Aimée Keithan, Executive Director of the Boothbay Region Historical Society, will lead us through the life and adventures of notable Boothbay Harbor resident Peter MacQueen (1863-1924).

A pastor, special agent and journalist board a boat… No, this isn’t the beginning of a complex math problem, or even a good joke. Instead, it was a typical day in the life of Dr. Peter MacQueen (1863-1924). This renowned traveler and writer traversed over 350,000 miles, visited several dozen countries, worked for two presidents, visited war zones, lived with the Kenyan Taveta people, and even scaled Kilimanjaro. Back in America, people clamored to hear him speak about his adventures and eagerly awaited publication of his latest articles. 

Despite traveling to exotic locales and experiencing often unbelievable danger, it was East Boothbay that called to him when he sought rest and retirement. Here, he became pastor of Boothbay Harbor’s Congregational church, spent time with friends at his cottage on Murray Hill, and indulged in the quirky pastime of training crows. 

Although his papers are housed at the Boston Public Library, the numerous colored photos that he used in his lectures have never been found. But thanks to a generous donor, Boothbay Region Historical Society has recently acquired one of MacQueen’s souvenir postcard albums and a number of original black and white photos capturing his visit with the Tolstoy family in Russia. 

Using these extraordinary archival items, Boothbay Region Historical Society executive director Aimee Keithan will recreate some of MacQueen’s travels and accomplishments through his own souvenirs and photographs. This richly illustrated presentation will help us once again remember the amazing adventures of one of the area’s most fascinating historical figures. 

About the speaker:
Aimée Keithan is a buildings archaeologist and architectural historian with a PhD in Historic Buildings from the University of York, England. She has held research fellowships at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Preservation of Newport County in Rhode Island. Her research focuses on using the material culture of architecture to reveal the history of marginalized populations. Dr. Keithan is the Executive Director of Boothbay Region Historical Society.