What We Do

The Maine Folklife Center is inactive and no longer staffed. This site is maintained for archival purposes only. For more information or assistance, please contact the Dean’s Office in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at clas@maine.edu.

Mission

The mission of the Center is to enhance understanding of the folklife, folklore, history, and vernacular arts and culture of Maine and the Maritime Provinces; to encourage appreciation of the diverse cultures and heritage of the region; and by so doing, to strengthen and enrich our communities. 

To fulfill this mission we collect, preserve, study, and disseminate information about the region’s history and traditional cultures using the methods of oral history, ethnography, and related fields.

As an interdisciplinary unit that draws upon the humanities, social sciences, and other fields, the Center is a valuable part of the University of Maine’s research and public service mission. To find out more about our work in various areas, click on any of the blocks below.