Begin with one keyword
A compact term such as statehood, moose, or lakes usually provides a clearer starting point.
Reference tool
Suggested Search Terms
Start with focused keywords for Maine’s buildings, history, landscapes, recreation, economy, society, government, and counties.
Search the collection
Try one precise term first.
Enter a keyword without punctuation. If the result is too broad, add a second word or try one of the connected terms below.
Before you search
Three useful habits
The terms on this page reflect recurring language within the archive. Result totals can change as entries are reviewed or added.
Keep joined terms together
Use forms such as civilwar, greekrevival, and androscoggincounty when shown below.
Move from broad to narrow
Start with history or ecology, then refine the search with a place, feature, event, or style.
Keyword directory
Browse suggested terms
Select a group or scan the complete directory. Descriptions explain special spellings and the material a term is likely to reveal.
Architecture and historic places
Styles, building types, landmarks, and decorative traditions.
baroqueBaroque architecture
capestyleCape and Cape Cod styles
chateChateauesque architecture
colonialstyleColonial style
colonialrevivalColonial Revival style
craftsmanstyleCraftsman style
federalstyleFederal style
georgianGeorgian, Georgian Revival, and Neo-Georgian
gothicGothic and Gothic Revival styles
greekrevivalGreek Revival
italianateItalianate architecture
queenanneQueen Anne style
romanesqueRomanesque architecture
secondempireSecond Empire style
shinglestyleShingle style
stickstyleStick style
victorianVictorian and Victorian Gothic
landmarkRecognized historic and local landmarks
stencilsHistoric interior decoration
farmhousesFarmhouse buildings
barnsBarns and agricultural structures
History
Wars, historic properties, place names, disasters, and notable subjects.
statehoodEvents, places, and people associated with statehood
abandonedAbandoned places and structures
nameoriginOrigins of place names
cattlepoundsHistoric cattle pounds
civilwarUnited States Civil War
revolutionarywarRevolutionary War
congressionalmedalCongressional Medal of Honor; see Veterans
destroyedHistoric structures lost to fire, flood, and other events
greatfiresMajor downtown, village, and forest fires
greatfloodsFloods associated with widespread damage
nationalregisterNational Register buildings, houses, and districts
historichousesHistoric houses
historicdistrictsNational Register historic districts
historicchurchesChurches, meetinghouses, and chapels
churchesChurches, including historic examples
worldwarsWorld War I and World War II
Ecology
Water, coast, forests, wildlife, geology, climate, and protected land.
lakesLakes and related places
riversRivers and watersheds
wildlifeMaine wildlife
mooseMoose and place names containing “moose”
moosephotoPhotographs of or about moose
coastalCoastal environments and communities
mountainsMountains and uplands
islandsCoastal and inland islands
forestsForests and woodland topics
firesMajor fires and related events
forestfiresForest fires
naturepreservesPreserves, sanctuaries, and refuges
northmainewoodsThe managed access region and associated townships
publiclandMaine Public Reserved Lands
climateClimate patterns and records
climatechangeMaterial concerning climate change
geologyGeology and landforms
waterfallsWaterfalls
wildflowersWildflower entries
Recreation
Parks, trails, camping, paddling, beaches, and sports.
baxterparkBaxter State Park, campgrounds, and hiking trails
appalachiantrailAppalachian Trail
hunttrailHunt Trail and the route to Katahdin’s summit
trailAppalachian Trail and local trails
campingCamping and campgrounds
canoetripsCanoe and rafting trips
hikingHiking routes and trails
coastalbeachesBeaches on the ocean, bays, and islands
inlandbeachesBeaches on lakes, ponds, and rivers
parksMunicipal and state parks
stateparksMaine State Parks
puzzlesCrossword puzzles
athleticsSports and championships
Economy
Work, resources, industries, income, and transportation.
agricultureFarms, farmhouses, and silos
economyBroad economic subjects
employmentEmployment and labor
fisheriesCommercial and community fisheries
paperPaper production and related places
quarriesQuarries and stone industries
lumberLumber and forest products
loggingLogging history and work
incomeIncome data and topics
inventorsInventors connected with Maine
industryIndustries and economic activity
industrialIndustrial facilities and subjects
transportationRoad, rail, water, and air transportation
airportsAirports and aviation facilities
Society
Culture, education, health, population, communities, and public safety.
crimeCrime and public safety
deathpenaltyDeath penalty and capital punishment
culturalCultural resources
theartsMurals, theater, stencils, sculpture, and related arts
educationEducation in Maine
academiesHistoric and current academies
authorsAuthors associated with Maine
librariesLibraries and their histories
schoolsSchools, including academies
healthHealth subjects and institutions
vitalstatisticsVital statistics
influenzaThe 1918 influenza and related chronology
coronavirusArchived material concerning COVID-19
epidemicsInfluenza, coronavirus, and other epidemics
populationCensus material for towns, cities, plantations, and other areas
indianHistoric archive terminology for Indigenous and tribal topics
africanamericansAfrican American history in Maine
francoamericansFranco-American history and culture
Government
Constitutional, legislative, judicial, electoral, and political history.
constitutionPrimarily the Maine Constitution
electionsElection history and records
courtsCourts and judicial subjects
legislatureThe Maine Legislature
legislatorsNotable former members of the legislature
presidentialvisitsVisits made during or outside a presidential term
ussenateFormer and serving senators, plus Senate references
uscongressCongressional members and references
governorsMaine’s governors
politicalpartiesParties, selected platforms, and electoral subjects
party platformUse both words to locate party platforms
statebudgetState budget material
Counties
Join each county name into one word, or see the county map.
androscoggincountyAndroscoggin County
aroostookcountyAroostook County
cumberlandcountyCumberland County
franklincountyFranklin County
hancockcountyHancock County
kennebeccountyKennebec County
knoxcountyKnox County
lincolncountyLincoln County
oxfordcountyOxford County
penobscotcountyPenobscot County
piscataquiscountyPiscataquis County
sagadahoccountySagadahoc County
somersetcountySomerset County
waldocountyWaldo County
washingtoncountyWashington County
yorkcountyYork County
coastalCoastal communities and islands
Search by place
Use counties as geographic filters.
County terms can help narrow a broad subject to a specific part of Maine. Type the county name and “county” as one joined keyword, exactly as listed above.
For a visual route into geographic material, begin with the county map.
See the county mapFAQ
Searching effectively
Quick guidance for using keywords and interpreting the directory.
Should I type one word or several?
Begin with one term. Add a second term only when the first search is too broad or you want to combine a subject with a place.
Why are some terms written without spaces?
Joined terms reflect useful keyword forms found throughout the archive. Enter forms such as “civilwar” or “statebudget” exactly as shown.
Are result totals fixed?
No. The number of matching entries can change as the reference collection is reviewed, corrected, or expanded, so this page emphasizes useful terms rather than fixed totals.
How do I search within a county?
Use the county name joined with “county,” such as “hancockcounty.” You can also browse the county map.
Can I search for architectural styles?
Yes. Try a specific style such as “italianate,” “queenanne,” or “greekrevival.” Broader terms such as “landmark” and “barns” can reveal building types and historic places.
Where can I find more navigation help?
Use Navigation Options, the Reference Desk, or Help for additional ways to explore the collection.