Maine Historical Society

1 Maine Historical Society Coll. 2682 Haskins, Sturgis Collection 1910-2002 Accession #: , , , , , and many others (see source file) Processed by: Raminta Moore, volunteer, Oct. 2012-August 2013 Access: Series V restricted (Box 52-57) for 20 years (recommended) Copyright: Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the MHS Images Services Coordinator. Size: Approx. linear ft. or 59 document boxes, 2 flat, oversized boxes, 2 scrapbooks on shelf, and 1 folder of architectural drawings. Bulk Dates: 1951-1999 Biographical Note: Sturgis Haskins was born in 1940 and lived most of his life in Sorrento, ME. He was the son of Reginald and Helen Haskins and the brother of Stephanie Haskins Dall, Jeff Haskins and Heidi Haskins Hooper. In 1958, he attended the Washington State Teacher's College and later transferred to University of Maine at Machias.

2 In 1961, he left the University and moved to New York City. Sturgis spent much of the 1960s living in New York City and summering in Sorrento. While in New York he took some classes at the New School for Social Research in New York City and later at Columbia University. It was during his early years in New York, that he admitted to himself that he was gay. This was an issue, which caused some controversy within his immediate family for several years. In 1967, he spent a year at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and was very active in Civil Rights organizations. In the early 1970s, Sturgis attended the University of Maine at Orono. There he co-founded the Wilde-Stein Club, the first openly Gay student organization in the state of Maine . He was also the Chair of the first Maine Gay Symposium. After finishing his degree, Sturgis lived in Boston, MA and continued to participate in Gay Rights organizations. There he founded the Chiltern Mountain Club in 1978.

3 By 1998, the Chiltern Mountain Club was the largest gay and lesbian outdoor club in the country. Sturgis Haskins was also very interested in politics. In 1972, he ran unsuccessfully for the District 28 State Senate seat. Later in 1999, he ran for a Sorrento Town Selectman position. When he wasn't running for office, he dedicated a lot of his time to various Democratic Party causes and especially Gay Rights causes. There are various documents and photographs in the collection concerning various political fundraisers and a very large and important collection of documents relating to the Maine Discrimination Law Initiative, Question 1 in and collecting Historical items seemed to be a large part of Mr. Haskins's life and he helped to found the Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society . The town of Sorrento was very important to Sturgis. Not only did he participate in local politics, but he also was a member of various environmental groups such as the Nature Conservancy and the Frenchman's Bay Conservancy.

4 Sturgis sailed and taught sailing for most of his life and his passion for boats and waters on which he sailed are prominent within the collection. Sturgis Haskins died September 29, 2012, at the age of 72. Prominent names in the collection include: The Haskins Family Jane Humphrey John and Mary Van Dusen Bayard and Hattie Ewing Jill Ewing William (Bill) Parr Dorris Parr Norman Mailer Elisabeth Farwell Marian and William (Bill) Wise Georgianna Eills Tommy Andrews and Stuart Toot Andrews Leroy and Thelma Hooper Waldo and Winnifred West Cassalina (Cassey) Perry West Paul Gazis George and Marion Clendaniel Dr. George and Beryl Fuller Elizabeth (Betty) and Newbold Noyes Oakley Johnson Albert, Dorothy (Dot) and Albert Jr. Bohlin Peggy Bowditch Sanford (Sandy) Phippen Gifford Ewing Willie Bunker Frank Preble Peter and Elizabeth Hjorth Frances Johnson Hattie Ewing Alice Sargent Bernie and Florence Dumont Fred and Wilma Nichols Mason Sargent Philip Barter Winnifred Ewing Hunt Family Johnson Family Phyllis and Dennis O'Hearn Eleanor Humphrey Jane Adams Roy Oxley Hilly Welch Lynn Flewelling Rick Beckjord George Daniell Ellen Devine Philip Barter Beppie Noyes Meyer and Hilda Davis See end of finding aid for more subject headings, including geographical (place names), personal (people), topical, genres, and boating related (names of boats, types of boats, etc.)

5 Scope and Content note: The majority of this collection is photographs of Sorrento and the surrounding area ( linear feet). There are also Historical items and documents relating to the town of Sorrento and various organizations operating within the town. The collection also includes important documentation regarding gay rights in Maine and across the country. Important events and organizations include the Wilde-Stein Club at University of Maine at Orono and the 1995 Maine Discrimination Law Initiative, Question 1. Sturgis Haskins collected many items relating to the various viewpoints regarding gay rights from both proponents and detractors. The collection also includes many publications from several prominent Maine , New England and national gay and lesbian organizations. The collection includes diaries and correspondence belonging to Sturgis Haskins and diaries written by his grandmother, Irene B. Haskins.

6 Processing note: Sturgis Haskins donated the collection to the Maine Historical Society over a period of several years. Items such as photographs, arrived housed in various binders. Since the collection consists mostly of photographic content, it was decided to leave the photographs affixed to their album pages. These album pages also included descriptions of the content. Over the years, Mr. Haskins also sent items and photographs to the Society via mail. All efforts were made to keep his descriptions of the items with the objects. Some of these letters of descriptions are in the the collection's source file. Other items arrived in various boxes and were arranged by type and content. Since many of the photographs depict various architecture and boats, a list of each was made at the end of this finding aid. A list of known boats belonging to Mr. Haskins is also at the end of this finding aid. Names of boats are in quotations, names of houses/estates are underlined.

7 Series V of the collection is currently restricted. Series: Series I: Photographs ( linear ft., Box 1-35A). This series mostly depicts photos of the Sorrento area, its residents and various buildings, homes and estates. Some photos depict different regions and towns in Maine where Sturgis Haskins visited or lived temporarily. A few boxes contain Historical photos, which Mr. Haskins collected over the years. Series II: Sorrento Village Improvement Association ( ) papers and Sorrento/Sullivan related items (3 linear ft., Box 36-42, includes 2 scrapbooks on shelf). See also Coll. S-7512, Misc. Box 267/13 for Sorrento Village Improvement Association record book, 1915-1949. Series III: Documents, publications, articles, and organizational materials relating to Gay Rights in Maine and throughout the country ( linear ft., Box 43-48). Series IV: Irene B. Haskins diaries ( linear ft., Box 49-51). Irene B. Haskins was Sturgis's paternal grandmother and these diaries were left to him, upon her passing.

8 These contain musings of daily life in Sorrento and its surrounding areas. Series V: Sturgis Haskins diaries and correspondence (3 linear ft., Box 52-57). RESTRICTED for 20 years (2032) Series VI: Architectural drawings (located in OS flat file drawers in 2nd floor reading room). See also the Hale collection for related architectural drawings (as referenced in the architectural drawings database) In museum: various items of clothing, as well as other items (see PastPerfect) Related collections: At the University of Southern Maine s Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine : Sturgis Haskins Papers LG MS 7 Sturgis Haskins is a long-time activist in Gay and Lesbian communities, and was one of the founders of the annual Maine Gay Symposium started in 1974 at University of Maine , Orono. Haskins was a co- founder in 1973 of the Wilde-Stein Club, the first openly Gay student organization at the University of Maine in Orono, and in 1974 was Chair of the first Maine Gay Symposium.

9 The Papers contain material documenting Haskins personal life, pamphlets, correspondence, memorabilia, and information on organizations in which Haskins was interested, and clippings covering topics relating to the Gay and Lesbian communities and homosexuality. There are significant runs of Esplanade, Fag Rag, Gay Community News, and Mainely Gay. 1966-1999. 8 ft. Sturgis Haskins Papers Addendum This addition to Haskins s Papers consists of 26 looseleaf scrapbooks with a variety of print, manuscript and graphic material documenting LGBT life and organizations in Maine , and 2 linear ft. of boxed material containing a variety of print materials. 6 ft. Materials transferred from this collection to the Maine Maritime Museum: Boat plans for a cruiser (42 ft.), dated Nov. 25, 1930, from naval architects, Paine, Belknap & Skene, of Boston, Mass., as well as manuscript drawings and notes - one page has the letterhead: Dr.

10 George G. Averill, 109 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine . There is also printed information with pictures of similar boats: Vernon L. Walker s 45 foot bridge deck cruiser Lurabelle III, built by Morris Watkins of Hollywood, and Socker, Charles Francis Coe, Owner (46 foot cruiser). On the outside of the folder, in Sturgis Haskin s writing, is: Frances owned by Dr. Geo. Averill, Sorrento, collection of Sturgis Haskins; She may later have been Pot o Gold. ?? Built 1933 by Lawley. Provenance: Gift of Sturgis Haskins, from ca. 1992-2002. Inventory: Architectural drawings: (located in one folder in the OS drawers in 2nd floor reading room; intellectual access is also through the architectural drawings database ) OS Folder 1: Assumed Peter Cohen (architect) design for a summer home in Sorrento, ME (3 drawings) *See Folder 2 for more information OS Folder 2: Peter Cohen (architect) blueprints. Home for Sturgis Haskins and Roy Oxley, Sorrento, ME (3 drawings) -Includes letter of description by Sturgis Haskins.