Annual Meeting and Conference

Maine Archives and Museums holds an annual conference each fall with professional development sessions, rousing plenary presentations, networking, and more. The annual meeting of MAM's membership also takes place at this time--this is your chance as a MAM member to vote on new officers or changes in policy, or to address issues that affect the organization and its membership.

The conference offers a mixture of sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and a dynamic keynote address that will leave you feeling recharged, connected, and inspired with new ideas to assist you in the care and management of your collecting institution.

Also check out our other event offerings throughout the state throughout the year!

Or see the list of previous conferences to get an idea of where we've hosted them and who has presented what topics in the last few years.

Maine Archives & Museums Annual Conference 2023

Please plan to join us for Maine Archives & Museums' Annual Conference, Friday, October 13, 2023 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle!

This year's conference will focus on the theme "Maine Beyond Borders: Overcoming Barriers" and include a keynote presentation from Paul Buck, Associate Professor of History and Education at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Professor Buck will examine the different perspectives of Maine statehood and of Maine culture as seen through the prism of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which definitively established the boundary between British North America and the United States.

This year's annual conference will include inspirational and educational sessions, a track for for small organizations, networking opportunities, and more! The conference schedule will be anchored by a plenary presentation by John Dennis, a Mi'kmaq language keeper and educator, who will speak on his efforts to preserve tribal cultural heritage.

MAM's annual conference is presented by HistoryIT, host sponsored by Acadian Archives/Archives Acadiennes at the University of Maine, Fort Kent and The Cultural Alliance of Maine, and sponsored by The Atlantic Black Box Project. Become a sponsor or an exhibitor by reviewing the conference sponsorship opportunities here and contacting MAM's Interim Executive Director.

Please join us in historic Presque Isle or attend online!

Hybrid Conference

If you can’t join us in person, you can attend the Friday sessions online. This is a hybrid conference, and all sessions will be live-streamed to online attendees.

Conference Schedule

The conference will feature twelve presentations by your Maine Archives and Museums colleagues, with an emphasis on the theme of overcoming barriers and including two sessions geared toward all volunteer organizations.

Click here to view the Conference Schedule.

Opening Reception

The Presque Isle Historical Society invites conference attendees to an opening reception on Thursday, October 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, designated a "Distinctive Designation" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There will be time to get to know other conference attendees over drinks and snacks, as well as optional tours. No cost to attend.

Click here to view the Opening Reception Invitation.

Hotel Info

The Northeastland Hotel is offering a discounted rate of $103 per night for queen or double bed rooms while availability lasts. This hotel is newly renovated and features an upscale restaurant in the lobby. Please call the hotel (207-768-5321) to reserve a room and say you are attending the Maine Archives & Museums conference to receive the discounted rate.

The Hampton Inn has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate of $179 per night. To reserve a room please call the hotel (207-760-9292) and have your address, email address, phone number, and credit card at the ready. Or click on this Booking Link and enter your reservation dates as necessary at the top of the booking page.

Conference Sponsors

HistoryIT (Presenting Sponsor)

Acadian Archives / Archives Acadiennes (Host Sponsor)

The Cultural Alliance of Maine (Host Sponsor and Exhibitor)

The Atlantic Black Box Project (Gold Sponsor and Exhibitor)

Things to Do in Presque Isle

Visitor Guide

Maysville Museum Invitation

Presque Isle Haunted Lantern Tour

Members: log in first to access discounted registration rates. If you have trouble logging in, email info@mainemuseums.org.

Registration and more info

Switch to Calendar View

2023 Fall Conference

Start
12 Oct 2023

7:00 PM

End
13 Oct 2023

5:15 PM

Location
University of Maine Presque Isle, Presque Isle, Maine

Register

Maine Archives and Museums Conference

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums invites you to join us
in Presque Isle, Maine for its annual conference on the theme
"Maine Beyond Borders: Overcoming Barriers"

Keynote Speaker: Paul Buck

Paul Buck is a Professor of History and Education at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. He has a doctorate in U.S. and Canadian history from the University of Maine. a is proficient in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Wolof.

Paul will speak to the conference theme of Maine Beyon Borders: Overcoming Barriers by examining the different perspectives of Maine statehood and of Maine culture as seen through the prism of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which definitively established the boundary between British North America and the United States.

Paul will explore the treaty and its impact on the singular Acadian and Francophone community of the St. John Valley, which found itself split into two countries. Paul will give historical context as well, most certainly commencing with the long-standing Maliseet and Mi’kmaq communities of the region, along with Scots-Irish and, by the 1820s, of Maine Yankee residents

Plenary Speaker: John Dennis

The plenary speaker is John Dennis, a Mi'kmaq language keeper and educator.

Opening Reception
The Presque Isle Historical Society will welcome us to Presque Isle by hosting a reception on Thursday, October 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, at the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, a two-story Victorian house given the designation of “Distinctive Destination” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Read more here: Opening Reception Flyer.
Event Program

In addition to a keynote presentation by Paul Buck and a plenary session presentation by John Dennis, the conference program will feature twelve presentations by your Maine Archives and Museums colleagues, with an emphasis on the theme of overcoming barriers and including two sessions geared toward all volunteer organizations. Click here to view the conference program.

Hotel Information

The Northeastland Hotel is offering a special rate of $103 per night for queen or double bed rooms while availability lasts. This hotel is newly renovated and features an upscale restaurant in the lobby. Please call the hotel (207-768-5321) to reserve a room and say you are attending the Maine Archives & Museums Conference.

The Hampton Inn has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate of $179 per night. Please call the hotel (207-760-9292) to reserve a room and have your address, email or phone number, and credit card at the ready. Or click on this Booking Link and edit the reservation dates as necessary at the top of the page.

Transportation

Attendees may share carpooling information on this spreadsheet.

There will be free trolley service between the conference and three local hotels (The Northeastland Hotel, Hampton Inn, and SureStay by Best Western).

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