Oral History Project

Purpose and Project Description

In 2002 the Board of Directors of Cleaves Law Library authorized the organization of an Oral History Project for the purpose of assembling a historical record about the legal profession and the organized bar of the State of Maine. This project has been instituted as an integral function of the Library’s historical mission and archival objectives.

Initial funding for the project was provided by the Levine Family Foundation and the Maine State Bar Association. The project originated from the efforts of the Hon. D. Brock Hornby, the Hon. William Brownell, the staff of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, and numerous volunteers, in particular Roger Putnam, Esq.

The Oral History Project is a public service endeavor intended to capture for the permanent historical record a picture of the practice of law in Maine through the eyes of those who have lived it. Our intention is to conduct extensive interviews of diverse occupations within the legal profession to uncover the personal insights often lacking in written documentary sources, and to record each narrator’s unique relationship and contribution to the subject -- firsthand accounts of important events and experiences, supplemented with personal and anecdotal material to illustrate.

We will also accept donated collections or items when they fit into our selection guidelines, such as audio taped interviews, taped events, transcribed speeches, diaries or other personal papers that enhance or further explain the historical collection.

The Oral History Project is directed by an Advisory Committee with oversight by the Board of Directors of the Library. The Project is staffed primarily by volunteers.

For More Information:
Project Guidelines
Use Agreement and Form
Sample Release Agreement Form

Video clips are coming soon!

Narrator	Position	Interviewer/Presenters	Date	Length	Number
James P. Archibald	Active Retired Associate Justice Maine SJC	Roger A. Putnam	May 17, 2001	2 hours	14
Eugene Beaulieu	US Magistrate Judge	George Z. Singal	July 25, 2000	1.5 hours	11
Sumner T. Bernstein, Roger A. Putnam, Ralph I. Lancaster	Members of the Maine Bar	Peter Cully	December 27, 1999	1.5 hours	8
Morton A. Brody	US District Court Judge; former Associate Justice Maine SJC	Daniel E. Wathen	October 1, 1999	2 hours	6
Morton A. Brody	Federal Court Induction	Various speakers	October 7, 1991	1 hour	20
Susan Calkins	Former Associate Justice, Maine SJC	Margaret Kravchuk	September 10, 2007	1.5 hours	34
Gene Carter	US District Court Judge	Ralph Lancaster	January 24, 2002	2 hours	22
Gene Carter Bust Presentation	US District Court Judge	G. Singal, S. Kertzer, G. Dillworth, G. Petruccelli, M. Carter, J. Carter, M. Bigley, G. Carter	July 16, 2004	1 hour	29
Robert W. Clifford	Associate Justice, Maine SJC	Daniel Wathen	December 14, 2006	1.5 hours	32
Frank M. Coffin Tribute	US First Circuit Judge	Held at the Samoset Resort; various speakers	March 20, 2000	? hours	24
Howard H. Dana	Former Associate Justcie, Maine SJC	Roger Putnam	May 25, 2007	1 hour	33
Harry Derry	Former Federal Court Reporter	William S. Brownell	July 29, 1999	2 hours	4
Duane D. (Buzz) Fitzgerald	Trial Attorney/Former CEO of BIW	Daniel E. Wathen	June 29, 2001	2 hours	15
Gignoux Federal Courthouse Dedication		various speakers	September 1988	? hours	25
Edward S. Godfrey	Former Dean/UMaine Law School; Retired Associate Justice Maine SJC	Donald M. Kreis	May 27, 1999	2 hours	1
Harriet P. Henry	Maine District Court Judge; Maine's First Woman Judge	Kathryn Monaghan Ainsworth	November 1, 2001	1 hour	19
Irving Isaacson	Member of the Maine Bar	Charles Abbott	October 10, 2001	1 hour	18
Myer M. Marcus	Member of the Maine Bar	Peter Murray	February 1, 1999	4 hours	13
Emily Robinson McConnell	Daughter of Clement Robinson	Nicholas McConnell	September 7, 2001	1 hour	17
Vincent L. McKusick	Former Chief Justice, Maine SJC	Ralph I. Lancaster	January 29, 2001	2 hours	12
S. Peter Mills	Former US Attorney	Roger A. Putnam	June 17, 1999	1 hour	3
Mrs. Hildegard Gignoux Niss	Widow of Edward Gignoux	Howard Dana	November 23, 1999	1 hour	7
Richard E. Poulos	Former US Bankruptcy Judge	Roger A. Putnam	July 3, 1999	2 hours	5
Roger A. Putnam	Member of the Maine Bar	Hon. Howard Dana	February 24, 2005	2 hours	30
Harrison L. Richardson	Attorney & State Legislator	Roger A. Putnam	April 25, 2005	2 hours	31
Gerald Rudman	Trial Attorney	Roger A. Putnam	March 12, 2002	1 hour	23
Herbert T. Silsby	Retired, Superior Court Justice; Legal Historian	Roger A. Putnam	January 24, 2002	2 hours	24
Stanley R. Tupper	Member of the US Congress	Charles Abbott	July 1, 2001	1 hour	16
Lewis Vafiades	Trial Attorney	John Woodcock	January 24, 2000	1.5 hours	10
Daniel E. Wathen	Former Chief Justice, Maine SJC	Malcolm Lyons	June 29, 2004	2 hours	27
Daniel E. Wathen Portrait Hanging	Former Chief Justice, Maine SJC	Various speakers	April 11, 2003	? hours	26
Owen W. Wells	Attorney and Philanthropist	Daniel Wathen	June 30, 2004	1.5 hours	28
Carl R. Wright	Member of the Maine Bar	Roger Putnam	January 22, 2002	1 hour	21

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