Alumni, students take on leading roles at Mount Desert Island Historical Society

A Mount Desert Island Historical Society news release noted the many contributions of University of Maine community members to its organization.

Over the past few years, UMaine students, faculty and alumni have taken on expanded roles in the society, a regional nonprofit located about 90 minutes from UMaine’s campus in Orono.

New Champlain Society Fellow Erik Reardon earned a Ph.D. in history in 2016. He recently wrote and narrated a documentary film on the history of a major Mount Desert Island watershed. He serves as co-editor of the society’s annual magazine, Chebacco.

Rachel A. Snell, who also earned a Ph.D. in history in 2016, is curator of collections. She is responsible for care of the society’s physical and digital collections, creating exhibits, and managing the accessibility of online materials. She also serves as co-editor of Chebacco.

Other Black Bear alumni have served as visiting history scholars, including Sean Cox, who created a digital map of a massive fire that swept MDI in 1947; and Bethany Warnock, who revised the society’s website, making its catalog and thousands of historical photographs available to the public.

Tim Garrity, who earned a master’s degree in history in 2014, serves as the society’s executive director.

“Our connection with the University of Maine is one of our most valued institutional relationships,” said Bill Horner, president of the society’s board of directors. “UMaine students bring us their energy, curiosity and cutting-edge education to our community, while we provide them with a fresh field of research material and a setting where they can launch their careers.”

More information about the Mount Desert Island Historical Society is online.