Collection: Department of Environmental Protection | Maine State Archives

Scope and Contents

The Maine State Archives (MSA) collects and holds the permanent historical records of the Maine State Government. MSA was created in 1965. By 1971, MSA housed the historical records that had been held by the Secretary of State, Legislature, Courts and Executive Departments. This included records from defunct agencies.

With the implementation of a records management system, groups of records were identified as having permanent historical value and were sent to the Archives after a designated period of time. These included Commissioner/Executive correspondence, meeting minutes from Boards and Commissions, as well as department-specific records.

Dates

1972 -

Biographical / Historical

On July 1, 1972, the Department was formally created with a broad mandate of responsibilities extending to air, land, water, waste and other environmental areas of concern. It is charged by statute with protecting and improving the quality of our natural environment and the resources which constitute it, and with enhancing the public's opportunity to enjoy the environment by directing growth and development in a sustainable fashion.