Portland Society of Natural History (Me.)

The Portland Society of Natural History was incorporated in 1850, succeeding the earlier Maine Institute of Natural Science. During its active period, members included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Commodore Robert E. Peary. The collection of the Society was originally amassed through the donation or purchase of private collections and rivaled any others on the East Coast. Many of these were damaged by fires in 1854 and 1866. The Society was largely incorporated into the Maine Audubon Society in the early 1970s and its collections dispersed.

From the description of Collection, 1845-1938. (Maine Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 715440128

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