8Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Alice L. Pendleton Library
Islesboro, Maine
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Islesboro.
1949 to 2024Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
20,872Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Islesboro, Maine.
Get to know Islesboro, Maine in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Alice L. Pendleton Library's digital archive. Its eight titles include material from 1949 to 2024.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Alice L. Pendleton Library include “Isleboro Island News” and “Morning Sun”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
An earlier generation comes into view through the stories its newspapers chose to report, placing familiar names and events within the concerns of their time.
Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse eight titles and 20,872 digitized pages, with material from 1949 to 2024. A partnership between Alice L. Pendleton Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Every search for the past starts with a question. Explore the titles below, follow the sources that speak to it, and see what new detail appears.
Isleboro Island News
256 pages in 2022
Islesboro High School Yearbooks
2,032 pages from 2000 to 2010
Islesboro Island News
264 pages in 2019
Islesboro Island News
768 pages from 2020 to 2021
Islesboro Island News
14,018 pages from 1987 to 2024
Islesboro Observer
2,376 pages from 1949 to 1979
Islesboro Up Date
1,134 pages from 1985 to 1987
Morning Sun
24 pages in 1980
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About the Archive
About The Alice L. Pendleton Library’s History Archives
The Alice L. Pendleton Library offers free access to Isleboro's historical newspapers, showcasing the rich history of the community and its surrounding areas. In partnership with Advantage Archives , the library provides access to these archives at no cost, allowing the community to explore their collective history and discover "history as it happened." The library's Community History Archive is perfect for research, genealogy, and local history exploration. This digital archive serves as a practical online access point, providing a “portal to Isleboro's past” where you can discover the people, places, and events that shaped Islesboro.
- The Islesboro Observer (1949-1979)
- The Islesboro Up Date (1985-1987)
- The Islesboro Island News (1987-2019)
- The Morning Sun (1980)
- The Isleboro Island News (2022)
This comprehensive archive allows users to access primary sources and firsthand accounts, bringing the past to the present and offering a snapshot of time as recorded by individuals who witnessed it. This initiative highlights the library’s commitment to greater access to historical content and ensures that local history is free and open to all.
About the Library
About The Alice L. Pendleton Library
The Alice L. Pendleton Library is a cornerstone of the Islesboro community, dedicated to providing educational resources and fostering a love of learning. Located at 45 East Main Street, Islesboro, ME 04848, the library offers a welcoming space for residents to connect, engage, and discover. In addition to its extensive digital archives, the library hosts various programs and events, supported by the Friends of the Library group. This group of dedicated volunteers plans activities and manages the library’s bookstore, with all proceeds going towards library improvements and community programs.
Library History
The History Of The Alice L. Pendleton Library
The Alice L. Pendleton Library has a rich history that mirrors the growth and development of Islesboro. The library's journey began in 1902 when the town voted to fund a public library. Alice Lavinia Pendleton, affectionately known as Miss Alice, led the efforts to establish the library, initially located on the second floor of the old Pendleton schoolhouse. Over the years, the library moved to various locations, with the current building constructed in 1917. This building, made possible by local contributions and the hard work of the community, has become the cultural center of the town. The library was renamed in 1956 to honor Miss Alice's dedication and contributions. The library’s commitment to accessibility and shared responsibility in preserving history is evident in its extensive digital archives, created in partnership with Advantage Archives. These archives provide a valuable cultural asset, ensuring that the history of Islesboro is discoverable and accessible to all.
About the Community
About The Town of Islesboro
Islesboro, Maine, is a small island community with a deep historical background. Settled in the 18th century, the town has a rich maritime heritage and has long been a summer retreat for visitors. The town's historical significance is preserved through various cultural institutions, including the Alice L. Pendleton Library, which plays a crucial role in making local history accessible to all. Today, Islesboro is known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant community life, and commitment to preserving its historical legacy. The Alice L. Pendleton Library serves as a hub for educational and cultural activities, supporting the community's informational and recreational needs.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Alice L. Pendleton Library's initial collection was started with just $200 worth of books purchased by Miss Alice from Portland? The library has grown significantly since then, becoming a vital part of the Islesboro community.
Partner Story
Hours
Monday: Closed Tuesday - Saturday: 10:30am - 4:30pm Sunday: Closed
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Keep publication context with a finding
Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Islesboro. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Alice L. Pendleton Library to follow that question into the historical record. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story. Note the newspaper title, issue date, and page for a useful report. Compare another account where available, and keep differences in timing or perspective visible rather than blending them into a single version.
Save the newspaper title, issue date, and page, then compare another dated account where available. Keep differences in timing and perspective visible so the source context is not lost. If the accounts disagree, record what each source supports and use the difference to shape a further search rather than smoothing them into one version.
A research trail is most useful when it leaves room for what is not yet known. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available, along with what remains uncertain and which question you want to follow next. Those details help keep a possible connection from becoming an unsupported conclusion.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Alice L. Pendleton Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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