as I continued to search for a career in my chosen profession. When we moved to New England it was a fresh start and I was determined to only accept a job in the humanities.

I came across the Margaret Chase Smith Library in a Maine Frommer’s Travel Book. Since the Senator served in Congress during my period of study I thought I would reach out and volunteer my time until I found a job. I sent an email and very soon I received my first communication from David. From the beginning he was inquisitive, thoughtful, and open to ideas and suggestions. Though at the time I was unfamiliar with the life and legacy of Margaret Chase Smith, David took a chance on me. As a new volunteer I was somewhat surprised and elated that he immediately trusted me to research and create an exhibit for the Library that would celebrate the 50th anniversary of Senator Smith’s run for the presidency. 

Soon my volunteer role turned into a temporary position. From there it became permanent. After becoming a fulltime employee I became the State Coordinator for National History Day in Maine. Again, David took a chance on me. Based on my experience with NHD as an intern in grad school, he agreed to have the Library take on the duties of running the program to which I can proudly say has grown immensely and now serves as a model for other affiliates throughout the country.

Throughout my time at this Library David has taken countless chances on me. He’s given me the opportunity to hone my historical skills, learn the process of exhibit design, and sharpen my managerial style. He allowed me to make mistakes, be creative, establish networks for the Library, and find new avenues of historical interpretation. He let this budding historian build my own narrative about the Senator and present it to school groups, museum patrons, and scholars. Most importantly, David provided a positive work environment.

If you have not pieced it together, the theme of my narrative is that David took a chance on me. And for that I am forever grateful. I am absolutely sure I would not be in this profession if he had not provided me with such opportunities. I look to him as a mentor, but more importantly, my wife and I look to him as a friend (I as a colleague and she as a hiking partner). I wish nothing but the best for David. I hope he has a long and fruitful retirement on all the wooded dusty trails he could possibly imagine.

Perfect representation of our mentor/mentee relationship.

David photographed with my wife and sister at the top of Katahdin.

David is always there to lend a helping hand.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

When I think of David, I think of the book group he has facilitated at the Library. I started attending after I did my internship at the facility in 2015. One of those early books I read was about the wildfires in Maine during 1947. It was not something I would have ever chosen but I am glad the book group gave me that opportunity. 

My fondest book group memories will always be the ones held during the pandemic. David decided to do a summer book group via Zoom and he focused on local authors from around the Skowhegan area which was challenging as they needed to be accessed via the internet as opposed to the usual physical copy. He succeeded in finding us true gems. It was quite a different experience being located in our own homes holding a book group. It was a small dedicated group of attendees, there were 5 of us most of the time, and we discussed these stories from an earlier time with a mix of curiosity and reminiscent. Before each of these book groups, David would go to the territory of the book to be discussed and would bring back photos and tons of information about these locations. This allowed me to understand the history of the region in better detail than I had previously known. 

I think it was the relaxed manner David led the discussions during that stressful time, plus his choice of books, that made it especially enjoyable and something I will always warmly remember.

Let's Talk About It book group.

One of the many readings from
Let's Talk About It.

Let's Talk About It book group.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

When I started at the Margaret Chase Smith Library in June 2021, I already felt welcomed as a new member of the staff. Before starting the position, but after I had signed my contract, I received a package in the mail. I was living in Idaho at the time (I previously worked for The Community Library in Ketchum, ID, as the Regional History Museum Librarian) and I am originally from upstate New York. This is just to provide some context for why I was incredibly excited when a box from Maine Maple Products turned up at my door. Sent by Director David Richards, this gift was the perfect sweet start to my new job at the MCS Library and a helpful reminder of one of the many reasons I was excited to return to the east coast. 

David continued to make me feel welcomed as a member of the MCS Library staff after I arrived in Maine. He was always available and eager to answer any of my questions while also giving me room to make the role of Curator of Collections my own. He would help me understand why certain decisions had been made at the MCS Library prior to my arrival while also being open to my suggestions. He challenged me to try creative solutions, explore new partnerships, and push for new processes and programming. 

I have now been with the MCS Library for over three years and I feel confident in saying that my beginnings here would not have been the same without the guidance and support of David Richards. His leadership at the MCS Library will have a long legacy both with the organization as a whole and with me as a librarian. I congratulate him on his career and on his retirement!

Trivia night at Bigelow Brewing Company.

Object handling staff training.

Emergency response training.

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more salutations from colleagues and friends

Charles L. Cragin - President, Margaret Chase Smith Foundation

I’m reticent to use the word “retirement” thinking about you.  Perhaps “turning the page”, “starting a new chapter”, etc. but not “withdrawing”.  I recall when you arrived at the library in 1996 as the Assistant Director.  At that time the library was owned by Northwood University and the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation, with Mert Henry at its helm, was a funding source.  You served as second in command during the Northwood days.  In December 2011 the Foundation purchased the Library from Northwood and two things happened.  In 2012, the Foundation entered into an agreement with the University of Maine which began operating the Library under the Foundation’s auspices. You became Executive Director of the Library and an employee of the University.  During the next 12 years you brought vision, enthusiasm and resilience and delivered daily.  There have been many changes at the library in that time and you can be proud of what you accomplished and of the legacy that you leave behind.  While a full-time employee of the University, you always found time to assist the Foundation as its members requested information or worked with you to develop operating budgets, fund capital projects and constantly adapt to new technology.  My colleagues on the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation Board of Directors join me in thanking you for your tireless service.  You have made significant contributions in preserving the legacy of Senator Smith.  May you move to your next journey with fair winds and following seas.

Michael J. Quinlan - Treasure/Secretary, margaret Chase Smith F0undation

David, all the best upon your retirement as Director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library.  I have enjoyed our interactions involving the Library and will miss working with you.  You have been a dedicated and loyal steward of the Library and the legacy of Senator Smith.  Here’s to an enjoyable and fulfilling retirement!

Amos Reid - Margaret Chase Smith Library Facilities Maintanence

I came on board at the Margaret Chase Smith Library in 2009 after graduating college and grad school and Dr. David Richards has been a staple here for almost three decades of my life. He usually is the first person to arrive at the facility and the last to leave and besides all of his academic works, leadership, and direction, you would find him outside assisting with keeping the facility and grounds in top shape as well. His contributions to furthering the works and memory of Senator Margaret Chase Smith and his attention to the MCS Library and staff have been exemplary and he will be greatly missed here and in the community. Best wishes for your next adventure!    

Angie Stockwell - Former Margaret Chase Smith Library Colleague

David Richards, tall, lanky, witty, brilliant, averse to veggies, loves baseball, loves mousse (not, however, the ones that crash through your car window and break your neck), and although he never knew Margaret Chase Smith, he loved her.  Of course.  We all did.

Historically, director predecessors, assistant directors, and university administrators were each remarkable in their own way. That said, I had vowed that if David Richards ever left, for whatever reason, I, too, would leave. Having been at the Library for over 37 years, I had pretty much decided I would never again "train" a new director. Not that I actually had any say in such a task, but sharing the ins and outs of the MCS Library with someone new was more than I wanted to tackle.

I'm pretty sure David never called me by my given name but rather I was "Stockwell." I'm unsure if that is politically correct in today's world of "woke," but I never failed to respond as I knew he meant no disrespect. His attention to proper grammar when editing my newsletter effort each quarter was grueling. Lordy, I wanted to strangle him. But I soon reluctantly admitted he was the better grammarian.

But COVID arrived, technology far surpassed my knowledge, and I was old!! Darn, I hate saying that! 37 1/2 years is a long time. So I was the first to retire.

David's appreciation of life changed in 2014, as did the priorities in his life. Now David is off to the mountains. Up one hill, down another and following the paths of which poets write and viewing the vistas unseen by we of lesser stamina. You were and are the best of men, dear David. I can only borrow from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans when I say "Happy Trails to You."

Lynnette King - Former Margaret Chase Smith Library Colleague

The years I worked with David Richards will be remembered very fondly from my perspective. He was my colleague for many years before becoming the Library’s Director.  When reflecting upon my time working with him, three words consistently came to mind—dedication, community and thoughtfulness.

David’s dedication to the Margaret Chase Smith Library was evident as he was constantly working to keep her legacy alive both in and out of the Library. It was fun to see him leaving the Library for a speaking engagement with the cardboard cutout of young Margaret in tow ready to bring her to life in the eyes of school children and adults alike. He kept a very busy schedule and seeing his car in the parking lot long after the Library had closed speaks to me of his passion and dedication.

The Library’s programs and events are always well attended but I think part of that success has a lot to do with David personally as much as it does the specific program. He is well known in the Skowhegan community and that is because David is out there constantly supporting other individuals and organizations by attending programs and events in the community and throughout the state. He also brings the community into the Library on a regular basis keeping her name relevant all these years later.

The last word I’ll use to describe David Richards is thoughtful.  He is a very thoughtful person and much like Margaret Chase Smith did, he regularly takes the time to hand write letters to people. Not many still do that.  He also took the time to speak to individual staff members to perhaps inquire about a family member or an event that was important in their lives which showed me that he genuinely cared about us. We were a very small staff and I think it was definitely more like a family.

I wish him much happiness in retirement.  I’m thrilled that something good came out of his devastating encounter with that moose years ago—his passion for hiking. I expect he’ll be spending much of his time in the great outdoors. Congratulations, David!

Vanessa caron - former margaret chase smith colleague

My memories of David Richards, former Boss, co-worker, and friend.

David loved attending National baseball games, which sometimes included feeding hungry Northwood students he met up with along the way; Halloween, (handing out unique treats that included leftover McDonald's fries) trick or treat? ha, ha...; And Christmas; the Grinch movie, unusual gifts and memories of former celebrations included in his cards, typically arriving a day or so after the actual day.  

David encouraged me to develop my idea of a summer program for boys and girls, the Skowhegan Girl program based on Senator Smith's time as a young girl growing up in Skowhegan. 

And finally, the most difficult "Boss" to give my two week notice to after accepting a management position elsewhere, mainly because he did not believe in cellphones at that time.  

A good friend and confidant who deserves a long and healthy retirement.  Congratulations!

Rick and Linda Smith - hurricane cleaners

David was a joy to be and work around. He always had a compliment for us whether it was for just the cleaning or when we came in and did the annual carpet cleaning. After, I believe, over 20 years of cleaning the MCS Library, we enjoyed working there. It all started with Linda, Jenny and I and after a while Jenny went on her own to start her child care business. Linda and I continued on until we finally retired in December of 2021. David, you will be missed at the Library. Enjoy your retirement and all your hiking adventures. We hope to cross paths with you somewhere along the way. Happy Retirement from Linda, Jenny and Rick!

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David Richards Throughout the Years

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

June, 2024 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 40, No. 2

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As we welcome summer, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is working on many exciting events! National History Day in Maine is headed to the national contest, we continue to update the facility with new storage materials, our Maine Town Meeting was a success, and our newest exhibit, “Painting an Inclusive History: Maine Women in Politics” is opening!

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors.  Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

“Don’t panic!” That was the message Michael Socolow wanted audience members to take away from his presentation at the Library’s recent Maine Town Meeting, the title of which was “Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Democracy.” A media historian in the Department of Communications and Journalism at the University of Maine, Prof. Socolow provided an overview of how new communication technologies from the telegraph to the movies to radio to television to the internet to social media have always disrupted society and politics.

Our guide to artificial intelligence was Jon Ippolito, professor of New Media and director of the Digital Curation Program at UMaine. His caution was not to get carried away by the hype surrounding AI. Misinformation and disinformation have long been part of politics. AI didn’t create the problem. Algorithms just makes it easier to spread virally.

The common thread I took away from both talks is that a functioning republican democracy still requires the same virtues in 2024 as it did in 1789, when the US Constitution was ratified – an informed and vigilant citizenry that acquires information broadly and assesses it independently and critically. If you would like to watch the two Maine Town Meeting lectures, and form your own opinions, you can access them on our YouTube channel (click here).

There was a third impromptu speaker at the Maine Town Meeting, Nhi Nguyen, the second-place winner in the 2024 Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest. A senior at Oak Hill High School in Wales, Maine, Nhi attended the event to receive her prize. In her remarks, she outlined the proposals she had made in her essay about how young people should be protected from potential harm on the internet. She called for guidelines on internet data mining, individual privacy protections, and most of all, education for students in digital literacy.

Afterwards, many people remarked to me about how impressed they were by Nhi. Her essay was well written, her extemporaneous presentation was polished, and her personality was effervescent. She is destined to go far in life. Her plan is to attend Brown University pre-med. What Nhi most left an audience skewing gray with was hope – hope that the younger generations behind us are up for the challenges that lie ahead.

Hope was also the theme of the Library’s most recent book discussion of It Can’t Happen Here held a few days before the Maine Town Meeting. The current series on Future Visions has been decidedly dystopian. Readers were depressed by Sinclair Lewis’s account of how a fascist regime could come to power in the United States during the 1930s. Most couldn’t get far into Fort Beulah, Vermont’s descent into totalitarianism and abandoned the book. Some of the politics in the story hit too close to today. When I asked members of the group what their future visions were, no one wore rose-colored glasses, but everyone wanted to see at least a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

I will conclude with the hope that you have reasons to be hopeful, despite the rise of artificial intelligence and the demise of civil politics. Remember, ultimately, hope has to come from within, not without.

Jon Ippolito presenting at the 2024 Maine Town Meeting

Museum Assistant John Taylor and second place winner of our 2024 MCSL Essay Contest, Nhi Nguyen

Michael Socolow presenting at the 2024 Maine Town Meeting

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2024

As I write this I am preparing to head to the NHD National Contest at the University of Maryland in a week’s time. It’s been a fun and interesting contest season in Maine. Thanks to the late snowstorm in March, we had to pivot our plans and convert our Southern Regional Contest to a virtual experience. We were saddened to miss out on hosting the event with our new partners at the University of Southern Maine, but we all agree it was the right call. We cannot wait to have an in-person event there next year! The Northern Regional at John Bapst Memorial High School was a success, and our State Contest held in April at the University of Maine was our smoothest operation yet! Judges were impressed with the amount of research and the quality of work done by our middle and high school students. Thirty-four students will be heading to College Park, Maryland to compete against all affiliates starting June 9-13. During that time they will present their work to judges, trade buttons with other likeminded students, meet Senators King and Collins, attend a talk with filmmaker Ken Burns, display their projects at various sites on campus and in Washington DC, and hopefully return home with some national medals! As the State Coordinator, it is my job to advocate for our students, help run a smooth contest, and create itineraries and events for our team. It’s a long and exhaustive week, but it’s always one of my favorite parts of my job. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see all the action happening at the National Contest!

2024 Margaret Chase Smith Library Essay Contest

The winners have been chosen for this year’s essay contest. You might remember, we asked Maine high school seniors the following question: Today teenagers use technology, more specifically the internet and social media, for a multitude of reasons. The benefits include creating relationships with people and developing personal identities through social networking and messaging, playing online games, and virtual learning. On the contrary, potential risks for adolescents consist of cyberbullying, trolling, isolation, and access to inappropriate material or relationships. The Library invited students to recommend what guidelines we as a society should establish for teenagers concerning their use of technology to ensure their personal safety and privacy.

What we received were a lot of thought provoking essays from across the state from Kennebunk to Fort Kent that questioned what was acceptable, what were the downsides of our tech savvy culture, and what we should deem an appropriate use to protect everyone in a virtual world. We as a staff grappled with many of these ideas ourselves. It was a tough decision to rank our top three, but we all agreed that there were a few that really stood out of the large stack of essays sitting on our desks.

The list of winners are as follows:

First Place ($1,000): Summer LaRose, John Bapst Memorial High School
Second Place ($500): Nhi Nguyen, Oak Hill High School
Third Place ($250): Anna Weber, Medomak Valley High School
Honorable Mention ($50):
Aubrey Hanscom, John Bapst Memorial High School
Makayla Morello, Westbrook High School
Ainsley Overlock, John Bapst Memorial High School
Alina Schueman, Greely High School
Natalie Waloven, Yarmouth High School

The Exhibit Hall at the 2024 NHD in ME State Contest

Nicole Rancourt and John Taylor at the 2024 NHD in ME State Contest

Packing supplies for the 2024 NHD National Contest

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

As the others have mentioned, we have been in a flurry of activities this spring and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. This is fantastic in many ways but does cause some projects to become more backburner such as my working with Past Perfect-our collection management system. However, it is nice to interact with many students, both elementary and high school, as they learn about Senator Smith and our incredible facility. I put together a high school museum research hunt, similar to the one I updated for elementary students, with a graphic novel/comic strip format. This one focused on political cartoons that are on display in the museum, certain aspects of the Senator’s career, and supported a program Nicole was doing. For students traversing the museum to answer questions, locating items, and pondering the meaning of a cartoon takes them through the journey of Senator Smith’s life and career, and it allows us to sneakily reinforce learning skills.

I recently worked with a researcher who was looking for a connection between Senator Smith, Guatemala, and her suggestion of a coffee ban from that country. There was a great political cartoon, (that sadly we do not have the rights to but the researcher was able to obtain permission to use) along with a few additional items I located which lead, as it often does with research, to more questions. I found four more political cartoons and a variety of information to assist the researcher’s expanded area of interest. The fun thing for me assisting researchers is how it takes me along the expedition with the researcher as I learn a new little something about Senator Smith’s career.

Finally, Nicole and I traveled to attend the Maine Library Association annual conference in May. John joined us later in the day. As an introvert, going to these things are always anxiety inducing but the rewards make it worth it. What happens at a library conference you might wonder: author talks and book signings, great speakers, meetings, awards, geeking out on things librarians geek out about such as light up swords being given away (I may perhaps now own one), lots of discussions about books, program ideas, legal issues libraries face, and ways to support patrons and one another. Librarians love to help even if it is just to point out that the coffee has been removed for the day (there is then great commiseration). You put a large group of introverts together at a conference and it can become a quiet event - thank goodness for those extrovert librarians! I attended some fantastic sessions that helped me flesh out program ideas that have been bouncing around inside my head for years. The conference theme this year was Libraries: Beacons of Democracy, therefore, there were many interesting sessions along these lines. I was extremely excited for two programs pertaining to archives while one exceeded my expectations and one didn’t fill me with any new creative sparks, both highlighted the variety of ways in which archives can be utilized in education. Nicole and John’s brilliant session was well attended by enthusiastic librarians even if it was at the end of the day and in the warmest room at the conference. There was plenty of interest in what they shared and I believe everyone left feeling a bit more empowered to plan for disasters at their own facilities. I contributed by taking the world’s most unflattering photos of Nicole and John. I was also able to chat with some of my former professors, classmates, librarian friends, and even made a few new contacts for future programs. I come away feeling refreshed and gratified that librarianship is my life both personally and professionally. Some library themed stickers, pens, bookmarks, and a light up sword doesn’t hurt either.

Sample of our museum scavenger hunt

Meeting up with friends at the Maine Library Association Conference

Margaret’s Washington and You article

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Painting an Inclusive History: Maine Women in Politics

The Margaret Chase Smith (MCS) Library opened an exhibition of Maine artist Jerri Whitman’s work on May 20th, 2024.  Based in Dresden, Maine, Whitman is a longtime artist who works in oil, pastel, acrylic, colored pencil and graphite. Presently, Whitman is working to create a portrait of every woman from Maine who has been elected to the Maine Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, or the U.S. Senate. The first twenty-six of these portraits are featured in “Painting an Inclusive History: Maine Women in Politics” and this exhibition will be on display at the MCS Library until Wednesday, November 27th, 2024. 

On Thursday, June 20th, from 4pm to 7pm, there will be a public opening reception for “Painting an Inclusive History” at the MCS Library in Skowhegan, Maine. This event will be free and open to all, there will be light refreshments served, and brief welcoming remarks will be given at 5pm. RSVPs for this event are encouraged but not required. You can RSVP using this LINK or by calling the Margaret Chase Smith Library (207) 474-7133. 

Whitman started painting the portraits included in “Painting an Inclusive History” after a trip to the Maine State House with her granddaughter in 2022. As they walked the halls, the two of them  could not help but notice that the only portrait of a female elected official was that of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, which hangs in the Hall of Flags. All other portraits feature male politicians. While this initial visit was spurred by Whitman’s original desire to paint a portrait of Governor Janet Mills, Whitman realized she had to widen her scope. 

All twenty-six portraits are of women whose commitment to the state of Maine is worthy of recognition – and a portrait. Many of the portraits are those of “firsts,” including Dora Pinkham, the first woman elected to the Maine Legislature; Governor Janet Mills, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Attorney General and Governor; Rachel Talbot Ross, Maine's first African-American House Speaker, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine’s first female Secretary of State, and Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress and the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major political party convention. Senator Smith is the subject of two portraits included in this exhibition - one of which will stay permanently at the MCS Library. 

The staff of the MCS Library encourages everyone to either attend the public opening reception on Thursday, June 20th, from 4pm to 7pm, or visit the MCS Library before the exhibition ends in November 2024. To learn more about the exhibition please visit the MCS Library’s website or click here to RSVP for the public opening. 

Presentation at the Maine Library Association Conference 

John Taylor and I put in a proposal earlier this year for the Maine Library Association Annual Conference which was accepted. Our presentation, entitled If There's Something Weird (and it don't look good) Who You Gonna Call?: Disaster Planning and Preparedness for Libraries,” took place at the end of the first day of the conference. 

We opened with how the Margaret Chase Smith (MCS) Library wrote our original disaster plan and how the plan has been updated and regularly reviewed since. There were slides about the supplies that the MSC Library has purchased to outfit our disaster kits and carts and what supplies have been most utilized since purchasing. We discussed the MCS Library’s regular staff training on disaster preparedness and how we structure them. To close we shared a curated list of pre-existing resources to help guide and support other institutions disaster planning and preparedness. 

The presentation was well attended and there was an excellent Q&A that followed. John and I certainly felt that our presentation was particularly timely as Maine has been experiencing more major or unusual weather events in recent years. All Maine libraries should be at a level of preparedness so when something weird happens they know who they're gonna call (and what they're gonna do). 

While I had attended MLA in the past this was my first time presenting at this conference. I greatly enjoyed the experience of presenting with John and attending additional sessions at MLA alongside my other colleague Kim Nelson.

Public opening flyer

Kim Nelson and Nicole Potter at the Maine Library Association Annual Conference.

Painting an Inclusive History installed at the MCSL.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

March, 2024 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 40, No. 1

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As we welcome spring, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is working on many exciting events! National History Day in Maine planning is underway, we continue to update the facility with new storage materials, and the twenty-eighth annual Margaret Chase Smith essay contest is still open.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors.  Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a presidential campaign going on in 2024. It will be our last one before the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026. Let’s hope the democratic experiment survives the upcoming election, without a repeat of January 6th.

The Library will approach the topic in two ways. The first is through a book discussion series titled “Future Visions.” I have selected five books by authors who have had the imagination to look ahead at the human condition. We began in February with Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy. In this third highest selling work of fiction in the United States during the nineteenth century, Bellamy envisioned from the vantage point of 1887 a social, economic, and political paradise of cooperation, plenty, and peace, where inequality had been eradicated.

From March to June, the Library book group will gather once a month on the third Tuesday of the month to discuss the future visions presented in The Time Machine (1895) by H. G. Wells, The Iron Heel (1908) by Jack London, It Can’t Happen Here (1935) by Sinclair Lewis, and The Parable of the Sower (1993) by Octavia Butler. If you would like to join the lively group, contact me at davidr@mcslibrary.org. And don’t let distance be an obstacle. We do offer a Zoom option and have participants from as far away as Juneau, Alaska.

Our second election year initiative is the 2024 Maine Town Meeting, which will be held on Friday, May 10th. The theme this year will be potential impacts of artificial intelligence on democracy. Our guides for the morning will be two members of the University of Maine faculty, Jon Ippolito and Michael Socolow. Ippolito is professor of New Media and director of the Digital Curation program. He will help us navigate and understand the brave new world of artificial intelligence. AI Margaret Chase Smith may even be asked to weigh in on the subject. Socolow is a professor in the Department of Communications and Journalism. Drawing upon his background as a media historian, he will explain how successive waves of new media technology have transformed American presidential politics since the late nineteenth century.

More information on the Maine Town Meeting will be sent out at the beginning of April. In the meantime, please reserve May 10th on your calendar. More important, remember that the founders of our democratic republic believed that the experiment would only succeed if citizens were virtuous, vigilant, informed, and engaged. The Library will give you the chance to sharpen these vital civic qualities in the coming months. Please join us.

Jon Ippolito

Cover of Looking Backward

Michael Socolow

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2024

Contest Season is underway and I am excited to say we are growing! The registration numbers have nearly tripled for the Northern Regional Contest, and our new partners the University of Southern Maine have been great to work with the last few months. I am currently in the thick of planning and coordinating multiple contests right now. Our Southern Regional will be taking place on March 23 and the Northern Regional is happening one week later on March 30. With more participants we have been looking to see how to gracefully expand our State Contest at the University of Maine. Meetings there have been productive and I anticipate one of our largest events in Orono next month on April 27!

As always I need judges. If interested in judging for our State Contest please reach out to me at john.m.taylor@maine.edu. Remember, you do not have to be an expert. Librarians, historians, archivists, educators, and armchair historians are all welcome to participate. We will provide an orientation on contest day and supply you with the necessary tools for judging as the event approaches.

2024 Margaret Chase Smith Library Essay Contest
Final notice. Our annual essay contest is nearing the end! This year we are asking Maine high school seniors to write about the impact of technology on privacy and safety. 

In 1964, Senator Margaret Chase Smith discussed the “very profound changes that science and technology have brought upon our way of life.” She noted that the “probable future effects” of technology on civilization was “breathtaking” and “awesome,” but to some “downright fearful.” The Senator described these skeptics and their “moral faintheartedness” as apprehensive people concerned that new technology would cause our society to become “automated, mechanized and synthesized.” She further emphasized that she did not share in their pessimism that computers would dominate “the thinking of our society that we will become a ‘robotized’ society dominated by a mental laziness that not only lets the machines do, but ultimately dominate, our thinking.”

Sixty years later, Senator Smith could not fathom the role technology plays in our daily lives. Today teenagers use technology, more specifically the internet and social media, for a multitude of reasons. The benefits include creating relationships with people and developing personal identities through social networking and messaging, playing online games, and virtual learning. On the contrary, potential risks for adolescents consist of cyberbullying, trolling, isolation, and access to inappropriate material or relationships. In a recent article the American Psychological Association quoted Mary Alvord, PhD saying “Just as we decide when kids are old enough to drive, and we teach them to be good drivers, we can establish guidelines and teach children to use social media safely.” The Margaret Chase Smith Library invites students to recommend what guidelines we as a society should establish for teenagers concerning their use of technology to ensure their personal safety and privacy.

For more information and contest guidelines you can click here. Please pass this along to any high school seniors you may know. Essays are due April 2, 2024. First prize is $1,000!

The Exhibit Hall at the 2023 NHD in ME State Contest.

John Taylor and Nicole Rancourt giving instruction to judges at the 2023 NHD in ME State Contest.

A sampling of medalists at the NHD in ME 2023 State Contest

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

It has been thrilling to be a small part of the much needed changes in the storage room at our facility. It is fascinating the unique and mostly one of a kind items, that only a limited number of individuals have seen, are in the process of being properly preserved. Taking archival classes while getting my Library Degree, led me to this facility years ago, and I am pleased to be able to put into practice the things I learned. I am truly looking forward to doing the complete inventory that will take place once the items are in their new homes. I love doing inventory, usually of books, but this is such an outstanding opportunity that it may become my favorite inventory experience, certainly better than inventorying airplane nuts and bolts of my first job out of high school. Knowing you are part of preserving history for future generations is an honor and I am grateful to be a part of this process. This project will also leave me with years of work for data processing/cataloging into our software and I am excited to get started as this is the other aspect of my work that I absolutely love.

Field trips have started to return. It is wonderful to represent Senator Smith to our younger members of society. I loved going on field trips at school as well as trips with my parents to various museums and special sites.Some of those experiences with the individuals who interacted with us students and younger visitors left a wonderful lasting impression on me. I hope in my interactions with these young scholars, I pass along the excitement and wonder of learning about interesting people and places that affected and sometimes continue to affect our lives while providing a fun experience that they, too, will remember for years to come.Playing rounds of Margaret Chase Smith Bingo never gets old and is tons of fun for the students and myself. If you know a teacher or school who would be interested in visiting our facility, please have them reach out to the library to schedule a trip.The library does have the ability to pay for bussing for field trips.

National History Day competitions are just around the corner and I am so happy I was asked to be a judge a few years ago. Spring would just not be the same for me without participating in this competition. I look forward to these competition days to talk with and learn from students who are passionate about their projects. While I truly enjoy the website and documentary projects, I find that no matter what category I judge the presentation of knowledge by the students is incredible. Please consider being a judge for this worthwhile program.

Margaret Chase Smith Bingo is a big hit with our field trip students.

One of many field trip groups visiting the Library this year.

One of the many unique artifacts in storage at the Library.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

First, I would like to highlight the fantastic response the Margaret Chase Smith Library has received to our interactive exhibition, “Connections to Margaret”! It can be difficult to remember that, despite her long list of credentials and accomplishments, Margaret had many traits, characteristics, habits, and experiences that many of us can relate to. Visitors to the MCS Library are invited to weave threads through the hooks next to the connections they share with Margaret, creating a visual representation of their overlapping interests, lives, and preferences. We’ve had a multitude of visitors engage with “Connections to Margaret '' since it was installed in August 2023 and today some of the most common connections are “Gone Snowshoeing," "Swam in a Lake,” and “Favorite Color is Blue.” Shout out to Kim Nelson, Library Coordinator, for helping students navigate this exhibition while on field trips to the MCS Library! 

Second, I am excited to announce an upcoming exhibition of artist Jerri Whitman’s portraits at the Margaret Chase Smith Library! Spurred by her surprise that the only woman whose portrait can be found at the Maine State House is Senator Margaret Chase Smith, which hangs in the Hall of Flags, Whitman is working to paint portraits of every woman who has been elected to the Maine Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate. There have been twenty-five portraits completed so far and the subjects include Senator Margaret Chase Smith, Governor Janet Mills, Sara Gideon, and Dora Pinkham. Previously all of the portraits, except for Senator Smith, were shown at the Maine State House, as a one day pop-up exhibition. Whitman’s portrait of Senator Smith will be shown for the first time to the public at the Margaret Chase Smith Library! 

The Library is delighted to host Jerri Whitman’s portraits of Maine female politicians and the exhibition will be on display starting Monday, May 20th, and will remain open until Wednesday, November 27th, 2024. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Thursday, June 20th, from 4pm to 7pm. We encourage everyone interested to come and visit the Margaret Chase Smith Library while the exhibition is on display. The Margaret Chase Smith Library is open to the public Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and reservations are highly encouraged for visitors. To make a reservation please call (207) 474-7133. Also, keep your eye out for further programming around the exhibition which will be announced on the Library’s website.

Finally, staff at the MCS Library is also currently developing several other upcoming exhibits. Topics for these include Senator Smith’s connection to the United States Navy Nurse Corps, a lyrical examination of Billy Joel’s song “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and exploration of the media coverage of Senator Smith’s 1964 presidential campaign. Additionally, there are hopes to host another student exhibition this fall.

Updating Collection Storage - Part II

When I wrote my section for the December 2023 newsletter, we were still in the process of moving the artifacts out of  the MCS Library basement storage room and into temporary storage. Since then, all artifacts have been moved, the old storage furniture has been disassembled and moved out, the room has been cleaned, new storage furniture has been assembled, and the artifacts have begun to be moved back into the storage room onto the new furniture. Collections care tasks have been incorporated into this workflow, this includes an inventory of the collections stored in the basement and condition surveys of individual artifacts. The new storage furniture that’s been assembled is compact shelving, which is designed for high-density storage of artifacts and allows us to utilize our limited storage space at the MCS Library most efficiently. We were thrilled to donate the old storage shelving and cabinets to the Skowhegan History House where they can continue to be utilized. We’ve made huge strides!

“Connections to Margaret” interactive exhibit.

Artist Jerri Whitman working in her studio.

Nicole Potter and John Taylor celebrating the completion of the first shelving unit with a ribbon cutting.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

December, 2023 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 39, No. 4

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As we head into winter, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is working on many exciting events! National History Day in Maine planning is underway, we continue to update the facility with new storage materials, our annual fund drive is happening, and the twenty-eighth annual Margaret Chase Smith essay contest is now open. We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy during this holiday season.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

It has been a busy fall at the Library. You will read about many of the projects the staff has been working on in the updates to follow from my colleagues. One of the tasks occupying my time has been the annual fund drive. We are grateful to our donors. Their support gives life to many of our programs. The Margaret Chase Smith Foundation, which provides the funding for the Library, budgets up to $6000 per year to cover the cost of school field trips. Another $2000 funds prizes for the annual Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest open to Maine high school seniors. Getting out the mailing for this competition has been another fall project. The topic for 2024 will be how to protect the safety and privacy of young people on the internet.

The Library is also fortunate to have had several named bequests established over the years to support specific programs. The Colonel Paul D. LaFond Fund set up by his family defrays the expenses of the Maine Town Meeting held each spring. The Leeke-Shaw Lecture on International Affairs held in the fall is named after two friends and supporters of Senator Smith, Ada E. Leeke and Captain Evelyn H. Shaw.

The Library recently hosted another Leeke-Shaw Lecture. It featured Prof. Daniel Sandweiss, who is an archaeologist at the University of Maine. He spoke about the long-term effects of climate change on the Andean region of South America, specifically in Peru. You can watch a video of his presentation on the Library’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Recent annual fund drives seeded the establishment of the Merton G. and Harriet P. Henry Memorial Leadership Fund. It has been supplemented by a significant bequest from Capt. Georgia McKearly, Senator Smith’s dear friend and a founding director of the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation. The 2022 annual fund drive brought the promise of another bequest from an admirer of Senator Smith.

We are honored by all this generous support. It makes the Library’s work possible. If you would like to help carry on Margaret Chase Smith’s legacies of civic engagement, personal civility, and democratic service, at a time when these values have never been more sorely needed in our nation’s history, you can mail a donation to the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation at PO Box 4510, Portland, ME 04112-4510.  I extend our thanks to those of you who have already made a contribution to the 2023 annual fund drive and wish everyone a happy holiday season. I hope to see you at the Library sometime in 2024!

Capt. Evelyn Shaw with Margaret Chase Smith and Mert Henry (1990).

Prof. Daniel Sandweiss presenting at the 2023 Leeke-Shaw Lecture.

Col. Paul LaFond at the 2006 Maine Town Meeting.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2024
As we settle into the winter months planning for the upcoming National History Day in Maine season continues to roll on. Lots of changes are coming in 2024! 

My colleague Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council and I have visited multiple parts of the state looking to expand the program. Thanks to a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities we took a trip to the County, Machias, and Farmington. All meetings were productive, but one has shown some real promise. We met with educators, librarians, and museum directors in Presque Isle to discuss the possibility of establishing NHD in the area. I am pleased to announce that plans are underway to create a revolving program where University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) preservice teachers will serve as ambassadors and mentors for NHD and help introduce it to educators and students throughout Aroostook County. We hope to begin training and implementation in the fall of 2024! 

Furthermore, after five years working with Maine MILL in Lewiston, we made the difficult decision to move our southern regional contest to Portland. Our partnership with the Maine MILL has been fruitful, but we have outgrown the facility 's resources. With the help of our friends at the Osher Map Library and the History Department at the University of Southern Maine we are jazzed about our new collaboration with USM. A contest date has not been set, but I will be visiting campus this month to finalize the details. We look forward to this partnership and think it will not only benefit the University of Maine system, but also provide better opportunities for students and teachers alike.

Registration for all contests will open on January 3, 2024. A call for judges will be going out at that time. If interested please contact me at john.m.taylor@maine.edu. I will gladly put you on my mailing list. Remember, you do not have to be an expert. Librarians, historians, archivists, educators, and armchair historians are all welcome to participate. We will provide an orientation on contest day and supply you with the necessary tools for judging as the event approaches. As of this writing, the contest dates are as follows:

• Southern Regional (Portland)-TBD

• Northern Regional (Bangor)-March 30

• State Contest (Orono)-April 27

• National Contest (College Park, MD)-June 9-13

2024 Margaret Chase Smith Library Essay Contest
In other news, our annual essay contest has begun! This year we are asking Maine high school seniors to write about the impact of technology on privacy and safety. 

In 1964, Senator Margaret Chase Smith discussed the “very profound changes that science and technology have brought upon our way of life.” She noted that the “probable future effects” of technology on civilization was “breathtaking” and “awesome,” but to some “downright fearful.” The Senator described these skeptics and their “moral faintheartedness” as apprehensive people concerned that new technology would cause our society to become “automated, mechanized and synthesized.” She further emphasized that she did not share in their pessimism that computers would dominate “the thinking of our society that we will become a ‘robotized’ society dominated by a mental laziness that not only lets the machines do, but ultimately dominate, our thinking.”

Sixty years later, Senator Smith could not fathom the role technology plays in our daily lives. Today teenagers use technology, more specifically the internet and social media, for a multitude of reasons. The benefits include creating relationships with people and developing personal identities through social networking and messaging, playing online games, and virtual learning. On the contrary, potential risks for adolescents consist of cyberbullying, trolling, isolation, and access to inappropriate material or relationships. In a recent article the American Psychological Association quoted Mary Alvord, PhD saying “Just as we decide when kids are old enough to drive, and we teach them to be good drivers, we can establish guidelines and teach children to use social media safely.” The Margaret Chase Smith Library invites students to recommend what guidelines we as a society should establish for teenagers concerning their use of technology to ensure their personal safety and privacy.

For more information and contest guidelines you can click here. Please pass this along to any high school seniors you may know. Essays are due April 2, 2024. First prize is $1,000!

Maine Archives and Museums Annual Conference
I have proudly served on the board for Maine Archives and Museums for nearly four years. The organization’s annual conference took place in October in Presque Isle. As chair of the Board’s Technology Committee, a few colleagues and I were tasked with maintaining a hybrid option for conference attendees. It was a bit of a challenge but was a success in the end. I enjoyed many talks ranging from volunteer recruitment to emergency planning, and an amazing keynote address from Dr. Paul Buck on the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 which established the boundary between British North America and the United States. I have already begun adapting what I learned into best practices for the Library.

United State Senate Youth Leadership Program
Finally, every year we have the privilege to host ten of the brightest high school juniors and seniors in the state for the United States Senate Youth Leadership Program. This year was no different. Director David Richards along with representatives from both Senator King and Senator Collins’ offices served as judges interviewing the students and assessing their impromptu speeches to determine which two will receive $10,000 scholarships and an all expense paid trip to Washington, DC to see how the government works. Personally, it’s one of my favorite days. I wrote this year’s speech prompt asking students to create a fictional political party and its platform. I also spent time giving a small lecture on the effect of third parties in presidential elections and educating them about the life and career of Margaret Chase Smith. Already looking forward to hosting once again in 2024!

Nicole Rancourt and John Taylor visiting with educational leaders in Presque Isle to begin NHD planning.

This year’s finalist for the United States Senate Youth Leadership Program.

John Taylor working hard at the annual Maine Archives and Museum’s annual conference.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

For the fifth year, my colleagues honored my request that we combine our money to purchase books for the annual Skowhegan Public LIbrary Fall book drive. We were able to purchase 5 books. When picking out the books, I am mindful of Senator Smith and try to pick books that might have some meaning or connection to her or to Maine. I highly recommend you to check out your local library and see if there is an item missing from their collection that they might want.

This year the staff was once again unable to participate in the local trunk or treat event. We were able to donate candy for the event. Community involvement was important to Senator Smith and something I take seriously when having the library participate in events. Not only are we representing her and her library but we are helping our fellow community members which brings me a source of gratitude.

I have been steadily cataloging photographs and am excited to see the end in sight. Once this first go through is complete, a more hands on portion will begin. This will be physically looking at each photograph to measure its size, check on its condition, and note any further information that can be put in the catalog to make the record as complete as possible. Having as complete a record as possible is my goal as a librarian. One of the things I love about being a librarian is working in the details in a catalog knowing I am assisting patrons as well as assuring the information is preserved for future reference.

This year’s book donation to the Skowhegan Free Public Library.

Library staff participating in the Skowhegan trunk or treat event in 2021. We hope to take part in the event once again in 2024!

Organized by the Skowhegan Bankery staff, we were happy to be one of the sponsors for this year’s trunk or treat.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Attending the NEMA Annual Conference

In November I had the opportunity to attend a portion of the New England Museum Association (NEMA) annual conference held in Portland, ME. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with colleagues from across the region and the programming was excellent. I sat in on sessions about exhibition development, digital preservation, and creating accessible collections. Additionally, I was able to attend Cheyney McKnight’s keynote address, A Post-Mortem on Museums and the Summer of 2020. This address was a highlight of my time at the NEMA conference, I certainly came away from it with a lot to consider. I look forward to attending more NEMA events in the future and growing my connections with cultural heritage institutions throughout New England. 

Updating Collection Storage

The Margaret Chase Smith Library houses over 4,000 unique objects, the majority of which are stored in the Library’s basement collection storage room. These objects can be broken down into the three categories - three dimensional objects in a range of sizes, textiles, and framed artwork/photographs/works on paper - although there are some outliers. After long consideration how best to ensure the preservation of and access to these objects, the Library staff have decided to update the Library’s collection storage.

The goals of updating the Library’s collection storage are to eliminate storage conditions that contribute to the deterioration of objects, to make objects in storage more accessible to Library staff, and to maximize the space available in the basement storage room. With this in mind several new pieces of collection storage furniture were purchased - two new clothing racks, an additional chrome plated steel cart, and two units of compact storage comprised of chrome plated steel shelving. Compact shelving, also known as high-density storage systems, are useful for collection storage areas with space limitations. 

Before the new collection storage furniture can be assembled, objects had to be moved into temporary storage elsewhere in the Library’s basement. This temporary move has allowed for an opportunity to inventory and conduct a condition survey of the collection. At the time of this newsletter we have almost completed moving all the objects into temporary storage and both the inventory and condition survey are in process.

Our next step will be to remove the old storage furniture from the room. This is done to create room for assembly of new collection storage furniture, in particular the Library’s recently purchased compact shelving units. The Library chose compact shelving units with five ranges of shelving that slide along a floor track. They are comprised of open chrome-plated steel shelves, which are durable, provide good air circulation, and are most suited to objects housed in archival grade boxes. These shelving ranges compact together and can be moved apart for the retrieval of objects then moved back together again. Each shelving range can support up to 2,000 pounds and the shelves are all adjustable to suit the Library’s collection storage needs. 

Once the compact shelving is assembled, objects will be moved out of temporary storage and into new permanent storage on its shelves. The other collection furniture, clothing racks and carts, will also be filled and placed back into the basement collections storage room. This is a very exciting project for the Library to be undertaking and one I look forward to updating you all on in 2024!

Storage space is getting harder to come by as more and more of the collection is moved to make way for assembly of the new shelving units.

Nicole Potter stands with the final black metal cabinet to be taken out of the storage area.

Shelving that will soon be replaced.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

September, 2023 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 39, No. 3

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As we head into the fall season, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is planning many exciting events! National History Day in Maine will be hosting teacher workshops and focus groups, field trips will commence, we continue to update the facility with new storage materials, and we are routinely refining our emergency planning to better protect our collections We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

If this column wasn’t called Directions, it would be called Connections. Elsewhere in the newsletter, you will read about a new interactive exhibit. “Connections to Margaret” invites viewers to see the ways their lives are connected to Senator Smith’s. We are not all going to serve in Congress, but we all have families, homes, hobbies, memories, and favorites. One of the things I love about my job is seeing the web of relationships that get made between the past and the present, and hopefully to the future as well.

I was reminded of connections during the recent Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day on August 26th. One of the visitors was Robin Lisherness. For over three decades from the mid-1970s until 2010, he was involved in the award-winning speech and drama program at Skowhegan Area High School. Speaking of connections, the head of the program when he arrived was Elizabeth Merrill, who was Margaret Chase Smith’s neighbor across the street and the grandmother of our current maintenance worker, Amos Reid.

Mr. Lisherness came carrying scrapbooks his mother had compiled over the years. Some of the articles they contained pertained to Margaret. One was about a student who had won an award for re-creating Senator Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience.”

What had first caught my eye as Mr. Lisherness strode down the hallway was the military jacket with squadron insignias that he was wearing. The story he told was that it had belonged to Senator Smith’s long-time chief of staff, General William Lewis, and that she had given it to him after Bill’s death. In addition, she also presented him with one of her husband Clyde’s suits for use in a drama production. I enjoyed learning about Mr. Lisherness’s connections to Margaret, which he had then passed on to his students through the years.

What really made my day, though, was meeting a teacher at the other end of the educational spectrum, someone who was at the beginning of his career rather than in retirement. Neal Young was one of the last visitors to show up and came with his wife and eleven-month-old daughter. He was a local Social Studies teacher, who wanted to learn more about Senator Smith. What caught my attention about him was the passion he proclaimed for teaching the Constitution to young people. Bless you, Neal Young!

I was gleeful to introduce him to several relevant connections. The first was that his colleague at Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Maine, Tyler Duran, was married at Margaret’s home and his wife, Sarah, is Margaret’s great grandniece. The more important connection, however, was what Senator Smith always kept in her pocketbook that is still kept next to her bed in her house-- a copy of the United States Constitution.

These two encounters were the perfect brackets for Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day and kickoff to the new academic year. I am reassured to know that there are still young educators like Neal Young eager and enthusiastic to show students how the Constitution can connect “we the people” from many into one, if we don’t let our house become divided by petty partisanship and righteous rancor, as in the days of McCarthyism in the past and alas, also too often in our own present day.

Robin Lisherness with Drama Class students from Skowhegan Area High School (1978)

Clyde Smith’s Suit in a SAHS Theatrical Production

Senator Smith’s Pocket Copy of the Constitution

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2023

Another successful season of National History Day in Maine is in the books! In June I spent nearly a week representing our program and helping to coordinate the NHD national contest at the University of Maryland. It was the first in-person national event in four years and it was great to be back. After landing in Baltimore and traveling to College Park I spent my first day helping with final preparations and assisting new coordinators getting acclimated to the UMD campus. Then we were off to the races. My days were filled with greeting and checking-in competitors from all over the world, meetings with the Maine student delegation, running around campus to give Maine competitors words of encouragement before their judge times, judging senior papers, traversing Washington DC with our students, visiting Senators King and Collins, touring the Capitol Building and the Library of Congress, and celebrating our national winners at the award ceremony!

The Margaret Chase Smith Library has been the primary organizer and sponsor of NHD in Maine for a decade, and we are proud to say that 9 out of those 10 years we have had a national winner. This year our Outstanding Affiliate Award winners were Carolyne Sauda and Kathryn Busko from Bangor High School and Cora Berry, Clara McDuffie, and Simone Sites from Greely Middle School. Saud and Busko earned the award for their Senior Group Documentary about Senator Edmund Muskie entitled Mr. Clean’s Water Act: A New Frontier in Environmental Legislation. To see their submission click here.  Berry, McDuffie, and Sites received recognition for their Junior Group Exhibit entitled Frances Glessner Lee: “Mother of Forensic Science”. They also made it to the final round of judging and ended with a fifth place ranking in the country. Finally, our national medalist was David Gilbert from Greely Middle School. He was awarded the Discovery or Exploration in History Award for his Junior Individual Documentary entitled On Top of the World: The Frontiers Faced by Matthew Henson and Robert Peary in their Quest for the North Pole. To see the winning documentary click here.

Fifty-seven students qualified to participate at the national contest. Twenty-eight of them were able to compete in this year’s national contest. We hope more will be willing to travel down to Maryland next year to partake in the fun!

Speaking of next year, plans for the 2024 contest season are underway. It’s the 50th anniversary of the national program. To celebrate we will be using their very first theme; Turning Points in History. Teacher workshops will hopefully be happening in Bangor this fall. My colleague Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council and I will be traveling to Presque Isle, Machias, and Farmington within the next two months to try and expand the program using grant funds we received from the National Endowment for the Humanities. More exciting news is in the pipeline, but I cannot share with you just yet. Be sure to visit our webpage to keep up to date!

Carolyne Sauda and Kathryn Busko from Bangor High School.

David Gilbert from Greely Middle school shaking hands with NHD Executive Director Cathy Gorn.

Cora Berry and Clara McDuffie pictured with their teacher Katie Cassesse from Greely Middle School.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

Even with the rainy summer, the library was able to have some fun with visitors and programs. The mudpies and fireflies slime program co sponsored with Skowhegan Free Public Library and their Summer Reading Program was originally scheduled for the end of June but it rained on both the original date and the rain date. The earlier postponed slime program took place on Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day in August. On that rainy Saturday, around 50 children and parents came to make mudpie slime which included cute plastic veggies and potting soil or to make fireflies slime with glow in the dark powder and glow in the dark bugs. It seemed that both parents and children enjoyed the fireflies slime as it was easily the more popular and messier table. Gabrielle, the new youth librarian at Skowhegan Free Public Library, decided to mix both to create a new type of slime. Currently unsure how that experiment fared. None of the Margaret Chase Smith Library staff made any slime, an oversight on our part we are sure. Participants had the opportunity to have some free snacks courtesy of the Library including bags of cotton candy (invented near the year of Margaret Chase Smith’s birth) as well as rock candy. Most children took home a packet of coloring pages pertaining to Senator Smith. Even with this being an indoor event, most of the slime did manage to stay on the tables or in the take home buckets. The glow in the dark plastic bugs went home with participants or were donated to the Skowhegan Free Public Library where, unfortunately, they are not the type of bugs the library’s pet frogs can consume, but I am confident the little critters will find their way into another program there.

Another indoor event this year was John Meader and his Northern Stars Planetarium hosted by the Margaret Chase Smith Library for the Skowhegan Free Public Library Summer Reading Program. It is my favorite program. Two separate age groups were able to enter into the dome and enjoy the different programs offered and learn about our solar system. The adults who entered the dome enjoyed the shows as well. I, personally, enjoyed listening to the ABC solar system program. Initial talks are happening at the Margaret Chase Smith Library to do an eclipse program next year for the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 with John Meader and the Skowhegan Free Public Library.

George W. Mitchell day camp children and chaperones came in July to spend some time playing Margaret Chase Smith bingo, learning about the archives, being a researcher in the museum, and getting a tour of the Senator’s home.

This field trip reminds the staff that school groups will soon be visiting the library once they are settled into their new school year. If you know of any schools or teachers who would like to visit the library, please have them contact the library for more information. We love to talk about Margaret Chase Smith with students.

A thank you to all who voted on the name for the new elementary school, the Margaret Chase Smith Community School. It is currently being constructed in Skowhegan. It is a lasting legacy to our dear Senator.

Making mudpie slime!

John Meader’s Planetarium set up in our seminar room.

Veggies at the ready for the mudpie slime.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Exhibitions

The Margaret Chase Smith Library was thrilled to open three new exhibitions this summer! 

The first was a hosted exhibition curated by a student for the National History Day (NHD) in Maine 2023 competition. Developed by Sadie Williams, a Waterville Senior High School student and recipient of the NHD Margaret Chase Smith Maine Exhibition Award, “Working Women: Maine Female Shipbuilders During World War II” examines what was an essential contribution to the war effort. Sadie’s informative poster board is accompanied by photographs that highlight Senator Smith’s support of Maine’s shipping industry and the women who worked in the shipyards as well as materials about the NHD in Maine program. This exhibition will be on display through the fall at the Library.

Second is an exhibition developed by the Library’s staff in celebration of Skowhegan’s bicentennial. “Mapping Skowhegan: Celebrating the Bicentennial Through Margaret’s Eyes” takes a look at both the changes to Skowhegan’s landscape over the past two hundred years and the landmarks that would have made up the town that Senator Margaret Chase Smith knew and loved. This is achieved through a combination of photographs, documents, and artifacts from the Library’s collection alongside four maps courtesy of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine. Three of the four maps were produced before the birth of Margaret Chase Smith, née Margaret Madeline Chase, on December 14, 1897, with the fourth being published in 1898. The changing landscape shown in these maps was the backdrop to Margaret’s childhood and influenced her relationship with the town for the duration of her life. This exhibition will be on display throughout the end of the year. 

Third is an interactive exhibition that we hope all visitors to the Library will engage with! Opened on Margaret Chase Smith Day, 2023, “Connections to Margaret” encourages you to consider how many ways you are similar to Senator Margaret Chase Smith. It can be difficult to remember that, despite her long list of credentials and accomplishments, Margaret had many traits, characteristics, habits, and experiences that many of us can relate to. She adored her dogs, was the eldest of her siblings, routinely enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich (especially if it was burnt), and could play the piano. The exhibition provides a tangible opportunity to see all of your points of interaction with Senator Smith (and with your fellow visitors). We will be keeping an eye on this project throughout the rest of 2023 and into 2024 and sharing images of it in the Margaret Chase Smith Library Newsletter and on our social media channels. Keep an eye out to see all our “Connections with Margaret”!

Professional Development

Just a few weeks ago I was thrilled to attend a workshop led by the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) which was held at the Portland Museum of Art. Titled “Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Salvage,” the workshop covered risk assessment and mitigation, emergency preparedness and response, and related emergency planning topics. What I most appreciate about it was the hands-on portion of the day where I was able to practice salvage techniques for formats found in the Margaret Chase Smith Library’s collections, this included books, documents, photographs, and audiovisual materials. All of these materials were submerged in water for a portion of the workshop before they were salvaged. These are essential techniques to learn since so many disasters that can befall cultural institutions include the introduction of water to one degree or another.

While I have been trained in emergency preparedness and response previously, this was a fantastic opportunity to brush up on past knowledge and also gain some new insights. I was happy with what I was able to bring back to the Library to add to our institutional knowledge and disaster plan. Additionally, I look forward to putting my new skills to the test in a few weeks when the Library is due to hold a staff disaster training day ourselves.

Nicole Potter installing the Skowhegan Bicentennial exhibit.

Visitors engage with Connections to Margaret exhibit.

Nicole Potter doing hands-on training during the NEDCC Disaster Workshop at the Portland Museum of Art.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

June, 2023 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 39, No. 2

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As we head into the summer months, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is planning for many exciting events! National History Day will culminate at the national contest in College Park, Maryland, summer programing in conjunction with the Skowhegan Free Public Library will happen, and planning is underway for Margaret Chase Smith Day. We also continue to update the facility with new storage materials and we are constantly refining our emergency planning to better protect our collections We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

It has been a busy spring at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. It’s the first one to feel “normal” since 2019, before the pandemic.

As you will read elsewhere from my colleagues, school field trips returned in force, and with no masks, for the most part. When Shane Gower brought his Advanced Placement US History students to do research at the Library in March, we realized, much to our dismay, that his last visit with the class had been in 2019. The duration of that COVID void hardly seems imaginable in retrospect.

Another event that had fallen into the void was the annual Maine Town Meeting. The last one we were able to host in person took place in October 2019, when 90 people came together to learn about the women’s suffrage movement and the legacy of women in the United States gaining the right to vote a century earlier through ratification of the 19th amendment to the Constitution. In 2020 and 2021, we had to offer the meeting via Zoom. In 2022, we presented the program in hybrid format, but found that three quarters of the audience opted for remote participation.

Wanting to get people back to the Library, we were determined that this year’s event, focusing on the Supreme Court, would be fully in person. We were pleased with the turnout, as sixty individuals, including Heather Ross’s AP US History students from Skowhegan Area High School, assembled to hear two dynamic and thought-provoking speakers, Dr. James Melcher, a professor of Political Science from the University of Maine at Farmington, and Dr. Dmitry Bam, Vice Dean of the University of Maine School of Law; enjoy the lunch catered by Heritage House; and most important, interact with one another.

To provide additional opportunities for guests to experience civic culture at the Library, the staff has planned many activities throughout the year. A new book discussion series tied to Skowhegan’s bicentennial will begin on June 20th at 6:30 PM with a talk by Amy Calder. She is a long-time reporter for the Morning Sentinel, who has collected her writings into a book, Comfort Is an Old Barn. The series will continue monthly through September. In conjunction with these bicentennial book programs, the Library will also host two lectures dealing with the history of Skowhegan. On July 25th at 6:00 PM, Maine State Historian Earle Shettleworth will give a talk on local architecture. This will be followed by a talk on the Arnold Expedition up the Kennebec River during the American Revolution by Dr. Daniel Soucier, a historian from the University of Maine, on September 26th at 6:30 PM.

For a full schedule of events, scroll to the end of the newsletter or click here for a PDF listing all of the upcoming events. We hope to see you at the Library in 2023!

Maranacook Community High School AP US History Field Trip

Amy Calder’s newest book

Professor James Melcher Addresses the Maine Town Meeting

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2023

As I write this I am one week away from attending my first in-person NHD national contest in four years! The last time I stepped onto the University of Maryland campus was 2019. It would be an understatement o say that students, teachers, parents, sponsors, and my fellow state coordinators are excited to be back! I expect great results from our qualifying participants from Maine and look forward to getting “my steps in” while traversing UMD from June 12-15.

The students participating in the upcoming national contest all qualified by placing first or second place at our state contest held at the University of Maine on April 29, 2023. It was a surreal day seeing so many in attendance. Surprisingly, in the ten years I have been coordinator, it felt like the least stressful event to run. We witnessed many smiles from students and teachers, and our judges were enthusiastic to spend the day with so many bright young scholars. For a full list of winners visit our webpage and scroll down to “Registration Links”. There you will find winners from both the junior and senior categories and the special award winners.

While in Maryland students will again have their work assessed by judges, but we will also take time to take in the sights. Meetings with our Senators Angus King and Susan Collins will happen, we will be taking a tour of the Capitol Building and Library of Congress, and will meet people from all over the world as we trade buttons with our competitors–a cherished tradition of the national contest. 

This year's theme was Frontiers in History. Maine’s button is building off of that theme and focusing on the anniversaries of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and Secretary Edmund Muskie’s introductions of the Clean Water Act. Both are featured prominently on the Maine button noting the state’s “Frontiers in Conservation”

Fingers crossed for a safe and successful experience for all!

Special Thank You to My Colleagues

I want to give a quick shoutout and thank you to my colleagues Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council and Nicole Potter from the Margaret Chase Smith Library. Leading up to the NHD in ME state contest I needed to take a leave of absence to attend to a family matter. Both of them stepped up and ran the Bangor Regional contest for me. I appreciate all of their hard work and willingness to help at such a trying time for me personally.

2023 MCSL Essay Contest

In early May we announced the winners of the 2023 MCSL Essay Contest. Inspired by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and Edmund Muskie’s Clean Water Act, the question focused on climate change and the role the government should play in combating it. We had participants submit from all over the state. Students were passionate about the subject and showed their deep care and concern for the environment. 

It was difficult for the staff to decide the final results, but after much deliberation we believe we awarded the most deserving. First place ($1,000) was Edgelynn Venuti from Washington Academy. Second place ($500) was Victoria Leavitt from Windham High School, and third place ($250) was Logan Blanchette from Mount Desert Island High School. All three will be receiving a cash prize. We also awarded five Honorable Mention prizes. To see the full list of winners click here. To read the top three winning essay’s visit our webpage.

The exhibit hall in Wells Conference Center at the University of Maine.

Junior Group Website First Place winners at the National History Day in Maine state contest. From Greely Middle School, Claire Larson and Sarah Weisz.

It was a packed house as we handed out awards in Wells Conference Center at the University of Maine.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

The last few months have flown by as the transition from winter to spring to summer has commenced. The staff hosted 11 elementary school field trips during the months of April and May. Teachers and students alike are enjoying our new stations. Margaret Chase Smith Bingo was specifically requested by one teacher as her students from last year had a great time playing it with me. We are looking forward to more field trips next school year.

I suggested that Nicole and I attend the Maine Library Association Reading Round Up in April as a way to reach out to school and public librarians to promote our field trip program. I also suggested that John come with us to promote National History Day. We decided to have attendees give us their contact information if they wished to receive a free Margaret Chase Smith DVD. We gave away 21 DVD’s, quite a bit of chocolate, and spoke with librarians from all over the state. It was a success for the library and NHD. We are already planning what to entice librarians to stop at our table during next year’s Reading Round Up.

It felt great to be back to National History Day judging. Although I have been judging since 2020, this was my first year in person and it was an entirely different experience. I was able to judge the Northern Region at John Bapst High School and later the State Competition at Orono. The student interviews are the best part of the day. They are excited to talk about what they learned and are proud to show off their work. To be a judge is an incredible experience and I encourage you to think about it for next year.

In April, I held my first program at the library to tie into the President Eisenhower exhibit that was on loan to the library from Rangely Historical Society. I asked Carroll Ware to speak at the library to talk about his new book, “On the Wrong Side of the River: Stories from a Maine Guide”. 27 attendees were entertained by Carroll, and his wife Lila, with stories from their lives as Maine Guides and their adventures both locally and internationally. Refreshments focused on fish or fishing with decorations including a tackle box, bobbers, an antique fly fishing rod, and a photo of Margaret fishing to complete the theme.

I continue to work in the Past Perfect catalog. I am still entering books from our collection as well as continued clean up in the photos portion of the catalog. It is a slow process but an enjoyable one that allows me to put my library degree skills to work and keeps me quite busy during the down time between activities, programs, and planning future programs.

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the library will be cosponsoring a slime program with the Skowhegan Free Public Library to enhance their summer reading program. This year’s slime will be mudpies and fireflies. We will be making a mud type slime with vegetables or a glow in the dark slime with glow in the dark bugs. The fun will be from 1-3 pm at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. We will also be hosting John Meader and his planetarium on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. The first showing starts at 10 am and the second showing is at 11:15 am. The planetarium is part of the SFPL summer reading program and a fun experience for local children. Finally, Margaret Chase Smith Day on Saturday, August 26, 2023 will include field day activities out on the library’s lawn to give children and their families a chance to play and enjoy the grounds of the library. More information on this event to come later this summer.

Maine guide Carroll Ware telling tales about his time in the wilderness.

Lots of creative treats were served at the Carroll Ware book talk!

MCS Library staff talking with librarians at Reading Round Up held at the Civic Center in Augusta.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Elementary Field Trips

This past spring has been an incredibly busy and exciting time at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. One factor is that with spring comes field trips. It was a delight to open the doors of the Library and welcome in a range of students from schools all over central Maine. With younger students, I enjoyed teaching them about how the MCS Library functions differently than the libraries they may be familiar with already, typically their school library or the public library, and how the staff cares for the Library’s archival collections. We then spend the rest of our time examining a selection of documents, artifacts, and bound materials. This included a portrait of Senator Margaret Chase Smith painted in 1955 by Emily Muir, who was, among other things, an American painter and long-time Stonington, Maine, resident. 

This painting typically gets the loudest reaction from the school groups out of all the materials I share with them. I think that’s for two reasons - 1) They are taken by the scale of the portrait and the size of the combined canvas and ornate wooden frame; 2) Visual materials, like the portrait, are able to capture the attention of students who struggle to engage with lectures or written materials. 

The reason I have decided to share this painting with our field trips groups is not because of the quality of the portrait, although it is an excellent likeness of Senator Smith, or because of the importance of Emily Muir within the historical context of Maine’s artistic history, although she does have a sizeable presence, it’s because of the imagery Muir included alongside her subject. I always ask students to examine this portrait with a critical eye, share what they find, and then question why Muir has included that item - Why is there an elephant in the lower left corner? Who is the woman holding the torch? Why is Margaret pictured holding a pen? It’s been a fabulous experience sharing this object with students and hearing their observations. 

High School Field Trips

In addition to welcoming elementary students to the Library, we also had the opportunity to host two separate high school field trips in March and April. One of these groups was the Maranacook Community High School AP US History class, who has been coming to the Margaret Chase Smith Library to engage in primary source research for many years. This visit is regularly scheduled in the spring in anticipation of the AP US History examination. 

Part of the exam are document based questions (DBQ), which are essays or series of short-answer questions that are constructed by students using one's own knowledge combined with support from several provided sources. The AP US History Students from Maranacook Community High School are asked to invert this process. Instead of being asked for their response to a DBQ that is supported by previously selected sources, they are instead asked to locate sources within the Library’s collection and develop a DBQ that could be answered using those documents. It’s a fun project to assist them with and it gets the students to think critically about a process they’re already familiar with. 

In April, the Skowhegan Area High School Honors Geography class visited to conduct primary source research on Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s World Trip. This was the first opportunity many of these students have had to engage with archival materials and was a fantastic learning experience. Students were divided into groups of two and each group was assigned one of the countries that Senator Smith visited. The Library has a range of types and quantities of materials for each of the countries she visited. As the students conducted their research, it was interesting to see how they dealt with either abundant or lacking resources and, also, what types of materials students were drawn towards. This was the first time that a Skowhegan Area High School Honors Geography class came to the Library and we hope they return soon!

Returning “President Eisenhower and the Rangeley Lakes Region” Exhibition

The beginning of May saw the end of the Margaret Chase Smith Library’s loan of the “President Eisenhower and the Rangeley Lakes Region” exhibition from the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society, Rangeley, Maine. We loved having this exhibit and to send it off we were thrilled to host two events at the Library. 

The first was an author talk with the local celebrated Maine Guide, Carroll Ware. He spoke about his new book, “On the Wrong Side of the River: Stories from a Maine Guide,” and shared many stories from the book and unpublished anecdotes. This event was coordinated by my coworker Kim Nelson and was incredibly well received and attended. 

The second was a paint night at the Library that was hosted by local instructor, Gretchen Washburn. Gretchen led thirteen of us through the process of painting a scene of a wooded coastline at sunset as seen from a canoe. What was wonderful was how all thirteen participants, including myself and Kim Nelson, received the exact same instruction from Gretchen but we produced thirteen different and unique pieces of art. It was a wonderful experience and I hope that Gretchen will return to the Library to host another artistic endeavor soon!

Artist Emily Muir painting Margaret Chase Smith, 1955.

Paint Night led by Gretchen Washburn at MCS Library.

Maranacook Community High School AP US History Field Trip

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

March, 2023 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 39, No. 1

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As we transition to longer days and warmer weather, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is planning for many exciting events in the coming months! National History Day contests are back in-person, field trips are returning, summer programing in conjunction with the Skowhegan Free Public Library will happen, and planning is underway for our annual Maine Town Meeting and Margaret Chase Smith Day. We also continue to update the facility with new storage materials and we are constantly refining our emergency planning to better protect our collections We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy as we continue to inch our way back to normalcy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down and check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

As an historian, I know how cruel history can be. As Benjamin Franklin humorously put it, "If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten; either write things worthy of reading, or do things worthy of writing."

While Margaret Chase Smith fulfilled both criteria through her Declaration of Conscience speech and book, the tendency is still to be forgotten with the passage of time. When the Library celebrated the centennial of Margaret’s birth in 1997, I would ask people if they knew who William Pierce Frye was. Few did. I could count on one hand the responders who came up with the correct answer that he had held the seat in the United States Senate that Margaret Chase Smith would eventually win election to in 1948. The point being that over the course of a century Senator Frye had become almost thoroughly forgotten.

At the Library, we are very cognizant that the natural tendency is for Senator Smith to be forgotten over time, too. Every year we are reminded of that when school groups visit. By a decade ago, just about every K-12 student was born after Margaret had passed away in 1995. This year it dawned on me that young teachers in their mid-twenties are now born after her death as well.

One of the ways societies try to keep memories alive is by naming things after people. There are several honors named after Margaret Chase Smith: the Library’s annual essay contest, research and public affairs scholarships at the University of Maine, and the National Association of Secretaries of State American Democracy Award. In addition, there are over two dozen places and structures that bear her name, ranging in chronology from the social hall at Camp Modin in Canaan, Maine, in 1962 to a library reading room at the US Embassy in Liberia in 2009 and also including one ferry, one Federal building, two senior apartment complexes, and two elementary schools.

That brings me to the Margaret Chase Smith School in Skowhegan, which was built in 1963 and named in her honor the following year. Senator Smith attended the 25th anniversary of the school in 1988, at which time she was presented with a commemorative clock. Structures, like humans, however, eventually wear out. A replacement building is in the process of being constructed. The question arose what to name it. Many people have assumed the Margaret Chase Smith designation would be carried on. Because the new facility will serve students beyond Skowhegan, the SAD 54 school board entertained suggestions for other names.

We have been astounded by the degree of interest in this issue. When we posted about it on the Library’s Facebook page, it was seen by over 10,000 people and elicited over 100 comments, almost all in support of retaining the name. While we await official determination of the matter, we take comfort in the knowledge that so many people still remember Margaret Chase Smith and hold her in such high regard. That makes for a solid foundation upon which to keep her memory and legacy alive for generations to come.

Senator William Pierce Frye

Margaret Chase Smith School, Skowhegan, 1991

Margaret Chase Smith School, Skowhegan, 25th Anniversary, May 17, 1988

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2023

Planning for National History Day in Maine continues as contest season is in full swing! We started where we left off. On March 6, 2020, just weeks before everything shut down, our last in-person contest was held at Museum LA in Lewiston. Nearly to the day, on March 3, 2023, we finally held our first in-person contest in three years at the same venue now known as Maine MILL.

For many students and teachers this was a new experience. They were familiar with the virtual format, but many showed up nervous not knowing what to expect in a live contest setting. Our judges spent the day examining projects, interviewing the participants, and providing much needed feedback on how to improve their research. The students had an opportunity to be out of the classroom, learn new skills interacting with adults working in the field of humanities, allowed time to tour the Maine MILL exhibits, and experience everything downtown Lewiston has to offer. Finally, teachers received reassurance seeing their student’s hard work being acknowledged.

After three long years, I am proud to say that we knocked off the rust and ran a successful event with very few issues. I cannot thank my colleagues Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council, Nicole Potter at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, Mary Kate MacVicar from Maine MILL, and my wife Amanda Taylor, an architectural historian from Kleinfelder, for all the work they put into making the day a success. NHD in Maine cannot function without their help.

We hope to continue these positive strides as we currently prepare for our next regional contest in Bangor at the John Bapst Memorial High School on March 25. This will culminate at our state contest at the University of Maine on April 29. 

Judges Needed for NHD in Maine State Contest

We are currently still looking for judges for the event in April. Anyone can do it including teachers, professors, historians, museum professionals, or anyone with a substantial interest in history. All are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. The contest will take place on April 29, 2023 with some judging beginning roughly a week prior to that date. For more information contact me at john.m.taylor@maine.edu or sign up here by clicking the “create account” dropdown menu at the top left and choosing “judge”. It’s really that simple!

2023 MCSL Essay Contest

There’s still time for Maine High School seniors to submit their work for the twenty-seventh annual Margaret Chase Smith Library essay contest.

This year marks two very important anniversaries within the history of conservation and environmental protection. Interestingly both have a Maine connection.  It is the 60th anniversary (1962) since the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Carson, a biologist who spent summers studying the sea at her home in Southport Island, Maine, wrote the influential book that warned of the declining bird populations and environmental harm caused by pesticides and synthetic substances. In fact, her book is credited with kickstarting the modern global environmental movement. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act (1972). Introduced to Congress by Margaret Chase Smith’s colleague and fellow Maine Senator, Edmund Muskie, the legislation helped set the framework to regulate pollutants and quality standards in our waters. 

These two landmark events inspired many environmental milestones, but we are at a crossroads. It was recently reported that the years 2015 to 2022 are the eight warmest years on record. The consequences of this change in climate temperature include intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, melting polar ice caps, catastrophic storms, and declining biodiversity. If this continues, Generation Z will be the ones who will face the dire consequences. This is why the Margaret Chase Smith Library invites students to consider what the proper role of government should be in responding to the issues surrounding climate change.

For more information and a full list of submission instructions you can click here.

We had an attentive and thoughtful group of judges participate in the Lewiston Regional Contest. Here they are receiving final instructions during their morning orientation on contest day.

The core staff of NHD in Maine taking care of the final details moments before everyone arrived on contest day in Lewiston. (L-R) John Taylor, Nicole Rancourt, Nicole Potter, and Amanda Taylor.

Our exhibit hall was buzzing with excitement as judges interviewed students and assessed their projects.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

School Field Trips

The last few months have flown by as the transition from winter to spring to summer has commenced. The staff hosted 11 elementary school field trips during the months of April and May. Teachers and students alike are enjoying our new stations. Margaret Chase Smith Bingo was specifically requested by one teacher as her students from last year had a great time playing it with me. We are looking forward to more field trips next school year.

Reading Round Up

I suggested that Nicole and I attend the Maine Library Association Reading Round Up in April as a way to reach out to school and public librarians to promote our field trip program. I also suggested that John come with us to promote National History Day. We decided to have attendees give us their contact information if they wished to receive a free Margaret Chase Smith DVD. We gave away 21 DVD’s, quite a bit of chocolate, and spoke with librarians from all over the state. It was a success for the library and NHD. We are already planning what to entice librarians to stop at our table during next year’s Reading Round Up.

National History Day Judging

It felt great to be back to National History Day judging. Although I have been judging since 2020, this was my first year in person and it was an entirely different experience. I was able to judge the Northern Region at John Bapst High School and later the State Competition at Orono. The student interviews are the best part of the day. They are excited to talk about what they learned and are proud to show off their work. To be a judge is an incredible experience and I encourage you to think about it for next year.

Library Programing

In April, I held my first program at the library to tie into the President Eisenhower exhibit that was on loan to the library from Rangely Historical Society. I asked Carroll Ware to speak at the library to talk about his new book, “On the Wrong Side of the River: Stories from a Maine Guide”. 27 attendees were entertained by Carroll, and his wife Lila, with stories from their lives as Maine Guides and their adventures both locally and internationally. Refreshments focused on fish or fishing with decorations including a tackle box, bobbers, an antique fly fishing rod, and aphoto of Margaret fishing to complete the theme.

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the library will be cosponsoring a slime program with the Skowhegan Free Public Library to enhance their summer reading program. This year’s slime will be mudpies and fireflies. We will be making a mud type slime with vegetables or a glow in the dark slime with glow in the dark bugs. The fun will be from 1-3 pm at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. We will also be hosting John Meader and his planetarium on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. The first showing starts at 10 am and the second showing is at 11:15 am. The planetarium is part of the SFPL summer reading program and a fun experience for local children. Finally, Margaret Chase Smith Day on Saturday, August 26, 2023 will include field day activities out on the library’s lawn to give children and their families a chance to play and enjoy the grounds of the library. More information on this event to come later this summer.

Past Perfect

I continue to work in the Past Perfect catalog. I am still entering books from our collection as well as continued clean up in the photos portion of the catalog. It is a slow process but an enjoyable one that allows me to put my library degree skills to work and keeps me quite busy during the down time between activities, programs, and planning future programs.

Staff Trunk or Treat, 2021

The last time we hosted the Northern Stars Planetarium with John Meader, July 30, 2019

Fairmount School Field Trip, October 19, 2022

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Elementary Field Trips

This past spring has been an incredibly busy and exciting time at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. One factor is that with spring comes field trips. It was a delight to open the doors of the Library and welcome in a range of students from schools all over central Maine. With younger students, I enjoyed teaching them about how the MCS Library functions differently than the libraries they may be familiar with already, typically their school library or the public library, and how the staff cares for the Library’s archival collections. We then spend the rest of our time examining a selection of documents, artifacts, and bound materials. This included a portrait of Senator Margaret Chase Smith painted in 1955 by Emily Muir, who was, among other things, an American painter and long-time Stonington, Maine, resident. 

This painting typically gets the loudest reaction from the school groups out of all the materials I share with them. I think that’s for two reasons - 1) They are taken by the scale of the portrait and the size of the combined canvas and ornate wooden frame; 2) Visual materials, like the portrait, are able to capture the attention of students who struggle to engage with lectures or written materials. 

The reason I have decided to share this painting with our field trips groups is not because of the quality of the portrait, although it is an excellent likeness of Senator Smith, or because of the importance of Emily Muir within the historical context of Maine’s artistic history, although she does have a sizeable presence, it’s because of the imagery Muir included alongside her subject. I always ask students to examine this portrait with a critical eye, share what they find, and then question why Muir has included that item - Why is there an elephant in the lower left corner? Who is the woman holding the torch? Why is Margaret pictured holding a pen? It’s been a fabulous experience sharing this object with students and hearing their observations. 

High School Field Trips

In addition to welcoming elementary students to the Library, we also had the opportunity to host two separate high school field trips in March and April. One of these groups was the Maranacook Community High School AP US History class, who has been coming to the Margaret Chase Smith Library to engage in primary source research for many years. This visit is regularly scheduled in the spring in anticipation of the AP US History examination. 

Part of the exam are document based questions (DBQ), which are essays or series of short-answer questions that are constructed by students using one's own knowledge combined with support from several provided sources. The AP US History Students from Maranacook Community High School are asked to invert this process. Instead of being asked for their response to a DBQ that is supported by previously selected sources, they are instead asked to locate sources within the Library’s collection and develop a DBQ that could be answered using those documents. It’s a fun project to assist them with and it gets the students to think critically about a process they’re already familiar with. 

In April, the Skowhegan Area High School Honors Geography class visited to conduct primary source research on Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s World Trip. This was the first opportunity many of these students have had to engage with archival materials and was a fantastic learning experience. Students were divided into groups of two and each group was assigned one of the countries that Senator Smith visited. The Library has a range of types and quantities of materials for each of the countries she visited. As the students conducted their research, it was interesting to see how they dealt with either abundant or lacking resources and, also, what types of materials students were drawn towards. This was the first time that a Skowhegan Area High School Honors Geography class came to the Library and we hope they return soon!

Returning “President Eisenhower and the Rangeley Lakes Region” Exhibition

The beginning of May saw the end of the Margaret Chase Smith Library’s loan of the “President Eisenhower and the Rangeley Lakes Region” exhibition from the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society, Rangeley, Maine. We loved having this exhibit and to send it off we were thrilled to host two events at the Library. 

The first was an author talk with the local celebrated Maine Guide, Carroll Ware. He spoke about his new book, “On the Wrong Side of the River: Stories from a Maine Guide,” and shared many stories from the book and unpublished anecdotes. This event was coordinated by my coworker Kim Nelson and was incredibly well received and attended. 

The second was a paint night at the Library that was hosted by local instructor, Gretchen Washburn. Gretchen led thirteen of us through the process of painting a scene of a wooded coastline at sunset as seen from a canoe. What was wonderful was how all thirteen participants, including myself and Kim Nelson, received the exact same instruction from Gretchen but we produced thirteen different and unique pieces of art. It was a wonderful experience and I hope that Gretchen will return to the Library to host another artistic endeavor soon!

Student performances were part of the National History Day in Maine contest on March 3.

The life of Margaret Chase Smith will be one of many things highlighted as we celebrate Skowhegan’s rich 200 year history.

The temporary Eisenhower Exhibit is now open!

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

December, 2022 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 38, No. 4

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During these winter months, the staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is planning for many exciting opportunities coming our way in 2023! National History Day events will be back in-person, our usual onslaught of field trips will be back to pre-pandemic levels this spring, much needed updates continue to happen to the facility, and we anticipate an uptick in visitors from the general public. We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy as we continue to inch our way back to normalcy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down. Also highlighted are some photographs of events, projects, educational materials, or people that have been to our facility recently. Finally, check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

Speaking of upcoming events…

Leeke-Shaw Lecture Happening in January!

Upcoming Leeke-Shaw speaker, Mehr Sher

The Margaret Chase Smith Library invites you to a presentation on the Afghan refugee resettlement program on Friday, January 20th at noontime. Our speaker will be Mehr Sher. Ms. Sher is the new statewide environmental reporter on the investigative desk for the Bangor Daily News, as well as a Report for America corps member. She brings a global perspective to the topic, having served as a journalist in Pakistan for six years. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations at North Carolina State University and earned a master’s in investigative reporting from the Columbia School of Journalism.

Because of Ms. Sher’s work schedule and the uncertainty of winter weather in Maine, the event will be held via Zoom. You can register by filling out the Google Form here.

A Zoom link will be sent to you before the lecture.

This program is being offered in conjunction with the Mid-Maine Global Forum. The MMGF's theme for the 2022-23 academic year is migrations. You can find out about presentations on other migrations besides those of Afghanis at the MMGF website.

For more information on the Leeke-Shaw Lecture on International Affairs, please contact the Library by email at mcsl@mcslibrary.org or by phone at 474-7133.

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Directions

by David Richards

As 2022 comes to a close, I have been taking stock of where the Library stands three years into the pandemic. School groups started returning for field trips this past spring. The Library hosted the United States Senate Youth Program student competition for the State Department of Education at the beginning of November and a History Day in Maine teacher workshop at the beginning of December. The Skowhegan Lions Club has booked its annual Speak Out student oratory contest for January and the Maine Health Access Foundation and Daughters of the American Revolution are scheduled to use the facility in the spring. We also have fielded inquiries from Skowhegan History House and the Friends of the Skowhegan Opera House. The shadow of COVID is slowly fading and more and more glimmers of normalcy are returning.

The last part of the puzzle to resolve in the post-pandemic new normal is how to handle large group events. The 2019 Maine Town Meeting drew 90 guests. We have hosted as many as 125 people, the year both Senators King and Collins appeared. That’s not viable in an era of social distancing. That means Zoom and hybrid meetings will continue even after pandemic precautions have lapsed. Because of the speaker’s work schedule and the uncertainty of winter weather in Maine, we have decided to go the Zoom route for the next Leeke-Shaw Lecture on International Affairs, which is scheduled for noontime on Friday, January 20th. You can find out more about that event and register for it by reading the announcement above.

After experimenting with the hybrid format for the 2022 Maine Town Meeting, my inclination is to return to a fully in-person event in 2023. The proliferating universe of viruses may wind up not making that possible, but that’s the plan for now. It’s time to come back together in person, even if we have to be distanced, or masked. That’s my workplace New Year’s resolution. I hope to see you at the Library sometime in the year to come. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays.

The 2022 United States Senate Youth Leadership Program finalists, organizers, judges, and Library staff.

The Lions Club “Speak Out” event in 2019.

Teachers researching and designing exhibits at a recent NHD in Maine workshop held earlier this month.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine 2023

Planning for the 2023 National History Day contest season is well underway! The plan continues to be a return to in-person events. Registration sites have been updated, contest dates and deadlines have been secured, and workshops and conferences have happened.

In October, I had the pleasure to attend the first in-person NHD State Coordinator Conference in nearly eight years. It was hosted by our NHD friends at the Minnesota Historical Society in Minneapolis. It was wonderful to finally be in the same room with many of my colleagues for the first time since the national contest was last held at the University of Maryland in 2019. Many ideas were exchanged and generated throughout the onslaught of sessions that occurred over a two day period. I was also asked to present with my peer from Washington state, Hanna Tofte, about building regional contests with affiliates. 

Earlier this month (December) the Library hosted a NHD teacher workshop for the very first time! The main focus was on exhibit design and building, but touched upon many aspects of the research process that can be applied to all NHD categories. This included discussions on the 2023 NHD theme (Frontiers in History), the research process, how to dissect primary sources, the process of writing a concise thesis statement, and how to approach and work with librarians and archivists while conducting research. I cannot thank Nicole Potter (see below to learn more about her experience) and Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council for all of their hard work in creating an eventful workshop that included various resources teachers can take back to their classrooms.

As for the 2023 contests, the dates are set! Bruce Whittier Middle School will hold their regional contest on February 15th. The Lewiston Regional will take place on March 3rd at Museum LA and the Bangor Regional will be on March 25th at John Bapst Memorial High School. This will all culminate in a return to UMaine on April 29th, 2023 for the State Contest. For more information you can visit our website or check out all our important dates and deadlines here. 

I am looking forward to my tenth season as the State Coordinator for NHD in Maine. I truly believe this will be our best year yet!

2023 MCSL Essay Contest

The Margaret Chase Smith Library is pleased to announce the topic of its twenty-seventh annual essay contest.

This year marks two very important anniversaries within the history of conservation and environmental protection. Interestingly both have a Maine connection.  It is the 60th anniversary (1962) since the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Carson, a biologist who spent summers studying the sea at her home in Southport Island, Maine, wrote the influential book that warned of the declining bird populations and environmental harm caused by pesticides and synthetic substances. In fact, her book is credited with kickstarting the modern global environmental movement. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act (1972). Introduced to Congress by Margaret Chase Smith’s colleague and fellow Maine Senator, Edmund Muskie, the legislation helped set the framework to regulate pollutants and quality standards in our waters. 

These two landmark events inspired many environmental milestones, but we are at a crossroads. It was recently reported that the years 2015 to 2022 are the eight warmest years on record. The consequences of this change in climate temperature include intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, melting polar ice caps, catastrophic storms, and declining biodiversity. If this continues, Generation Z will be the ones who will face the dire consequences. This is why the Margaret Chase Smith Library invites students to consider what the proper role of government should be in responding to the issues surrounding climate change.

For a more information and a full list of submission instructions you can click here.

Washington State Coordinator Hanna Tofte and John Taylor presenting at the NHD State Coordinator Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

John Bapst Memorial High School teacher Ben Hale constructing his exhibit on Senator Smith’s presidential campaign during our recent teacher workshop.

John Taylor could not contain his excitement to attend the recent State Coordinator Conference in Minnesota.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

Community Partnerships

Every year my colleagues answer my request for us to pool our money to purchase books for the annual book drive for Skowhegan Free Public Library. Each year I try to increase the number of books from the previous year. This year we were able to purchase 5, our largest donation to date. I spend time looking over the list and trying to find the right books for us to donate. The hope is when these books are checked out, the patron will notice our library and come visit us. Personally, the joy I feel getting us to come together as a staff to assist the public library is immense. I am grateful my colleagues indulge my request each year

The donated books from the MCSL staff included Our Town, American Sign Language for Beginners, If You Go Down to the Woods, I am Maine, and 50 states-500 Scary Places to Visit.

A sampling of the staff’s donation.

Recognition of the staff’s contribution to the Skowhegan Free Public Library.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Maine Archives and Museums Conference

As the newcomer to the Margaret Chase Smith Library, as well as to Maine, I was delighted to attend the Maine Archives and Museums (MAM) conference alongside John Taylor. The conference took place in-person at the University of Southern Maine back in October. It was wonderful to meet more colleagues in the field as well as to have the opportunity to learn from them. I heard from folks who have completed tasks that we here at the Margaret Chase Smith Library are considering or are currently undertaking, such as large scale cataloging projects and reimagining collection storage. There were also presentations on ways to reach remote patrons/researchers, on encouraging new audiences to visit your organization, and on how to interpret and utilize copyright law.  At the end of the day I came away from the MAM conference impressed and inspired by the work that libraries, archives, and museums across the state are engaged in. 

Temporary President Eisenhower Exhibit

The following month, November, a new temporary exhibition was installed at the Library. This exhibition, President Eisenhower and the Rangeley Lakes Region, is on loan to the Library from the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society, Rangeley, Maine. The materials featured in this exhibition center around Eisenhower’s trip to Maine in June 1955, which featured a fishing expedition in Rangeley. One of the highlights of the trip, and of the exhibition itself, is the friendship the president formed with his Maine Guide, Don Cameron. This exhibition will be on display at the Margaret Chase Smith Library through the beginning of May 2023 and do keep an eye out for future programming related to it.

Continued Immersion Into National History Day

Most recently, on December 2nd, 2023, the Margaret Chase Smith Library hosted a National History Day in Maine Advanced Teacher Workshop. For my part of the workshop, I presented to the attending teachers on how to contact and work with libraries, archives, and museums in order to access primary and secondary materials. Additionally, I assisted the teachers with their own research later that day. Since the start of the pandemic, the Library has not been hosting as many research groups as it once did. I am hopeful that we will soon see more student and outside groups at the Library engaging with our primary and secondary resources, either returning or new audiences. 

Nicole Potter taking inventory of the Eisenhower Exhibit.

John Taylor and Nicole Potter attended the Maine Archives and Museums Conference at the University of Southern Maine in early October.

The temporary Eisenhower Exhibit is now open!

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

September, 2022 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 38, No. 3

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The staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is anticipating the upcoming school year as the weather cools, the leaves turn color, and field trip season begins! It’s been a few years since we have experienced the hustle and bustle of school visits, but we are all excited to welcome students back. We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy as we continue to inch our way back to normalcy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down. Also highlighted are some photographs of events, projects, educational materials, or people that have been to our facility recently. Finally, check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

August 26 was a banner day, and not just because it was National Dog Day. Margaret Chase Smith Day was celebrated once again at the Library. It is at least the third iteration of such a celebration. The first one took place in 1977 to coincide with dedications of the Margaret Chase Smith Bridges over the Kennebec River and a Margaret Chase Smith rose garden at Coburn Park in Skowhegan. Over the years, the Skowhegan Community Action Group (SCAG) took over the event and kept it going until 2005. Along the way, the State of Maine proclaimed Margaret Chase Smith Days beginning in 1977 under Governor James Longley. The commemoration was codified as part of Maine Statutes a decade later during the administration of Governor Joseph Brennan.

Credit for the local revival of Margaret Chase Smith Day in 2022 goes to Evalyn Bowman. As a member of the Skowhegan Heritage Committee, she spearheaded the effort for the town select board to approve a proclamation and then worked with the Library staff to plan the event. Evalyn’s association with the Library goes all the way back to its origins. She attended the groundbreaking for the building in July 1981 and its dedication in August 1982. She was also one of the movers and shakers in SCAG.

As we cast about to select a date for the renewal of Margaret Chase Smith Day, we thought of the most important ones in her life. June 1st is when Senator Smith gave her historic “Declaration of Conscience” speech in 1950, but that is a busy time of year for the Library because of school field trips. December 14th is her birthday and the official commemorative date selected by the State of Maine in 1987. We used to host a celebration on that day, but the winter weather disrupted the plans on too many occasions to make it viable. We settled on August 26th, as it fell between the Skowhegan Fair and the start of school. More important, it is Women’s Equality Day, commemorating when the 19th amendment to the US Constitution gave women the right to vote.

Only later did I realize a second significance to the date. It turned out that August 26, 2022 marked the fortieth anniversary of the dedication of the Library. Reaching that milestone is a credit to a host of people: to Major General William Lewis, who as Senator Smith’s Executive Assistant had the vision to establish the facility after she left Congress; to NASA Administrator James Webb, who lent his support to the fundraising effort; to Merton Henry, who as the Senator’s personal attorney took care of the legalities of founding the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation and then served as its President for many years; to the co-founders of Northwood Institute, Gary Stauffer and Arthur Turner, who took on the building project and operation of the facility; to the staff members past and present, who have run the Library on a daily basis for the past four decades, and several of whom, Angela Stockwell, Joan Brown, and Lynnette King, were in attendance for the recent celebration; to the donors, who have lent their financial support over the years; and to the many friends, who continue to attend our events. Most of all, the Margaret Chase Smith Library is a credit to the life and legacy of its namesake. Many times this year, we have been reminded that Margaret Chase Smith’s achievements of opening doors for women, leading with conscience, supporting the exploration of space, and devoting herself to public service still have relevance today. May we continue to remember, and promote, those legacies until the next Margaret Chase Smith Day on August 26, 2023. Mark your calendars!

Evalyn Bowman at Margaret Chase Smith Day.

Margaret Chase Smith Library Dedication Plaque.

Former Library employees Joan Brown (far left) and Angela Stockwell (middle) at Margaret Chase Smith Day.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in 2023

Planning for the 2023 National History Day contest season has begun! I am excited for the potential return to in-person events. This will include both teacher workshops and contests. This year I hope to release a recorded introductory teacher workshop at the end of September. Then on November 4, NHD in Maine will host an advance teacher workshop at the Library for the very first time. The main focus will be on exhibit design and building, but will touch upon many aspects of the research process that can be applied to all NHD categories. This will include discussions on the 2023 NHD theme (Frontiers in History), the research process, how to dissect primary sources, the process of writing a concise thesis statement, and how to approach and work with librarians and archivists while conducting research. The goal is to give teachers many takeaways that can be implemented into the classroom. 

This workshop is for teachers familiar with the NHD program and the contest format. During the day teachers will be taken through a truncated version of creating a NHD exhibit. They will be randomly paired together and assigned a topic on Senator Margaret Chase Smith's life and career. As a group of two, teachers will work on identifying a "frontier" connected to their topic and begin the initial research process using the archives within the Margaret Chase Smith Library. They will then be expected to create a "working draft" of an exhibit by the end of the day.  A schedule of the full day can be found here, but is subject to change. A Google Form to sign up for the event will be sent to teachers in the near future and be available on our webpage.

As for the 2023 contests, the dates are set! Bruce Whittier Middle School will hold their regional contest in early February. The Lewiston Regional will take place on March 3 at Museuem LA and the Bangor Regional will be on March 25 at John Bapst Memorial High School. This will all culminate in a return to UMaine on April 29, 2023 for the State Contest. For more information you can visit our website or check out all our important dates and deadlines here. 

I am looking forward to the tenth season as the State Coordinator for NHD in Maine. I truly believe this will be our best year yet!

Changes to Our Timeline Exhibit

New updates have been made to our museum timeline. They include a new temporary exhibit space used to host small traveling or loaned exhibits and provide a place for one NHD in Maine student to highlight their research each year. Curator of Collections Nicole Potter and myself have also added a space showing off Senator Smith’s fashionable accessories including purses, hats, jewelry, and a shoe rainbow! Come by and see the new changes!

Taken at the last in-person NHD in Maine Teacher workshop at the Osher Library in November, 2019. We hope to build upon what we learned at the time to create an all immersive experience for teachers at our upcoming workshop this year.

Our new fashionable exhibit case!

Taken during our last in-person NHD state contest award ceremony in 2019! We all hope to make similar memories again in 2023.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

Community Partnerships

The slime program was tons of fun with over 75 in attendance. Slime in a variety of colors was created and taken home and only some of it ended up on the lawn. It is fantastic to be able to partner with the Skowhegan Free Public Library and other organizations within the community. I am looking forward to more events - slime programs included. However, no one escapes glitter. I found a little dolphin shaped glitter on my office floor the day after the event.

Collections Management

The cataloging of the collection in Past Perfect is slowly proceeding. While not as fast as we would hope, every bit forward feels great. As someone who loves to catalog, there is nothing quite as satisfying as putting as much information into a record as possible. I am aware that I am building on the work of previous individuals who have all added information from Senator Smith’s staff in Washington to various others including Vanessa Caron, Sheri Leahan, and of course, Angie Stockwell. The hard work of previous individuals makes my job easier. I know at some point someone else will carry on the task that Nicole and I are doing. As anyone who catalogs knows, there is always another update and database around the corner.

Library Milestones

The 40th Anniversary of the Library celebration in conjunction with Skowhegan’s Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day was a success. Prior to the festivities, one hundred straw rocket kits were created for kids to take home and assemble. During the event, packets of coloring pages from numerous moments in Senator Smith’s life were out for those who wished to color them. I am grateful to the Giffords Scoop Shack for selling their outstanding ice cream during our event and for the donation of the cornmeal blueberry desserts donated from Maine Grains. A special thank you to 1890 Primitives, the Bankery, and the Heritage House for their donations which provided us wonderful door prizes.

We had fun hosting a slime party and we value our partnership with the Skowhegan Free Public Library.

Dolphin glitter still being found!

The MCS Library’s 40th Anniversary!

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

Big things have been happening at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. Events, exhibition updates, and in-person researchers - oh my!

Community Scan Day
First - in-conjunction with Margaret Chase Smith Day, the Library co-hosted the first Community Scan Day in Skowhegan. The event was in partnership with the Skowhegan Public Library and Skowhegan History House. Community Scan Day is an opportunity for community members to have their family photos and documents digitized, at no cost, in an effort to preserve local history. 

Community members were encouraged to bring material related to the history of Skowhegan and/or the state of Maine. They were asked to bring no more than three items for digitization and the items cannot be larger than 12" x 17". Digitization is limited to photographic materials and paper documents. Participants received their scans via email after the event. With participants' permission, the scanned materials from this event may be hosted on the Maine Memory Network and included in a future temporary exhibition at the Margaret Chase Smith Library. 

We were thrilled with how many community members took us up on our offer and participated in the first Community Scan Day. A second one will be held at the Skowhegan Public Library on Friday, October 21st. We hope many more community members join us then!

New William C. Lewis, Jr. Section in the Museum
Second - I have been working alongside Museum Assistant John Taylor to update a portion of the Museum’s permanent exhibition. The section in question covers the life and impact of Major General William C. Lewis, Jr. (1912-1982). Lewis was Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s Executive Assistant. During his tenure, he maintained detailed records, managed her office, helped with legislation, worked as a strategist for her campaigns, and served as her closest confidant. He was instrumental in establishing the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation and Library. 

While previously Lewis was highlighted at the end of the timeline, right where the building transitions from the museum to Senator Smith’s historic house, his materials have been moved to a more centralized location close to the entrance to the facility. A new panel outlining Lewis’s life and his lasting contributions is currently being designed and will be placed on display later this autumn. 

More Researchers
Third - and final, the Library is delighted to host several in-person researchers this fall. This includes Dr. Neal Allen, Associate Professor of Political Science, Wichita State University, and A. Brad Schwartz, Princeton University. Allen is currently researching citizen opinion about firearms policy in the 1960s. Schwartz is working on his dissertation about Edward R. Murrow. We are looking forward to assisting both in their research and seeing how their respective projects turn out. 

Picture with the informational form patrons filled out during Community Scan Day.

MCS and Bill Lewis in Margaret’s living room, 1975.

Dr. Neal Allen from Wichita State University.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

June, 2022 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 38, No. 2

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Thank you for all the feedback on our new newsletter layout. It’s a hit. We look forward to continuing to provide updates about our work and facility using this format!

The staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is anticipating the warm weather this summer as we all take much needed vacations. It’s been a few years since most of us have extensively traveled for pleasure. We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy as we inch our way back to normalcy.

In this issue, you will learn about our recent library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down. Also highlighted are some photographs of events, projects, educational materials, or people that have been to our facility recently. Finally, check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

A while back, I took an online workshop on effective newsletters. The presenter made the point that readers want stories, not statistics. That’s good, because our numbers have been battered during the past two-plus years of pandemic. Fortunately, the Library began to blossom once again this spring in all four areas of its work: education, museum, archives, and public policy. Elsewhere in the newsletter, my colleagues will highlight activities in these areas.

The first story I want to share is about Jessica. When the REACH Afterschool Program in School Administrative District 54, which serves Skowhegan and surrounding towns, put out the call for community volunteers, the Library responded. I gave two presentations on Margaret Chase Smith at the school in town named in her honor. I also led a month-long family literacy series at Bloomfield Elementary School in May. That’s where I met Jessica and eleven other kindergarten through fifth graders and their families.

Jessica is an English Language Learner student and very shy. She and several of the younger participants barely even wanted to tell me their names. It reminded me of an insight offered by a teacher who brought a class to the Library for a field trip this spring. It’s not just that students have had two years of education disrupted, so too has their social development.

During our family literacy sessions, we read aloud with everyone invited, but not forced, to take a turn. I wasn’t surprised when Jessica passed on the first go round. When her turn came up again, however, I was pleased, and her teachers were amazed, as she began sounding out words, haltingly at first, but with increasing confidence as she progressed through the page.

I had another reminder of what raising the bar can do for young people when I received a letter from a teacher who has had students participate in the Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest for over a decade. Since 2009, Mr. Prest has shepherded prize-winning entries from first Acadia Christian School and then Highview Christian Academy. Although Taylor did not receive a prize, Mr. Prest wrote that she shed a “good tear” when she received the notification letter. He assured me that it wasn’t a tear of disappointment, but rather one of appreciation that an adult took the time to thank her for her effort and wish her well in the future.

It has been fulfilling to be able to engage with students more directly this school year. We offered virtual field trips during the pandemic as a necessity, but they are no replacement for an actual visit to Margaret Chase Smith’s home. There’s still a long way to go to define and refine the new post-COVID normal. My colleagues and I look forward to continue bringing the lessons and legacy of Senator Smith to young people, so that they might push a rising generation past whispers and tears and towards lives of aspirations, service, and success. As a recent donor, Evelyn Dearborn, put it: “Glad to know that the Library there is still thriving.”

Dr. Richards introduced students in the REACH Afterschool Program at the school in Skowhegan named after Margaret Chase Smith to the teenage version of her.

Simon Hall, a senior at Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, won first place in the 2022 Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest.

Eager students from Windsor Elementary School were one of the groups to visit the Library this spring.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine Regional and State Contests:

Another year of National History Day is nearly complete. This is my ninth season as coordinator of the pine state program. Once again, all contests were virtual this year, but the participation and enthusiasm has never waned. Topics ranging from jazz, the Aroostook War, the Holocaust, Ida B. Wells, and the Edwards Dam Removal all fit nicely into this year’s theme Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences. All participants from the Northern and Southern Regional contests were invited to participate in the State Contest this year. It was difficult for our volunteer judges, but decisions needed to be made. In the end, we have 35 students chosen to represent Maine at the national contest which will also be virtual this year. To see the state winners please visit our 2022 NHD in Maine Winner’s Showcase.

Aside from our best in state winners we also handed out a few special prizes including the Maritime History Award sponsored by the National Maritime Historical Society and the Women’s History Award sponsored by Amanda Taylor and the Margaret Chase Smith Library. Maritime winners received a year’s membership to the society and a cash prize. Women’s history winners received a Margaret Chase Smith bobblehead, biography, and cash prize.

National History Day Award Ceremony:

Over the last few years it has been difficult to create the same excitement that in-person contests provide. The same goes for the award ceremony. This year Kim Nelson and Nicole Potter helped me create a ceremony that went beyond a typical “PowerPoint” presentation that included me talking with a puppet Margaret Chase Smith and her dog Minnix. Between the three of us we created the script and then our duties were divided the following ways:
Kim: videographer
Nicole: puppeteer and editor
John: director and actor

It was refreshing to try something new and fun this year to break up the mundane structure of the virtual contest. You can check out our final product here.

National History Day National Contest:

As of this writing the national contest is currently happening. That means the final results are not available. What I can report is that one exhibit from Buckfield Jr/Sr High School will be displayed at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History and that a website from Bruce Whittier Middle School has been selected to be showcased by the Plant Word Museum. Final results will be available via our social media sites and our next newsletter.

National History Day in 2023:

It’s been another challenging year, but our sponsors, teachers, students, parents, judges, and staff have risen to the challenge once again. It’s been another successful year. In 2023, we will likely be in-person. I hope some of you will be willing to volunteer to judge. If you are an educator please be on the look out about upcoming teacher workshops in the fall.

The contest might have been virtual this year, but that didn’t stop some judges from meeting in person. Pictured here are Southern Regional judges Amanda Taylor and Joe Schmidt looking over websites, performances, and documentaries.

The MCSL staff wanted to make this year’s award ceremony a little more interesting and fun. They took time to take a selfie while filming in the atrium of the Library.

Button trading among affiliates at the national contest is a BIG DEAL. Along with medals, all the winners of the state contest received vintage buttons collected by State Coordinator John Taylor from different states throughout his years of attending the national contest at the University of Maryland.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

National History Day Judging:

National History Day was virtual again this year. I had the opportunity to not only judge regionals and the state contest in Maine, but I also judged regionals in Connecticut and Virginia. Currently, I have been promoted and I am assessing projects for the National contest. I am astounded at the creative ideas students come up with to meet the theme, and thoroughly enjoy participating in this contest. I urge others to consider judging in the future. The students will amaze you.

Virtual and In-Person Field Trips:

In March, we did our first virtual field trip via Zoom with close to 160 fourth grade students from Greely Middle School. It was certainly a challenge that allowed the staff to work collaboratively on how we could present information that was interesting and informative. We divided up sections of Senator Smith’s life and career and we switched back and forth between the staff as each presented objects and talked about our chosen sections in hopes of making the talk more appealing to students. Worksheets had been sent ahead of time to the students with the goal of keeping the students engaged. At the end of our time with the students, one student from each class asked the staff a question which allowed us to interact with the students and give the students a chance to speak.

We are now enjoying in-person school field trips. While many teachers are disappointed the flight suit has been moved for its protection and preservation, they are happy with our new changes. As a staff, we use worksheets I created that allow us to engage with students like never before. We added a new station where the students and I play Margaret Chase Smith Bingo as well as other activities. Nicole does a scrapbook worksheet while explaining various objects and the purpose of the archives. She also created a worksheet that allows students to write a caption for 3 photographs of Senator Smith. John has an additional worksheet where students find an object in the museum they like and describe in the hopes of honing their observational skills. The museum research scavenger hunt was updated to look like a graphic novel/comic strip and it keeps students busy in the museum while they search for the answers. David gives the house tour and has an opportunity at the end to talk with the students about Senator Smith’s wishes for students to follow their dreams and highlighting the idea of service to others. We also provide take home worksheets to extend their experience. Teachers told us that after their visit, they are using the virtual escape room I created during the pandemic located on the Library’s website page, to further the educational experience. The enthusiasm and excitement from teachers and students matches the staff’s thereby creating an interactive and engaging experience for all.

Professional Development:

Nicole Potter and I attended the 2022 Maine State Library Conference. It was wonderful to be surrounded by fellow librarians and feel rejuvenated as we talked about Intellectual Freedom, various programs, new technology, archives and more. I was able to spend some time with Harley Rogers who works at the award winning Fogler Library located on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono. Harley did research at the Library and a presentation involving Senator Smith for the 2019 Maine Town Meeting.

For me, the extreme highlight this year was to watch my long time friend Angie Herrick, former youth services librarian and now director of the Skowhegan Free Public Library, receive the MLA Librarian of the Year award. Angie and I were in the Information and Library Services program together at University of Maine at Augusta, and I am always in awe of the things Angie does for our community.

This leads me to mention that the Margaret Chase Smith Library will be working with the Skowhegan Free Public Library for one of their summer reading program events. On Tuesday, June 28 from 1:30-3:30, an Ocean of Slime event will be held outdoors on the Margaret Chase Smith Library grounds. Participants will make slime to take home. Rain date will be Thursday, June 30th also from 1:30-3:30. Please contact Skowhegan Free Public Library at 207-474-9072 for more information on their summer reading program and a list of free events. I am looking forward to working with Angie again and even better we will get to make some slime.

Harley Rogers and her Collaborative Recipe Poster at the 2019 Maine Town Meeting, Centennial of the Suffrage Movement, Legacy of Votes for Women.

Recently a student recreated the New Hampshire map used by Senator Smith during her campaign for the presidency in 1964.

2022 Maine Library Association Conference

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

One Year Anniversary:

I started at the Margaret Chase Smith Library as the Curator of Collections on Monday, June 14th, 2021. This means that I am rapidly approaching my one year anniversary at the Library. It’s been a year of many firsts, most recently my first time attending the Maine Library Association Conference. 

The Maine Library Association Conference took place at the Sunday River Resort and I was fortunate enough to attend with my colleague Kim. I was particularly interested in attending sessions associated with the academic interest group and the special collections and archives interest group. It was wonderful to hear about what’s happening in the Maine library community and to have the opportunity to talk with so many of my colleagues state-wide. Since I’m new to Maine and moved here during the pandemic, this was one of the first chances I had to meet other cultural heritage professionals. I came away with ideas for programming, new collection management techniques, and a renewed interest in collaborations across organizations. 

Since the conference, I have taken time to reflect on my first year at the Library and the projects that I have accomplished during that time. I’m particularly proud of our move to PastPerfect Online which has allowed the Library staff to gain further intellectual control over the collections. We are now working to add additional information to our existing PastPerfect records and we are making strides in transferring all of our existing records for the entirety of the Library’s collections into PastPerfect.

In my day-to-day, I have gained considerable confidence in working with the Library’s researchers and school groups. While I have worked with both types of patrons before at my previous institutions, I needed to become familiar with the Library’s collections and the legacy of Senator Smith in order to best serve these two groups. We just had our last two school groups of the year and I am proud of how I was able to engage with students who visited. Tangentially, answering research requests has become a smoother process as the year has gone by. 

Moving forward, I look forward to more in-person visits from students, researchers, and other parties interested in Senator Smith and the Library. I am eager to continue my work with the Library’s collections, both with the digital records associated with the materials and the physical materials themselves. And I can’t wait to tackle more large scale projects, which I’m sure are just around the corner. It’ll be a great second year for me here at the Margaret Chase Smith Library!

Speaking with students from Albion Elementary in the Research Room

Maine Library Association Logo

On March 14, the staff celebrated Pi Day. Nicole was in charge of doling out the pie.

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.

March, 2022 Newsletter

Margaret Chase Smith Library
Newsletter

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A Newsletter for Friends of the Library
Vol. 38, No. 1

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Welcome to our new newsletter layout!

The staff of the Margaret Chase Smith Library is anticipating the warm weather this upcoming spring season. Typically, this is an incredibly busy time period for us as field trips ramp up and National History Day in Maine begins. We hope by this time next year we will be going full-steam once again.

In this issue, you will find all the same information you did in our previous newsletter layout including library activities, educational opportunities, and various researchers and visitors. Each staff member has written what they have been doing over the last few months. Be sure to scroll all the way down. Also highlighted are some photographs of events, projects, educational materials, or people that have been to our facility recently. Finally, check out our up coming events section to see what’s on the horizon.

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Directions

by David Richards

Thank you for opening the link to the Library newsletter. Thank you if you are reading what the staff has to share about its activities, rather than just skimming. Thank you for checking out the website and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Thank you for attending the Library book group, Maine Town Meeting, and Leeke-Shaw Lecture. Thank you for visiting the Library and viewing the museum exhibits. Thank you for your research requests. Thank you for donating items to the collection. Thank you for giving to the annual fund. Thank you for all the ways you help keep the life and legacy of Margaret Chase Smith alive. During these tumultuous times, the principles of civics, civility, service, and aspirations she stood for are needed now more than ever.

I recently watched my umpteenth Zoom workshop since the pandemic began in March 2020. The topic was how nonprofits can communicate more effectively, particularly through newsletters. The main point was to speak directly to the audience, to you, instead of presenting a litany of we did thises and we did thats. Fortunately, the presenter allowed latitude and dispensation to directors, who are expected to write from the I/we perspective in their newsletter columns.

So, thank you to Darla Pickett for being a loyal member of the book group. Thank you to Admiral James Perkins, who Senator Smith appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1960. In gratitude he made a special trip to the Library in 2013 and left behind a generous donation. Thank you to Katie Ouilette. She was a frequent attendee at events and constant cheerleader for Skowhegan and Margaret Chase Smith. Thank you to Shirley Whittemore. She was also devoted to the community and admired Senator Smith. Shirley served for many years on the Skowhegan Community Action Group and Skowhegan Heritage Council. And thank you to Warren Shay. He was a regular annual fund supporter and as recently as last fall, was planning to hold a Maine Bar Association meeting at the Library.

Each of these friends of Margaret Chase Smith and her Library have passed away since December. Their losses will be felt. Will you help fill the void? Will you step up to assist the Library with your interest, your participation, and your support? Thank you!

Warren Shay attends memorial service for Margaret Chase Smith in May 1995.

Shirley Whittemore admires a weathervane presented by sculptor Barry Norling during Margaret Chase Smith Appreciation Day in October 1988.

Katie Ouilette presides over the refreshment table during the Skowhegan Heritage Council’s “Last Rose of Summer” tribute to Margaret Chase Smith in September 2016.

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Communication Corner

By John Taylor

National History Day in Maine:

The beginning of 2022 has been a busy one. The National History Day in Maine contest season has begun. The continuing safety of students, teachers, volunteers, and staff is top priority. Therefore, it has been decided that all NHD in Maine events will once again be virtual. This will include our two regional contests, the state event, and the national competition.  Yet, there is a glimmer of hope to see some students and their projects in person. We do anticipate an in-person award ceremony or banquet for the state contest winners, their teachers, and their parents filled with lots of activities on the UMaine campus. For a more comprehensive schedule of the contest season you can visit our website or view our general schedule.

With contests looming that also means we are in need of volunteer judges to assess student work and provide constructive feedback to better improve their projects as they move forward. You may be asking, “who can judge?” We are looking for teachers, professors, historians, museum professionals, or anyone with a substantial interest in history to serve as judges. Anyone interested is welcome to serve as a judge, no prior experience is necessary, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Please pass this along and encourage your colleagues and friends to participate this year too!

The 2022 judging schedule is as follows:
Southern Lewiston Contest Judging: March 7-11
Northern Bangor Contest Judging: March 21-25
University of Maine State Contest Judging: April 20-27

Registration is easy and you can participate in multiple contests. Click the registration link on our webpage for the contest you want to judge, go to “create an account” at the top right, choose “judge” in the dropdown menu, and follow the instructions. It’s that easy. For further instruction or to sign up for multiple contests using one account please reference our  2022 Virtual Judging Guide. Any questions comments, or concerns please contact me at john.m.taylor@maine.edu.

Emergency Management and Preparedness:

In the summer of 2019, I took a course hosted by the Smithsonian Institute called Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART). I and many of my museum and archive colleagues in Maine learned all about disaster preparedness and emergency response pertaining to the protection of our collections at our respective institutions. Essentially, HEART training taught me to begin assessing potential emergency scenarios, conduct training exercises for staff members, to create a quick reference guide filled with important phone numbers, directions, and information for all employees, write a detailed emergency plan, and build and strategically place emergency response kits throughout the Library. Of course 2020 hit the breaks on a lot of things, and putting what I learned into practice was one of them. After a bit of a delay, much of this has been addressed. The emergency plan is going through the final stages of editing, staff training has begun and will continue, the reference guides have been completed, and the emergency response kits are now in place.

Hopefully, the Library will never face an event that would hurt our archival collection or facility. We can never be 100 percent prepared for an emergency or threat, but it is comforting to know we have some safeguards, plans, and tools in place to address the situation if it ever happens.

MCSL Staff were recently given an overview of emergency preparedness and essential safety gear.

Positively impact a Maine student’s education and love of history. We want you to be a judge!

Our emergency kits and carts have been packed with essential supplies and placed throughout the facility.

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learning Lounge

by Kim Nelson

New Book Project:

Recently, the Margaret Chase Smith Library updated its software. This update created many projects which is exciting for me as I get to use some of my library skills. Information pertaining to the books in the library’s collection is one of the first projects being done. This involves physically looking at the book and noting the condition, taking photographs of the book, and marking its location. All details that might be of interest are being put in the new software. Eventually, all this information will link together by subject, person donating the book, author, etc. It’s clear how some books made it into the collection while others remain a mystery, but all of this information will assist the Library in providing researchers more resources and allow the staff to preserve items that need to be protected. I chose the three books below due to my interest in each of them to highlight this month.

Upcoming Virtual Field Trip:

The library is preparing for its first virtual field trip. Trying to make it a bit more interactive, I have created worksheets that will be sent ahead of time to the teachers for the students to use during our time together. The staff will be presenting groups of objects from our collection based on a theme from the “She Persisted” book series. The object timeline form will be used by students to write down what they find interesting with each set of groupings presented by each member of the staff. As the staff transitions from the archive to the house near the end of the event, students will fill out a scrapbook page about themselves while they wait for us to virtually return. It is our hope that these worksheets will assist students in staying engaged during this unique field trip.

Speaking of Friendship published in 1974 by Hallmark has a quote by Margaret Chase Smith “Friendship is measured in terms of silent acts than in terms of effusive words…in understanding of differences… and in times of difficulties.”

This book, Gems of Prayer, from 1922 seems to be given to Carrie M. Chase from her daughter, Margaret.

The last book The Republic of Plato was chosen due to its age being published in March 1906.

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Research Roundup

by Nicole Potter

New Exhibit:

The staff at the Margaret Chase Smith Library is excited to announce a new exhibition, Political Peers: Covering Senator Smith’s Colleagues. This exhibition showcases autographed magazine covers on loan from David Leigh. 

Leigh, a former teacher and principal, spent decades encouraging students to write to national and international leaders. This practice helped students contextualize the personalities they had read about in their textbooks. Students from Forest Hills High School, Machias Memorial High School, and Messalonskee High School, would ask basic questions about the careers of these notable individuals and request them to autograph a cover of a popular news magazine that they were featured on. 

Countless covers were autographed and returned to students over the decades. The covers date back to 1938 and students received responses from twenty-three nations. Senator Magaret Chase Smith was a supporter of this project. She helped students connect with world leaders, gave a personal interview in response to a student’s request, and signed a copy of the 1960 Time Magazine cover featuring her and Lucia Cormier during a 1990 Women’s History Month celebration at the Muskie Center, Waterville, ME. 

Political Peers: Covering Senator Smith’s Colleagues features covers signed by political contemporaries of Senator Margaret Chase Smith. The covers are accompanied by photographs from the Margaret Chase Smith Library’s collections that feature Senator Smith with her fellow Senators. These photographs show the various politicians engaging in casual conversation, posing for photo opportunities, and in attendance at meetings. The pairing connects the Senator’s autographed magazine covers with the work they did in office as well as their connections with Senator Smith. 

The exhibition will be on display starting March 14th, 2022, and we encourage everyone to make an appointment to come view it. March 14th is also Maine Museum Day and the start of New England Museum week, there’s no better way to celebrate than to visit your local museum or historical society. Additionally, keep an eye out on the Library’s social media accounts for a digital exhibition component coming later this month.

Researchers:

While the majority of researchers are still contacting and working with the Margaret Chase Smith Library remotely, the Library was able to host one in-person researcher recently. David Ballard is a student at the University of Maine Farmington and is currently working on his thesis. His research centers around the public opinion of Senator Margaret Chase Smith between the years 1968 and 1972. He conducted his in-person research over three days and the Library staff was able to provide him with hundreds of documents to aid his work. We are thrilled that David was able to utilize our resources and we can not wait to read his final paper.

Senate Minority Conference, Washington, DC
Circa September 1969

Time Magazine , September 5th, 1960 
On loan from David Leigh 
Autographed by Margaret Chase Smith

Researcher David Ballard at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, February 2022

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Upcoming events

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The MCSL is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711.