Additional information
by Sarah Timm (Editor), Luke Gates-Milardo (Editor)
Published in conjunction with the Maine Maritime Museum's exhibit, this book traces the state's historic roots to slavery and explores the contributions of Indigenous and Black Americans to Maine's rich maritime history. Featured is archival material from the Museum's collection of never-before-exhibited journals, letters, photographs, and maps, to provide context to the untold stories of the state's Indigenous and Black communities and shed light on Maine's involvement in the Atlantic slave economy. Reflective essays by six experts focus on various aspects of Maine's Indigenous and Black maritime history and culture and the connection between shipbuilding and shipping in northern New England and the slave trade:
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Bob Greene on Malaga Island
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James Francis Sr. (Penobscot) on Wabanaki Waterways
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Meadow Dibble on New England's role in the slave trade
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Seth Goldstein on Maine and the West Indies trade in sugar, cod, and slaves
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Kate McMahon on Maine and the illegal slave trade
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Tess Chakkalakal on Cotton Town files
Author Biography
Sarah Timm is the Peggy L. Osher Head of Education at the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Portland, Maine. Sarah co-curated Maine Maritime Museum's exhibition, ReSounding, that challenges traditional maritime narratives by fore fronting Indigenous and Black voices, history, and culture. Prior to the PMA, Sarah served as the Director of Education at Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine. This work grew out of a collaboration with Bowdoin College's Africana Studies Department that invited students to co-curate an exhibition examining Maine's direct connection to the American slave economy. In her work as a museum educator, Sarah prioritizes initiatives and partnerships that cultivate dialogue and empathetic learning around human stories. Sarah also teaches academic courses at Maine College of Art and Design. Sarah is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Museum Education Roundtable and she holds a Masters in Art History from Florida State University and a Bachelors in Art History from Elon University.
Luke Gates-Milardo is the Director of Exhibits & Learning at Maine Maritime Museum. Luke co-curated the exhibition, ReSounding, that challenges traditional maritime narratives by forefronting Indigenous and Black voices, history, and culture. He directs the coordination, design, and fabrication of exhibits and oversees the museum's educational programming. His projects integrate universal design principles into immersive experiences that provoke critical thinking and invite cooperative discussion. He holds a Certificate in Exhibition Design from Pratt Institute, a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from Bowdoin College, and a Maine State teaching certificate. Prior to leading the Exhibits & Learning team, Luke served as the Education and Community Engagement Coordinator at Maine Maritime Museum, where he developed educational programming and cultivated partnerships with community organizations and institutions, including co-directing an exhibit with Bowdoin College's Africana Studies Department.
