May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish history in Maine dates back to 1785; in Bath, to 1880. You can use resources in the History Room to learn about Bath’s Jewish community, or explore additional resources for the study of Jewish history in Maine and the United States. For a brief history of Bath’s Jewish history, read Part 1 of this blog post or visit BathJewishHistory.org.
Early Jewish Families of Bath by Alfred T. Holt
Povich Family Genealogy by Donald M. Povich
Beth Israel History Presentation (DVD)
Seven speakers present personal accounts and history of the Jewish community in Bath, Maine at Beth Israel Congregation synagogue upon the opening of an exhibit sponsored by Documenting Maine Jewry on July 14, 2014.
“The Jewish Synagogue” in The Edward Clarence Plummer History of Bath by Henry Wilson Owen, pages 431-432
Bath City Directories, 1867-2008
City directories list local people by surname. Older directories including occupation, place of business, and place of residence. Directories also include advertisements for local businesses.
Local Newspapers, 1820-present
Local newspapers cover local, national, and international events. They include social and political news, marriage announcements and obituaries, and advertisements for local businesses.
Books
Maine’s Jewish Heritage by Abraham J. Peck and Jean M. Peck
Find in a Maine Library or Read on Google Books
Special Collections
Judaica Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine, Special Collections, University of Southern Maine Libraries
Maine Historical Society
Search MHS collections using the Minerva catalog
Digital Maine Library Databases
Digital Maine Library provides access to academic and news databases covering a variety of research topics. Try searching these databases:
Search Tips for Books, Special Collections, and Digital Maine Library Databses
In Minerva, MaineCat, Maine Memory Network, and Digital Maine Library Databases, you can use the Subject Search to search for these subjects:
Exhibits
Lobster and Latkes: Jewish Life in Maine, Colby College Maine Jewish History Project, Online Exhibit
Were the House Still Standing, Holocaust & Human Rights Center of Maine, Ongoing Exhibit
Maine + Jewish: Two Centuries, Maine State Library, Past Exhibit, September 21, 2018 – October 25, 2019
Websites – Maine
Holocaust & Human Rights Center of Maine
Maine Jewish History Project at Colby College
Websites – National
