Genealogy
Genealogical research related to Portland area family histories is among the most frequent uses of Portland Room materials. Our genealogy sources are focused on the Greater Portland region, though we also continue to develop our collection of town histories throughout Maine, printed vital records, and the best in online resources. The Portland Room staff conserves archival artifacts and offers an array of documentation about the life of Portland including its residents, activities, businesses, and the physical attributes of the city. The Portland Room staff manages the Portland Room, which is a welcoming research space, and is an active community partner with local researchers, educators, archivists, historians, and educational institutions serving all age groups to preserve and tell Portland’s narrative history.
Portland Room Hours:
Monday: 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10am – 2pm
Thursday and Friday: 1pm – 5pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Please join us for a roundtable visit with some of the treasures from Portland Public Library’s Special Collections and Archives in the Portland Room. We’ll look at and talk about rare books, maps, prints, and manuscripts. You’ll also be introduced to the department itself, and how the story of the Greater Portland area is documented and preserved through these archival materials.
Learn More »
PPL offers many sources for your genealogy research, via the Library’s Portland Room. In addition to books, periodicals, and microfilms- here is a list of web sites you can freely access from outside the Library.
Learn More »PPL offers two premier online tools to investigate family histories:
Search AncestryLibrary.com for census, immigration and other family records. Available only within the library.
HeritageQuest offers genealogy information, including census data, local history articles, revolutionary war records and more. Available in the library, or from home with your library card number.
For a list of other free resources, please click here
Learn More »For a list of online, free resources, please click here
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Contact the Librarian
Special Collections Librarian & Archivist
207-871-1700 x747
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