• Margaret Chase Smith Library
  • Biography
  • Research
  • Education & Public Policy
  • Virtual Field Trip, Activities & Lesson Plans
  • Exhibits
  • National History Day In Maine
  • Awards
  • Staff
  • About
  • Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
  • Newsletters

Margaret Chase Smith Library

  • Margaret Chase Smith Library
  • Biography
  • Research
  • Education & Public Policy
  • Virtual Field Trip, Activities & Lesson Plans
  • Exhibits
  • National History Day In Maine
  • Awards
  • Staff
  • About
  • Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
  • Newsletters
Chris O'Brien, Executive Director

Chris O'Brien, Executive Director

Chris O’Brien, Ph.D., was named Director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library in September 2024. Previously, he was Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Center in Dickinson, ND; professor of History at the University of Maine at Farmington; Visiting Professor at Beijing University of Technology; and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Kansas. He chaired the Division of Social Science and Business at UMF; served for nearly a decade on the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board; and was a grant-reviewer for the National Historic Records Preservation Commission. A historian of the cultural Cold War, O’Brien is the author of several articles and book chapters on the subject. He earned his doctorate at the University of Kansas and his certificate in Higher Education Management from Harvard. He can be reached at cobrien@mcslibrary.org

John Taylor, National History Day State Coordinator, Museum Assistant & Communications Manager

John Taylor, National History Day State Coordinator, Museum Assistant & Communications Manager

John Taylor joined the library staff in 2013. He earned his B.S. in History and Political Science from Indiana State University and holds a M.A. in American History from Indiana University Indianapolis. John is the state coordinator for National History Day (NHD) in Maine and represents New England on the NHD Executive Council of Coordinators. He also assists in educational programming, emergency planning, and the creation, installation, and maintenance of museum exhibits. Previously, John served as a docent at the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home in Indianapolis and worked both at the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau. His area of specialty is the Cold War with a particular interest in pop culture of the 1950s and 60s. John may be reached at jtaylor@mcslibrary.org.

Kim Nelson, Library Coordinator

Kim Nelson, Library Coordinator

Kim served as an intern in 2015 before earning her B.S. in Information and Library Services from the University of Maine at Augusta. She joined the staff in 2019. She worked at Canaan Public Library and Skowhegan Free Public Library. She was an educator at Corbin Academy and Mr. Paperback before earning her degree. Kim is also a board member of the Brown Girl Brown Boy Literacy Foundation. Her email address is kimn@mcslibrary.org.

Nicole Potter, Curator of Collections

Nicole Potter, Curator of Collections

Nicole Potter joined the staff in 2021. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Religious Studies from St. Lawrence University and her M.S. in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University School of Information Studies. Nicole’s specialization is cultural heritage preservation. Previously she worked at cultural institutions in New York, New Mexico, and Alaska, including ones preserving the legacies of other noteworthy Americans such as artist Georgia O'Keefe and author Ernest Hemingway. Immediately prior to starting at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, she was the Regional History Museum Librarian at The Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho. Nicole’s email is npotter@mcslibrary.org

Amos Reid, Facilities Maintenance

Amos Reid, Facilities Maintenance

Amos Reid came aboard on a part-time basis in 2011 to take care of facilities maintenance duties. He is a graduate of Thomas College. In his off-duty hours, he umpires youth baseball games and manages family real estate holdings. He may be reached at amosr@mcslibrary.org.

Dr. David Richards, Former Director (Retired)

Dr. David Richards, Former Director (Retired)

Dr. Gregory Gallant, Director Emeritus

Dr. Gregory Gallant, Director Emeritus

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Chris O'Brien, Executive Director
John Taylor, National History Day State Coordinator, Museum Assistant & Communications Manager
Kim Nelson, Library Coordinator
Nicole Potter, Curator of Collections
Amos Reid, Facilities Maintenance
Dr. David Richards, Former Director (Retired)
Dr. Gregory Gallant, Director Emeritus
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Check Us Out On Instagram!

It's #TBT! OTD, Northwood University Margaret Chase Smith Fellowship students arrived from Michigan to spend time in Maine, soaking up the state's splendor and to contribute to the Library's mission of celebrating the Senator's life and legacy.
#OTD this photo of Sen. Smith was taken by Life Magazine as she campaigned against Rumford native Lucia Cormier, in North Fryeburg, Maine. This campaign was the first time two women ran for the same Senate seat.
The National Association of Secretaries of State announced this year's recipient of the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award! This year it goes to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie.
(Photo taken during the first award ceremony in 1992)
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Margaret's husband, U.S. Rep. Clyde Smith, was an ardent supporter of labor rights who made efforts to curb child labor, protect employees through workmen's compensation, and ensure old age pensions. In return he received endorsements and letters of

Location

56 Norridgewock Avenue
Skowhegan, Maine 04976
(207) 474-7133

hours

Museum:
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Monday-Friday

House Tours:
1:00 PM
Monday-Thursday or
by Appointment

Owned by the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation and operated under its auspices by the University of Maine.