Collection Overview
The library and archive collections, located at the Old York Research Center at 96 Beech Ridge in York, focus on the rich history of York Village, York Harbor, York Beach, and Cape Neddick. Of particular note are the personal papers of local civic and business leaders, deeds, town and church records, account books and business records, and photographs.
Books
The collection includes over 7,000 printed books and pamphlets about York history and related subjects. Subject areas in addition to York history include general Maine history, decorative and fine arts; and landscape gardening. The Research Center also houses a collection of 600 rare books including memoirs, early textbooks, sermons, Sunday school books, and novels from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
Manuscripts
The manuscript collection includes many original sources such as diaries, correspondence, account books, scrapbooks, ships’ logs, architectural and engineering drawings, as well as the personal and business papers of individuals and organizations. The collection contains more than 5,000 processed items.
Highlights of the collection include: the Elizabeth Bishop Perkins collection, the Bragdon-Brooks family papers, the Emerson family papers, the George Ernst genealogy collection, the Lester Bragdon collection, the George Marshall papers, the Charles Edward Banks papers, and the Nowell-Trafton-Woodward papers.
Photographs
The Research Center contains more than 10,000 photographs related to the history of York and its residents. It includes the photographic collections of Douglas Armsden, Emma Lewis Coleman, Angevine Gowen, Patrick Grace, Henry Harding, Elizabeth Bishop Perkins, Frederick Butler Quimby, Melville Munro Smith, and many others.
Visiting the Research Center
The Research Center is open weekdays year round by appointment. Before making an appointment, please send your research request to research@oldyork.org. You can review our research guidelines HERE.
Image Use
Interested in using our images? Please click HERE to view our 2025 Digital Image Use Policy. The fees assessed for digital reproduction and use fund the administration, care, preservation, and processing of the documents and photographs in our collection.
York History Digital Archive: 100 years of York newspapers are now online via the York Public Library, and can be accessed HERE.
SPECIAL NOTE regarding genealogy research: Old York has transferred the majority of its genealogy materials to the York Public Library in order to make these materials more accessible to the public. The York Public Library in York Village is open six days a week. To see a list of genealogy materials there, please visit the library’s website. You may also call the Reference Librarian at 207-363-2818.
Schedule an Appointment
Please contact:
Kaitlyn Fitzgerald
Archivist
207-361-3556
research@oldyork.org
Our Newsletter
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Become A Member
Support Old York Historical Society and get access to exclusive membership benefits.