Just History

Discover the histories of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who lived and worked in our local towns through the middle of the 20th century.

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The Just History project began in 2020, with the goal of documenting the fact that Kennebunk and the surrounding towns were never all-white spaces. Before European colonization, the Wabanaki lived here for thousands of years and their land was taken from them without permission or compensation. During the colonial era, enslavement existed here in Southern Maine (and throughout New England). While Northern slavery was not on the scale of that of the American South, it was not uncommon here. After the Revolution, slavery continued until the late 1700s in Massachusetts, which included Maine until 1820. Emancipation was gradual, with many “freed” people continuing as “servants.” Note that many had also been referred to as “servants” when they were enslaved.

Our goal in this database is to highlight people that lived here whose stories may not have been told. They include Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, many of whom we will never know. Research has uncovered several hundred people whose stories are still fragmentary and uncertain. This database is a beginning for understanding the diverse history of our region. It includes those people and those who had a documented connection with them, and what is known about their relationships. In the early years, many of them were enslaved or enslavers. Later, they may have been an employee or employer, a tenant or landlord.

We will work to share what we know of their personal stories and provide access to primary source documentation whenever possible. We will be adding to the database as new information is discovered. This resource includes the database, a search page, and related research articles.