Collections

Our collection includes over 10,000 photographic prints, daguerreotypes, tintypes, glass plate negatives, and postcards of local and regional interest. It extends from the early days of photography in the 1840s to the present day and includes 240 photographs, recently discovered, of Dow Air Force Base.

The Museum is also the custodian of the large Quipus collection of historic clothing. The ladies of the Quipus Club were active in Bangor from 1918 to the present and in 1999 they donated their collection to us. It exceeds some 800 garments, and includes splendid examples of gowns, walking suits, day and evening dresses, hats, handbags and shoes from the nineteenth century to the late twentieth century.

The organization is also entrusted with the care of an extraordinary collection of Civil War artifacts. Much of it came to us from the Grand Army of the Republic through their successor organization the Sons of Union Veterans. This historic organization gave the trusteeship of their GAR Memorial Building, the Thomas A. Hill House to the Museum.  There are also important Civil War artifacts and archival materials from many Bangor families, including an apothecary chest, a sword of Joshua Chamberlain's, several letters written by Union soldiers, diaries, personal papers, and swords belonging to Daniel Chaplain. Our archival collection includes letters written by Joshua Chamberlain and Hannibal Hamlin.

Research Services

 

BMCH offers reproductions of photographs and postcards from our vast collection. Prices range from $8 for 5x7 laser prints to $26 for llx14 photographic prints. The most popular collection used for this series is the "Assessor's Collection." It contains photographs of many of Bangor's homes and business taken in the 1930s and 1940s.
The museum also offers general research service for $10 per hour. We do not research outside our own archives.