8Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Scarborough Public Library
Scarborough, Maine
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Scarborough.
1978 to 2025Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
87,151Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Scarborough, Maine.
Get to know Scarborough, Maine in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Scarborough Public Library's digital archive. Its eight titles include material from 1978 to 2025.
Opens in a new tab.
-
Selected titles
The collection from Scarborough Public Library includes “Cumberland County” and “The Southern Forecaster”.
-
Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
-
A closer look
A familiar name or event takes on another dimension in the newspaper coverage of its time, alongside the stories that mattered to the readers of that issue.
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 87,151 digitized pages, with material from 1978 to 2025. A partnership between Scarborough Public Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.
Cumberland County
24 pages in 2009
Current
18,092 pages from 2001 to 2016
Scarborough Leader
29,260 pages from 1995 to 2025
Scarborough News Review
1,001 pages from 1978 to 1979
Sentry Leader
Page count not currently available dates not yet available
South Portland Cape Elizabeth Sentry Scarborough Leader
23 pages in 2014
Sun Times
5,184 pages from 1989 to 1993
The Southern Forecaster
33,567 pages from 2002 to 2024
Opens in a new tab.
About the Library
About The Scarborough Public Library
The Scarborough Public Library has served as the heart of its community for over a century, providing a space where residents can gather, share resources, and connect through reading and learning. The library was established on August 2, 1899, when seven community members met to form what would become the Scarborough Public Library Corporation. Their vision to create a library for the town has endured for over 100 years, demonstrating the importance of collective effort and community spirit. The library continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the community, offering resources and programs that enhance personal development and support lifelong learning.
Library History
The History Of The Scarborough Public Library
The idea of creating a public library in Scarborough began in the late 19th century with a group of parishioners from the First Parish Church on Black Point Road, who shared their books among the community. The popularity of this book-sharing idea led to the official incorporation of the Scarborough Public Library Corporation in 1899. Architect Frederick A. Tompson designed the original library building, and by December of the same year, plans were in place for its construction. Over the years, the library evolved, with its first heating stove purchased in 1907, followed by the installation of electric lights provided by the adjacent Black Point Church. Today, the library stands as a testament to the enduring commitment of the Scarborough community to literacy, learning, and access to information.
About the Community
About Scarborough, Maine
Scarborough, Maine, is a coastal town known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and strong sense of community. Settled in 1658, Scarborough has grown from its agricultural and fishing roots into a vibrant town that blends historic charm with modern amenities. The town’s economy was initially driven by farming, shipbuilding, and trade, but today it is recognized as a popular residential community and tourist destination. With its scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Portland, Scarborough is an ideal place for both residents and visitors.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Scarborough Public Library's original source of electric power came from the nearby Black Point Church? Before electric lighting was installed, the library was lit with kerosene lamps, one of which is still displayed in the current library as a reminder of its history.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Trace a name across nearby issues
Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Scarborough. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Scarborough Public 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.
If a name does not appear, try an alternate spelling or a related term, then read around any match. Note the issue date and page so a result stays connected to its context. Use those details to follow a story without treating one search result as a complete answer.
Build a trail through the past that someone else can follow: record the title, date, page or item reference, and a link when available. Keep historical quotations distinct from your own interpretation. If accounts disagree, note what each source supports before deciding how the details fit together in a family or community story.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Scarborough Public 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.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
Read article
May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
Read article
April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
Read article
April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
Read article
March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
Read article
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.
Read article