The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston, Maine

Lewiston Public Library

200 Lisbon St.
Lewiston, Maine 04240

https://lplonline.org/

(Under the Library Service tab, you will see Genealogy and Library Services listed. I've included the library images of these sections below.)

In September, my husband was anxious to use the Lewiston Library because he has ancestors from the area. Since it is in the center of the city, and on a major corner, I was worried about parking, but we got a spot right in front, however, to enter, we had to walk to the opposite side of the library. (Photo of entrance is at the end of this post.)

Main reference desk, from this location we were guided upstairs to the genealogy area.

Facing the Reference desk, the genealogy room is on the right. On the left side is a lovely computer room. Several librarians working there knew their holdings.

My husband signing in.

The knowledgeable staff member looking up something for my husband in the genealogy room. Three photos below were taken in this room. There is an archives area but is off-limits to the public. The librarian did retrieve some material for Bill.

The reference area computer room, next to the genealogy room.

Plenty of books on the 2nd floor.

Entrance to the library. The street below is Lisbon Street (sliver of library shown on the lower right side).

The original library has the green roof, and the new addition has the white roof.

Genealogy

Trying to track down branches of your family tree? Our local genealogy collection has many sources of information to help. The following are just some of the sources we offer. Please also see our Lewiston History resources. The Maine State Library also has a great collection of genealogical materials and services.

Materials (books & electronic files)

Genealogy Reference Print Material: Listing of our in house materials.
City directories beginning in 1883. Available upon request at the Reference Desk. Our physical collection has a gap from 1897 to 1931. A number of the directories in this span are available on Ancestry.com, accessible from within the library building.
Cemetery records for 30 area cemeteries. List and map of Lewiston cemeteries. Here are the Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society’s cemetery records for the area.
- St. Peter and Paul Cemetery records: 1870 – 1992
- Riverside Cemetery records: 1805 – 1996
- Mt. Hope Cemetery records: 1884 – 1999
- 26 Smaller Area Cemeteries (dates vary)
- Lewiston Burials: 1922-1934 (city clerk’s records)
- Lisbon Burials includes:
  - St. Cyril & Methodius
  - St. Ann
  - Mt. Calvary
- Maine Old Cemetery Association record for Kennebec County
Marriage records
- St. Peter and Paul Marriages: 1869-1970
- Lisbon Marriages includes:
  - St. Cyril & Methodious
  - St. Ann
  - Holy Family
- American-Canadian-Marriages: 1599-1984 14 Mb file
Other records
- Lisbon Baptism records includes:
  - St. Cyril & Methodius
  - St. Ann
  - Holy Family
- Androscoggin County Naturalization Records 1931-1944
- Ancestors of New England Families: Surname List; Marriages from Canadian Parishes with American Descendants

Online Services

We offer Ancestry.com (in-library use only) and Heritage Quest for online genealogy searches. Both are excellent and comprehensive resources. Learn more on the Genealogy Digital Services page.

Lewiston History

We have historical & genealogical resources on Lewiston, Androscoggin County, and Maine. The non-genealogical materials are detailed below; please see our Genealogy page for those resources.

Lewiston Newspapers

Evening Journal, Daily Sun, & Sun Journal

Lewiston’s first newspaper, The Evening Journal, was begun in 1861. The Daily Sun started publishing in 1896. These two papers combined in 1989 to become the current paper, The Sun Journal. We have the complete print runs of all three papers on microfilm. The microfilm can be browsed here in the library by anyone. However, it is not indexed or searchable by keyword.

Google Newspaper Archive

Google has scanned and indexed many, but not all, of these newspapers. Those archives are available from anywhere:

Other Local Newspapers

Also on microfilm, we hold the complete print runs of:

The Maine Times (1968 – 1976)
Le Messager (1880 – 1968)

Lewiston Collection (digital resources)

Our Digital Archives has over 5000 images of historical Lewiston/Auburn, as well as 10,000 references to various topics in local media during the past 150 years.

Lewiston Collection (physical materials)

The Lewiston collection is an amazing collection portraying the history of the city through various documents such as:

City and County Directories
Bates College Theses
The Franklin Company papers
scrapbooks
personal accounts
reports & records of organizations

Browse the Lewiston Collection

Related materials

Flood Information pertaining to Lewiston. This documentation is kept and made available per FEMA requirements.
The extensive Maine Collection has more materials related to all portions of Maine.
Franklin Company Collection
“History of Androscoggin County,” 1886, Online version from A gazetteer of the state of Maine, by Geo. J. Varney (also available in print form in the library).

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