Ribbon Cutting at the Dedication of the Governor Joseph E. Brennan Archives at the Maine Irish Heritage Center

September 21, 2016

Former Commissioners, gubernatorial and congressional staffers, family, friends and colleagues of Governor Joseph E Brennan were among the 250 guests who gathered to celebrate the Governor’s more than 5 decades of public service and to dedicate the Governor Joseph E. Brennan Archives at the Maine Irish Heritage Center located in the former St. Dominic’s Church on State Street in Portland.

Senator George Mitchell served as Honorary Host and gave the keynote address.

The event culminated 3 years of work by the Brennan Archives Committee to create a digital Archive of filmed interviews with the members of the Brennan Administration (1979-86) as well as others who worked with Joe Brennan during his years as Cumberland County Attorney, Maine legislator, Attorney General, Congressman, and Commissioner on the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. In addition the Archives has obtained from Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport 144 television clips of Governor Brennan.  Photos and memorabilia
are beginning to be donated and are on display at the Archives.

The Archives are now open by appointment by calling the Maine Irish Heritage Center at 780-0118.  Soon we hope to be staffed to open to the public also on Fridays from 1-3pm.

Nancy Brenerman
Chair / Brennan Archives Committee