Welcome to the online digital collection of the Maine State Archives, a bureau within the Department of the Secretary of State. We maintain approximately 8 miles of official state records (both paper and digital) that are deemed permanently valuable. These records include bills introduced in the Legislature, reports from the Governor's Executive Council, election returns, deeds and maps from the Maine Land Office, vital statistics prior to 1892, federal census records up to 1880, county court records dating back to 1636, and military records through World War I, among others.
As of March 1, 2026, our online collection includes over one million individual records. The Maine State Archives will continue to expand this database as we digitize more of our collection. All documents are public records and are free to download. To begin your search, check the following sources:
- Digital Archives Portal: Open Access - online digital collection of the Maine State Archives.
- ArchivesSpace Public Interface: Use this database to search through the archival findings aids, collection structures, and descriptions of physical and digital records managed by the bureau.
- Maine Memory Network: A digital history platform featuring specific exhibits, historical photographs, and selected primary documents contributed by the Maine State Archives.
- Family Search: FamilySearch is the world’s largest free genealogy resource.