Curtis, Joshua W., Jr. Collection

SummaryThe Joshua W. Curtis, Jr. Collection consists of 7 reels of 16 mm. film shot between 1939 and 1949. While offering views of family life, this collection also provides records of community and work life in Maine. The collection offers records of winter sports including skiing and dog sledding, parades, fishing, hunting, boating, and visits to areas in and around Searsport. Visits include golfing in Northport, Maine, and a trip to Fort Knox in Bucksport, Maine. Notably, the collection depicts ice harvesting (the cutting and storage of ice blocks) and various shots devoted to the training and work of the Searsport Fire Department.

Biographical/Historical NotesJoshua W. Curtis, Jr. was born in 1925, and attended school in Searsport, Maine, graduating in 1943 as valedictorian of his high school class. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in the Medical Corps. After being discharged, he attended Bowdoin College, graduating in 1950 cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then served another tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He served in both the European and Pacific theaters and received three campaign stars. After his discharge he lived in South Portland, Maine, where he taught history at Mahoney Junior High for 31 years. He retired to his family home in Searsport, Maine, where he was active in the First Congregational Church. He took pride in the restoration and maintenance of the church organ. The new vestry was named Curtis Hall in honor of him and his father. He was also well known as a town historian; hobbies included photography, playing the piano, and flower gardening. He passed away in March of 2008. Searsport History “Searsport was settled in the late 18th Century and incorporated as a town in 1845. It has nearly 10 miles of coastline on Penobscot Bay, which has been a major influence on the town's development. Sears Island, over 900 acres in size, is connected to the mainland by a causeway. During Searsport's early history, its major industry was shipbuilding and cargo handling. The seaport town was famous for its sea captains in the mid-1800s and was once home to ten percent of all American deep-water shipmasters. Petroleum product shipping and handling supplemented the chemical industry during the Korean conflict. Fuel, lumber, paper and chemicals continue to arrive and depart from the seaport.

RepositoryNortheast Historic Film

AvailabilityThe Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and UseAuthorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://www.oldfilm.org/research for more information.