UNE Library Special Collections and the Maine Women Writers Collection will be showcasing a diary exhibit from Maine women written during the mid-1800s to the early 1930s, to share how everyday Maine women have documented their personal histories and, in doing so, preserved their part in the historical record. “What Her Diary Reveals: Daily Narratives and Untold History” was created by Cathleen Miller, UNE’s Education and Outreach Archivist, and Elia O’Hara, English and Political Science ’25, as part of her Citizenship course. O’Hara did research in the diaries and wrote an essay describing the historical context of women’s lives during the period from which the diaries were written.
Students, faculty, and community members are encouraged to view the diaries, and to share a diary entry of your own. The exhibit will be on view in the lower level of Marcil Hall in Biddeford during the spring and fall semesters of 2025. For more information on how the archives support student learning, or about what we hold at UNE, please contact Cathleen Miller cmiller10@une.edu.