Genealogy
Our Genealogy department is located on the second floor, in the Local History Department.
Databases
BPL subscribes to a couple of popular online resources where you can hunt for ancestors:
1. Ancestry Library at Digital Maine Library (in-library use only)
2. American Ancestors (in-library use only)
Research Resources Available
The Bangor Public Library has several significant sources of information available for Bangor and Penobscot County. These include:
Vital Records
Source: Vital Records of Bangor, ME
Covers: Births 1795-1917, Deaths 1800-1892, Marriages 1834-1892
Location: Births and Deaths in book form at back of room in glass cabinet, 974.131.1 Microfilm found in boxes in the microfilm room.
City Directories
Source: Bangor/ Brewer City Directories
Covers: 1834-1869 (scattered years); 1869+
Location: early years are kept in the vault and can be asked for at the Reference Desk those from 1869+ are located in the Bangor Room (974.131.A1)
Obituary Index
Source: Bangor Daily News Index
Covers: obituary listings under the heading Families and Individuals-(Name of Family)Location: in wooden boxes at end of Bangor Room
Source: Bangor Daily Commercial
Covers: obituary lists from 1914-1922
Location: in file cabinet in Reference Dept. under heading Bangor-Vital Records
Source: Bangor/Brewer City Directory Death Lists
Covers: 1909-1916
Location: in file cabinet in Reference Dept. under the heading Bangor-Vital Records
Source: Obituary Notices of Bangor and Other Maine People Taken From Bangor Newspapers
Covers: Feb. 1916 – July 19, 1927
Location: in Bangor Room (974.131.O12)
Cemetery Records
Source: Mount Hope Cemetery Interment Listing
Covers: names from 1861+
Location: last shelf on left-hand side of the Bangor Room, or online at
http://listings.mthopebgr.com/
Source: Bangor City Cemetery Interment Records Online
Location: http://www.bangormaine.gov/content/318/358/388/default.aspx
Source: List of Bangor Cemeteries and how to obtain records
Location: Ask for in the Bangor Room
Family Histories
Source: One Branch of the Keefe or Keeffe Family of Bangor, ME (this is just one example of a family history )
Location: family histories are found on right-hand side of the Bangor Room in the 929. section alphabetically arranged by surnames
Bangor Histories
BANGOR HISTORIES:
Source: Bangor Historical Magazine
Covers: 1885-1892
Location: in Bangor Room (974.1.M28)
Source: Bangor, Maine 1769-1914: an architectural history
Location: in Bangor Room (974.131.T372.b)
Bangor Church Records
Source: The Church Directory of Bangor and Brewer, Containing the Names, Location, List of Officers, Order of Services, and Membership of The Different Churches 1894
Location: in Bangor Room (277.41.B22.1) *This is just one example. Other church records may be found by looking in the
old wooden card catalog under Bangor, ME. (name of church) or Bangor, (ME)- Churches.
Penobscot County Records
Source: Genealogical Index to Penobscot County History of Maine, 1882
Location: in Bangor Room (974.13.1a)
Source: Marriage Returns of Penobscot County, Maine Prior to 1892
Location: in Bangor Room (929.1741.M3495m)
Source: Abstracts of Penobscot County Maine Probate Records, 1816-1883
Location: in Bangor Room (929.37413 .A164ab)
Source: U. S. Census Records for Penobscot County, 1800-1920
Location: boxes of microfilm found on shelves at end of left-hand side of Bangor Room (929.3741.J137.m), along with book indexes for films
Civil War and War of 1812
Source: History of Penobscot County, Maine
Covers: Bangor participants in these Wars)
Location: in Bangor Room (974.13.1a)
Source: Second to None: the story of the 2d Maine volunteer infantry: “the Bangor regiment”
Location: in Bangor Room (973.7441.M923.s)
Source: Eastern Maine and the Rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war Location: found in the Bangor Room (973.7441.B3)
*for more info. on Maine in the Civil War and individual regiments, check the 973.7441… section in the Bangor Room
Yearbooks
Source: Oracle, Bangor High School 1892+
Location: ask for at Reference Desk (373.741.B224.o)
Source: Bapstonian 1946-1957, Crusader 1958+, John Bapst
Location: ask for at Reference Desk (373.741.J62.b)
Source: Bangor High School Catalog, 1894-1936, 1953-4
Location: right hand side of Bangor Room (379.741.B22)
Source: Catalogue of the Girl’s High School, 1851-1860
Location: right hand side of the Bangor Room (373.741.B22)
***This is by no means a complete list of Bangor and Penobscot County sources, only a starting point for your research. There are many other Maine sources containing genealogical information on Bangor people. Check with a Reference librarian for help.