Glenn Skillin papers
Scope and Content note
This collection houses the personal and research papers of Glenn Skillin, documenting his life, relationships, genealogical research of the Skillin family, and research conducted for his book A bibliography of Maine imprints 1785-1820. Contents include correspondence, notes, writings, reports, vital records, genealogical data and charts, publications, news clippings, scrapbooks, and photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1789 - 2022
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1930 - 2022
Creator
- Skillin, Glenn B. (Donor, Person)
- Henley, Thomas Shaw (Person)
- Skillin, Viola Rose, 1896-1974 (Person)
- Skillin, Keith W., 1920-1967 (Person)
- Skillin, Dean Brackley, 1924-1986 (Person)
Access
Unrestricted
Copyright
Access to collections at Maine Historical Society is not an authorization to publish. Rights and reproduction requests may be submitted in writing to the MHS Image Services Coordinator or Research & Administrative Librarian, subject to format.
Biographical note
Glenn Barrie Skillin was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1931, the fourth son of Rev. Carl Dana Skillin (1891-1963) and Viola Rose Skillin (1896-1974). His older siblings were Carl Willard (1918-1923), Keith Webster, Sr. (1920-1967), and Dean Brackley (1924-1986).
Skillin graduated from the University of Vermont in 1959 and earned an M.S. in Library Science from Columbia University in 1960. He worked in various academic and research libraries over the course of his career, including libraries at Bennington College, Brown University, Syracuse University, the Maine Historical Society, the Balch Institute, Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum, among others.
Skillin was an avid researcher and genealogist. As a member of the Skillin Family Association and in collaboration with others, he expanded on the work of his distant cousin Thomas Shaw Henley (Descendants of Thomas Skillin of Falmouth, Maine, and allied families) publishing The Skillin genealogy book in 2016. Skillin’s papers indicate that a portion of his genealogical research papers were donated to the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society in Bethel, Me.
Additionally, over the course of many decades, Skillin conducted research into the history of Maine imprints prior to statehood, culminating in the publication of A bibliography of Maine imprints 1785-1820 in 2015.
Skillin married Rebecca Jane Camp (1911-2004) in 1955. The two divorced in 1979. In 1985, while living in Philadelphia, Penn., Skillin adopted Reginald Riggins (1959-), born in Cleveland, Ohio. Skillin died on January 18, 2022, while living in Brunswick, Maine.
Extent
7.25 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series.
- 1. Family papers and photographs, 1900-2020
- 2. Genealogical research, 1851-2022
- 3. A bibliography of Maine imprints 1785-1820, 1789-2011
Provenance
Gift of Glenn Skillin, January 28, 2022 (acc. no. 2025.002).
Processing note
The material in this collection was retrieved from the home of the late Glenn Skillin, after his death. Files and material pertaining to his genealogical and Maine imprint research were placed into boxes and totes, retaining original order where present. Family correspondence and photographs were likewise collected.
During processing, all present and relevant original order was retained, as were folder titles where appropriate. Files and material without visible order were arranged by archivist.
News clippings were photocopied and originals discarded. Material in binders were removed and rehoused in folders. Binder titles were either retained or included in file-level scope and content notes. Files housed on CD (Box 1/Folder 4) were migrated to the MHS server.
Published books and pamphlets were separated and added to the Brown Library collection. A selection of objects were likewise separated and added to the MHS museum collection.
Subject
- Skillin family -- Genealogy (Family)
- Skillin Family Association (Organization)
- Pioneer Family Association (Organization)
- Skilling family (Family)
- Skillings family (Family)
- Kosrae family (Family)
- Rowe family (Family)
- Harmon family (Family)
- Madden family (Family)
- Livesay, E. Christopher (Person)
- Vickery, James B., 1917-1997 (Person)
- O'Brien, Francis M., 1908-1994 (Person)
- Woolson, Gary W. (Gary Wayne), 1937- (Person)
- Skillin, Rebecca Camp (Person)
- University of Vermont (Organization)
- Maine Historical Society (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Glenn Skillin papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jordis Rosberg, MHS Archivist, January-February 2025
- Date
- February 4, 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Maine Historical Society Repository