This month on Conversations from the Pointed Firs: Carol Gardner, author of "The Divided North, Black and White Families in the Age of Slavery" (2025) written as part of a series, "Black New England." Divided North is a beautifully researched history of two families from Portland, Maine, one black, one white, who represented two multi-generational paths through the history of slavery in Maine, one as a founder of the abolitionist movement and underground railroad, and the other as captains and traders of slaves between Africa, Cuba, and the United States. These parallel histories are astonishingly evocative of the history of race in Maine, the north, and the larger USA from the mid-19th century to present day.

This month on Conversations From The Pointed Firs, host Peter Neill speaks with Daniel Bartlett, the current Grand Secretary and former Grand Master of the Free Masons of Maine, and historian of the Masonic movement in the State, an organization that contributes to many often-unknown activities, grants, and programs that accrue to the social benefit of our communities large and small. The Free Masons of Maine is a civic society that quietly applies traditional values to civic engagement and public service. It is a complicated and often misunderstood organization, with a long history and widespread influence across the state.

This month on Conversations from the Pointed Firs, Peter Neill and Earth Shettleworth are discussing historic preservation in Maine. A native of Portland, Earle G. Shettleworth served as architectural historian for the Maine Historic Preservation Commission beginning in 1973 and director in 1976. He retired from that position in 2015. He has lectured and written extensively on Maine history and architecture and has served as Maine State Historian since 2004.

A monthly 1-hour audio series with Maine-connected authors, artists, innovators, thinkers, doers, and exemplars, discussing literature, creative projects, art, music, and more that invokes the spirit of Maine, its history, its ecology, its culture, and its contribution to community and quality of life. Hosted by Peter Neill of Sedwick, Maine.