How to Search the Maine State Archives Digital Collections

Explore thousands of historical records, photographs, military documents, maps, reports, correspondence, and government records in the Maine State Archives digital collections.

Start here:
Maine State Archives Digital Collections

The site allows you to:

  • Search by keyword or phrase
  • Filter records by subject, collection, type, language, and more
  • Browse records visually or as a list
  • Narrow results using advanced search criteria
  • Sort records by relevance, title, or year

Getting Started

Basic Search

Use the “Search full text” box to search for:

  • Names of people
  • Towns or counties
  • Military regiments
  • Historical topics
  • Dates
  • Keywords

Examples:

  • 20th Maine Regiment
  • Lewiston
  • Alien Registration
  • Gettysburg
  • WWII

After typing your search, click Search.

Using Filters

Filters appear on the left side or near the top of the results page.

Common Filters

  • Subjects
  • Document Type
  • Collections
  • Language
  • Record Type

Active filters appear at the top of the page so you can see exactly what is limiting your results.

Advanced Search

Use Advanced Search to combine multiple criteria and narrow results more precisely.

  • Select a field
  • Choose a search condition
  • Add multiple criteria

Examples:

  • Subject contains Civil War
  • Collection equals 20th Maine Regiment
  • Type equals Text

Sorting Results

  • Relevance
  • Title (A–Z)
  • Title (Z–A)
  • Year (Oldest to Newest)
  • Year (Newest to Oldest)

Display Options

  • List — detailed text results
  • Timeline — chronological view
  • Gallery — image-focused browsing
  • Map — browse geographically

Search Tips

Start Broad

Begin with simple keywords and narrow results using filters.

Try Alternate Spellings

Historical records may contain older spellings or abbreviations.

Use Collection Filters

Filtering by collection can dramatically improve search accuracy.

Remove Filters if Needed

If results disappear, clear filters and broaden your search.

Example Searches

Military Records

20th Maine Regiment

Immigration Records

Alien Registration

Historical Photographs

photographs

Understanding Record Pages

Individual records may include:

  • Title
  • Description
  • Subjects
  • Collection name
  • Dates
  • Related people or places
  • Downloadable images or documents