While I am a new member of the Maine Genealogy Network, I have been researching my Morrison family in Maine for over twenty years. Early on I realized what a valuable resource old Maine newspapers were. Living in adjacent NH I was fortunate to be able to travel to the Maine Archives and Maine libraries to review microfilms. While that was productive, I began to find it was also limited. So, I thought, why not begin to acquire the actual newspapers myself? That began a personal search and acquisition process which is ongoing. I now have a personal collection of thousands of Maine newspapers ranging from individual editions to dozens of full year bound volumes. By far the most Maine newspapers in my collection are Portland Transcripts. Some are as early as 1837 but the bulk run from 1867-1889.

Ten years ago I began to compile vital statistic information from these newspapers and put them into book form. I used all births, marriages and deaths as well as interesting news stories that contained a Maine persons name. I have since published nine of these books that are available on Amazon and many are in eBook form.

Early this year I began to blog providing vital statistic content from only Maine newspapers. I've been doing this in an effort to assist others researching their Maine families who are unable to travel to the state to view microfilm. I've received a lot of help over my research years and this is my way of "giving back".  Hopefully anyone researching their Maine roots will find the blog helpful. You can read it at: mainelygenealogy.blogspot.com.

Enjoy! I look forward to meeting and mingling with other members here.

Elaine Morrison Fitch