2Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Patten Free Library
Bath, Maine
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Bath.
1862 to 1909Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
135,226Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Bath, Maine.
Get to know Bath, Maine in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Patten Free Library's digital archive. The archive includes Bath Daily Times and Daily Sentinel And Times, with material from 1862 to 1909.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Patten Free Library include “Bath Daily Times” as well as “Daily Sentinel And Times”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.
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
Explore Bath Daily Times and Daily Sentinel And Times through 135,226 digitized pages, with material from 1862 to 1909. A partnership between Patten Free 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.
Bath Daily Times
118,074 pages from 1869 to 1909
Daily Sentinel And Times
17,152 pages from 1862 to 1869
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Library History
The History Of The Patten Free Library
The Patten Free Library, founded in 1847, has a long history of serving the community of Bath, Maine, and surrounding areas. It was established with a generous donation from Galen C. Moses, a local philanthropist. Over the years, the library has expanded its services and physical space, adapting to the changing needs of its users. Today, the library offers a wide range of programs, services, and resources, from traditional book lending to digital archives and community programs. In the early 20th century, the library moved into its current building, a beautiful brick structure that has become a cultural and educational hub for the region. The library continues to evolve, with recent renovations and updates ensuring that it remains a vital resource for future generations.
About the Community
About Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine, often referred to as the "City of Ships," is known for its rich maritime history. Located along the Kennebec River, Bath has been a major shipbuilding center since the early 19th century. The town’s history is closely tied to the rise of the shipbuilding industry, with the Bath Iron Works continuing to play a significant role in the local economy. Bath is also known for its well-preserved 19th-century architecture and vibrant downtown area, which serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Patten Free Library was originally housed in a small building on Front Street before moving to its current location in 1901? The move was made possible by a $20,000 donation from Galen C. Moses, which also allowed for the construction of the building’s iconic domed roof.
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 Bath. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Patten Free 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 Patten Free 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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