Even more vital records are now available at facilities around the state. The Maine State Archives recently distributed microfilm for 1937-1955 vital records to:

. Augusta, Maine State Library.

. Orono, University of Maine Fogler Library. For hours, call 581-1664.

. Portland, Maine Historical Society.

. Portland, Portland Public Library.

. Presque Isle, University of Maine at Presque Isle Library.

. Searsport, Penobscot Marine Museum.

. Springvale, Springvale Public Library.

The individual images vary in quality. I was able to read my parents’ marriage record, but not my birth record.

If you haven’t used these records before, you’ll want to know that they’re organized alphabetically, then by year.

For instance, you would find Saucier births for 1937, then marriages, then deaths; then the same for 1938, and so on.

The facilities mentioned above already have microfilm reels for 1892-1907, 1908-1922 and 1923-1936. I have found the earlier years to be of better quality overall.

If you’ve used the Bangor Room at Bangor Public Library, you know that one easy way to get there is to go in the children’s room entrance on the ground floor, take the elevator to the third floor, turn right and go to the end of the hall.

But if you turn left, you’ll come upon all manner of nonfiction, including “Collections of the New York Historical Society.”

For 1914 and 1915, these include some Revolutionary Muster Rolls, including artillery, Canadian troops, Connecticut troops, Continental infantry, Massachusetts troops, New Hampshire troops and New Jersey troops.

The call number for this resource is 974.7.N55. Other volumes in the series include “Abstract of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office City of New York.”

One page includes 18th century abstracts for Abraham Morrell, Newtown, Queens County; Gerrit Dorland, Jamaica, Queens County; Isaac Roads, Jamaica, Queens County; and Hope Rhodes, yeoman, and by trade a weaver, Queens County.

I found these books simply by browsing the stacks.

Thought I’d let you know how the list has grown of dates the Bangor Daily News honored various towns and their servicemen and women during World War II. If you can add to the list, do drop me a line.

. Danforth, Dec. 1, 1942

. Lincoln, March 22, 1943

. Limestone, April 13, 1943

. Madawaska and environs, May 4, 1943

. Hampden, May 11, 1943

. Howland-Enfield, May 18, 1943

. Corinna, May 25, 1943

. Orono, May 31, 1943

. Stockholm, June 8, 1943

. Island Falls, June 15, 1943

. Stockton Springs, June 17, 1943

. Winn, Chester, Woodville, June 22, 1943

. Harrington, June 24, 1943

. Woodland (Baileyville), June 29, 1943

. Dennysville, July 6, 1943

. Guilford, July 13, 1943

. Greenville, July 20, 1943

. Dover-Foxcroft, July 27, 1943

. Orrington, Aug. 3, 1943

. Frankfort, Aug. 10, 1943

. Seboeis, Aug. 12, 1943

. Brownville Junction, Aug. 17, 1943

. Jonesport, Aug. 24, 1943

. Patten, Aug. 31, 1943

. Hodgdon, Sept. 7, 1943

. Eagle Lake, Sept. 14, 1943

. Carroll, Sept. 21, 1943

. Newport, Sept. 28, 1943

. Greenbush, Nov. 10, 1943

. Abbot, Nov. 22, 1943

. Pittsfield, Nov. 25, 1943

. Etna, Dec. 30, 1943

. Sangerville, Jan. 3, 1944

. Brooklin, Jan. 25, 1944

. Monson, May 26, 1944

. Former B&A Railroad employees, May 30, 1944

. Bridgewater, June 26, 1944

3265. BATES-THIBEAULT. Searching for Dorothy Bates, daughter of Floyd Bates and Priscilla (Thibeault, Pelletier) Bates. Floyd d. July 28, 1976, and Priscilla on March 15, 1991. Dorothy was b. late 1950s or early 1960s. Her half-brother is trying to contact her. Lisa Michaud, 17 Luckey Landing, Glenburn, ME 04401; 942-8521 evenings, 581-3789 daytime.

3266. STROUT. Trying to locate a book on the Strout family of Maine by a Robert Taylor, written about 1993. Adrienne and Barry Strout, P.O. Box 475, Dexter, ME 04930; 924-6270.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or e-mail familyti@bangordailynews.net.