Access and Research Requests

The archive, artifact and library collections are available to everyone year-round by appointment for research.  We have a searchable database of catalog records with details about the collection, especially our archival records and photographs. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t appear in the catalog or have a general query about Castine history, please email curator@castinehistoricalsociety.org and we will try to help.

Due to our small staff, appointments are requested for onsite visits. Please email curator@castinehistoricalsociety.org to schedule a visit or ask a question.

When you email:

• Be specific in your requests
• Give us time; we are glad to do research for you but it may be two weeks before we can get back to you.
• Consider becoming a member (if you aren’t already) to support this service

If you visit:

• Due to our small staff, appointments are requested for onsite visits
• Be prepared for do-it-yourself research perusing files, books and albums
• Many of our reference files and books are in open stacks available for browsing
• Photocopies and scans will be provided at the discretion of the staff (fees apply)
• Photography for personal use is allowed

Other local sources:

• Witherle Memorial Library maintains a collection of Castine related books and holds microfilm copies of local newspapers and town records.
• The Wilson Museum’s local history collections dovetail with CHS collections; they also have a cemetery database project.