Maine Archives: 131 Newspapers for Genealogy Research

If you are researching your ancestry from Maine, you will want to use GenealogyBank’s online ME newspaper archives: 131 titles to help you search your family history in the “Pine Tree State,” providing coverage from 1785 to Today. There are millions of articles and records in our online Maine newspaper archives!

Photo: the Maine coast and Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Credit: Rapidfire; Wikimedia Commons.
Photo: the Maine coast and Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Credit: Rapidfire; Wikimedia Commons.

Dig deep into our online archives and search for articles about your ancestors from Maine in these newspapers. Our ME newspapers are divided into two collections, each with their own search page:

  • Newspaper Archives (complete paper with all articles, including historical obituaries, with a number of very rare single-issue newspapers – many of them are the only known issues of the paper)
  • Obituaries (including both historical and recent obituaries, if obits are specifically what you are searching for)

Search Maine Newspaper Archives (1785 – 1950)

Search Maine Obituaries (1992 – Today)

Illustration: Maine state flag. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Illustration: Maine state flag. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Here is the complete list of Maine newspapers in the online archives. Each newspaper title in this list is an active link that will take you directly to that paper’s search page, where you can begin searching for your ancestors by surnames, dates, keywords and more. The ME newspaper titles are listed alphabetically by city.

City Title Years of Coverage Issues Available Collection
Augusta Appeal to the Democracy 08/07/1838 – 09/14/1844 3 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Gospel Banner 07/25/1835 – 10/07/1876 982 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Kennebec Journal / Kennebec Journal Sunday 11/14/2003 – Current Obituaries
Augusta Maine Farmer 01/04/1844 – 12/30/1876 1575 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Age 01/06/1832 – 08/29/1861 692 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Herald of Liberty 02/13/1810 – 09/02/1815 89 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Kennebec Gazette 09/11/1801 – 07/31/1805 172 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Maine Patriot and State Gazette 11/07/1827 – 12/29/1830 83 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Age 01/07/1836 – 04/25/1861 585 Newspaper Archives
Augusta Kennebec Journal 01/07/1841 – 01/07/1864 175 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Daily News 12/14/1992 – Current Obituaries
Bangor Dirigo Rural 09/09/1876 – 09/09/1876 1 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Mechanic and Farmer 12/18/1835 – 03/23/1837 2 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Weekly Register 11/25/1815 – 06/21/1831 704 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Democratic Flag 07/13/1848 – 10/19/1848 15 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Courier 07/14/1835 – 10/22/1850 8 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Journal of Literature, Science, Morals, and Religion 06/01/1837 – 05/24/1838 52 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Daily Commercial Advertiser 08/20/1835 – 05/25/1836 190 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Daily Evening Times 10/29/1861 – 07/31/1867 336 Newspaper Archives
Bangor Bangor Daily Journal 08/26/1854 – 03/04/1861 992 Newspaper Archives
Bath Bath Daily Sentinel 08/14/1856 – 08/14/1856 1 Newspaper Archives
Bath Maine Gazette 12/08/1820 – 06/25/1830 263 Newspaper Archives
Bath Bath Daily Times 06/06/1862 – 12/30/1876 3797 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Hancock Gazette 07/06/1820 – 06/21/1826 153 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Maine Farmer and Political Register 11/04/1829 – 09/22/1830 31 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Republican Journal 01/21/1848 – 12/29/1870 284 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Waldo Patriot 12/30/1837 – 12/21/1838 52 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Republican Journal 01/07/1869 – 12/28/1922 2808 Newspaper Archives
Belfast Maine Working Men’s Advocate 11/03/1830 – 07/23/1835 211 Newspaper Archives
Biddeford Justice de Biddeford 05/14/1896 – 03/02/1950 2578 Newspaper Archives
Biddeford Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Courier 03/01/2012 – Current Obituaries
Biddeford Union and eastern journal 02/17/1854 – 05/28/1858 218 Newspaper Archives
Biddeford Union and journal 01/06/1860 – 12/30/1870 570 Newspaper Archives
Biddeford Maine Democrat 10/13/1868 – 09/29/1870 16 Newspaper Archives
Biddeford, Saco Journal Tribune 04/29/2009 – 10/12/2019 Obituaries
Brunswick Maine Baptist Herald 05/24/1825 – 11/25/1829 26 Newspaper Archives
Brunswick Times Record 11/22/2011 – Current Obituaries
Brunswick Maine Intelligencer 09/23/1820 – 12/29/1820 15 Newspaper Archives
Bucksport Gazette of Maine Hancock Advertiser 07/25/1805 – 04/10/1812 221 Newspaper Archives
Castine Eagle 11/14/1809 – 03/19/1812 103 Newspaper Archives
Castine Eastern American 12/26/1827 – 12/17/1828 29 Newspaper Archives
County Center Square Maine 12/20/2019 – Current Obituaries
County Maine Monitor 10/25/2020 – Current Obituaries
Dover-Foxcroft Piscataquis Farmer 08/25/1842 – 08/08/1844 4 Newspaper Archives
Eastport Eastport Sentinel 08/31/1818 – 08/15/1832 662 Newspaper Archives
Ellsworth Eastern Farmer 08/31/1861 – 08/31/1861 1 Newspaper Archives
Ellsworth Ellsworth American 01/12/1855 – 12/31/1924 3616 Newspaper Archives
Falmouth Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser 01/01/1785 – 03/30/1786 65 Newspaper Archives
Farmington Franklin Register and Sandy River Farmer 01/04/1844 – 11/21/1844 2 Newspaper Archives
Fryeburg Russel’s Echo 02/22/1798 – 01/11/1799 14 Newspaper Archives
Gardiner Gardiner Ledger and Farmer’s Journal 03/03/1843 – 06/09/1843 4 Newspaper Archives
Gardiner Christian Intelligencer and Eastern Chronicle 01/05/1827 – 04/11/1834 268 Newspaper Archives
Gardiner Maine Rural 02/19/1859 – 04/21/1860 58 Newspaper Archives
Hallowell American Advocate 08/23/1809 – 01/28/1835 1332 Newspaper Archives
Hallowell Hallowell Gazette 02/23/1814 – 12/26/1827 672 Newspaper Archives
Hallowell Kennebec Gazette 11/14/1800 – 08/28/1801 43 Newspaper Archives
Hallowell Maine Cultivator and Hallowell Gazette 10/04/1839 – 03/10/1870 527 Newspaper Archives
Kennebunk Annals of the Times 01/13/1803 – 01/03/1805 72 Newspaper Archives
Kennebunk Eagle of Maine 07/01/1802 – 09/30/1802 6 Newspaper Archives
Kennebunk Weekly Visiter 06/24/1809 – 06/30/1821 626 Newspaper Archives
Kennebunk Kennebunk Post 03/09/2012 – Current Obituaries
Kennebunk York County Coast Star 11/18/2016 – Current Obituaries
Lewiston Sun-Journal 01/13/2010 – Current Obituaries
Lewiston Jacksonian 09/18/1868 – 11/06/1868 3 Newspaper Archives
Lewiston Lewiston Evening Journal 04/20/1861 – 12/30/1876 4736 Newspaper Archives
Limerick Village Register and Farmers’ Miscellany 06/24/1840 – 06/24/1840 1 Newspaper Archives
Limerick Maine Free-Will Baptist Repository 06/01/1851 – 06/01/1851 1 Newspaper Archives
Madawaska St. John Valley Times 08/06/2008 – Current Obituaries
Norridgewock Workingman and People’s Press 12/14/1843 – 12/14/1843 1 Newspaper Archives
North Yarmouth Christian Pilot 07/23/1835 – 07/14/1836 52 Newspaper Archives
Paris Oxford democrat 02/12/1850 – 12/27/1921 3631 Newspaper Archives
Paris Jeffersonian 07/11/1827 – 04/30/1833 62 Newspaper Archives
Portland Jackson Mirror and Maine Tory; or, Office-holders’ Advocate 09/04/1834 – 09/04/1834 1 Newspaper Archives
Portland Maine Sunday Telegram 03/06/1994 – Current Obituaries
Portland Portland Press Herald 03/01/1994 – Current Obituaries
Portland Sentinel 04/02/1853 – 04/02/1853 1 Newspaper Archives
Portland Voice from the Belfry 08/17/1860 – 10/02/1860 3 Newspaper Archives
Portland Campaign Argus 08/31/1855 – 08/26/1858 4 Newspaper Archives
Portland Christian Mirror 07/13/1822 – 12/30/1876 2803 Newspaper Archives
Portland Christian Pilot 07/19/1832 – 07/10/1834 103 Newspaper Archives
Portland Cumberland Gazette 07/20/1786 – 12/26/1791 277 Newspaper Archives
Portland Daily Eastern Argus 08/05/1837 – 03/17/1888 2371 Newspaper Archives
Portland Eastern Argus 09/30/1824 – 12/30/1835 1076 Newspaper Archives
Portland Eastern Farmer, and Journal of News 01/06/1842 – 12/22/1842 26 Newspaper Archives
Portland Eastern Herald 01/02/1792 – 12/27/1802 598 Newspaper Archives
Portland Freeman’s Friend 09/19/1807 – 06/09/1810 131 Newspaper Archives
Portland Gazette 04/16/1798 – 12/30/1828 1612 Newspaper Archives
Portland Herald of Gospel Liberty 04/27/1810 – 06/21/1811 31 Newspaper Archives
Portland Impending Crisis, and Irrepressible Conflict 03/27/1860 – 03/27/1860 1 Newspaper Archives
Portland Independent Statesman 07/14/1821 – 05/06/1825 193 Newspaper Archives
Portland Jeffersonian 02/24/1834 – 07/25/1836 124 Newspaper Archives
Portland Oriental Trumpet 12/15/1796 – 11/05/1800 142 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Advertiser 01/03/1824 – 12/29/1840 639 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Courier and Mechanic and Farmer’s Advocate 03/25/1832 – 06/22/1833 8 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Daily Advertiser 10/08/1833 – 08/23/1898 2142 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Daily Press 09/03/1870 – 03/09/1882 3530 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Weekly Advertiser 10/12/1830 – 01/30/1864 1580 Newspaper Archives
Portland Spirit of ’28 10/29/1828 – 10/29/1828 1 Newspaper Archives
Portland Spirit of ’38 08/28/1838 – 08/28/1838 1 Newspaper Archives
Portland Spirit of ’40 07/08/1840 – 10/28/1840 10 Newspaper Archives
Portland Weekly Eastern Argus 09/08/1803 – 12/30/1880 1710 Newspaper Archives
Portland Yankee Advertiser 01/09/1828 – 07/09/1828 26 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Price-current 09/28/1861 – 01/25/1868 20 Newspaper Archives
Portland Maine Wesleyan Journal 05/10/1832 – 09/09/1837 10 Newspaper Archives
Portland Casco Bay breeze 07/30/1903 – 09/06/1917 118 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Daily Press 06/23/1862 – 02/28/1901 11923 Newspaper Archives
Portland American Patriot 05/20/1825 – 11/15/1828 162 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland Phoenix 12/06/2007 – 03/14/2013 Obituaries
Portland Zion’s Advocate 11/11/1828 – 03/28/1877 849 Newspaper Archives
Portland Portland gazette 04/07/1818 – 05/11/1819 57 Newspaper Archives
Richmond Rising Sun 09/21/1859 – 04/11/1860 2 Newspaper Archives
Saco Freeman’s Friend 08/21/1805 – 08/15/1807 105 Newspaper Archives
Saco Maine Palladium 08/16/1826 – 04/28/1830 86 Newspaper Archives
Saco Maine Free-Will Baptist Register 07/08/1843 – 07/08/1843 1 Newspaper Archives
Saco Maine Democrat 07/21/1830 – 07/12/1864 1181 Newspaper Archives
Sanford Sanford News 01/21/2010 – 08/24/2017 Obituaries
Sanford Justice de Sanford 02/26/1925 – 12/27/1928 191 Newspaper Archives
Scarborough Scarborough Leader 04/05/2012 – Current Obituaries
Skowhegan Somerset Farmer 01/22/1863 – 01/22/1863 1 Newspaper Archives
Skowhegan Independent-reporter 09/09/1909 – 12/29/1910 68 Newspaper Archives
South Portland, Cape Elizabeth South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Sentry 04/06/2012 – Current Obituaries
Waterville Morning Sentinel / Sunday Sentinel 11/14/2003 – Current Obituaries
Waterville Watervillonian 05/29/1841 – 05/30/1842 51 Newspaper Archives
Wells Making It at Home 10/11/2012 – 10/11/2012 Obituaries
Winthrop Maine Farmer and Mechanic’s Advocate 01/08/1842 – 12/30/1843 100 Newspaper Archives
Wiscasset Eastern Repository 06/16/1803 – 06/23/1807 62 Newspaper Archives
Wiscasset Lincoln Intelligencer 11/01/1821 – 10/24/1822 52 Newspaper Archives
Wiscasset Lincoln Telegraph 02/15/1820 – 10/18/1821 26 Newspaper Archives
Wiscasset Wiscasset Argus 12/30/1797 – 01/13/1798 3 Newspaper Archives
Wiscasset Wiscasset Telegraph 12/10/1796 – 03/09/1799 35 Newspaper Archives
York York Weekly 11/11/2016 – Current Obituaries

*Date Ranges may have selected coverage unavailable.

Note on the header image: a photo of the Maine State Capitol building in Augusta, Maine. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

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