First published in 1984, Island Journal, Island Institute’s annual print and digital publication, tells stories of life in Maine’s island and coastal communities, the character and livelihoods of the people who call the state of Maine their home, the history of how we got here, and the interactions between humans and nature.
- 2020
How Two French Islands Recovered, Post-Cod
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon were squeezed before and during cod moratorium
- 2020
Islands Were First Footholds for European Settlers
Safety and ease of transportation were attractive, historians say
- 2020
Maine Triumphs Through Coastal Law
Winning enough votes meant reworking federal rules on shipping
- 2019
Cliff Island — A Labor of Love for Cheryl Crowley
Quietly, but effectively, she works to keep the Casco Bay island vital
- 2019
Keeping the Home Fires… Out
Islesford’s Katelyn Damon a driving force for island fire department
- 2019
Kristan Porter Remains Grounded as Fisheries Shift
From his perch Downeast, the new president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association sees challenges, opportunities.
- 2019
The Secret Soul of an Island Shoe
Was it a talisman warding off evil spirits? A replicated ritual from across the Atlantic?
- 2019
The Schoodic Story
Peninsula has fueled vastly different visions over the last 100 years
- 2019
‘Creators in Arms’ on Swan’s Island
The two Garys—Hoyle, the painter, and Rainford, the poet—support each other’s creativity.
- 2019
Whelmed in Key Largo
About Island Journal
Life in Maine’s Island and Coastal Communities
Island Journal was first published in 1984 by Island Institute founder Philip Conkling, a writer, and co-founder Peter Ralston, a photojournalist. An early and key supporter, the late Betsy Wyeth, urged the two to produce a publication that stood out from the field of nonprofit reports and newsletters. More than 40 years later, Island Journal continues to meet that standard, gathering stories, photographs, and art that illuminate the rich culture of life on Maine islands and in its coastal communities.
The annual publication features the stories of those who live and work on the coast and islands, and reflects our history, the lessons learned, and continually looks toward our shared future. Today, many Mainers and Island Institute supporters keep a bookshelf in their home for their Island Journal archives, which collectively, contain the larger story of the beautiful, rugged, independent, and precious way of life in our island and coastal communities.
“It is, at the very least, bad manners to care about any aspect of an island and its phenomena, without caring also about its people—past, present, and future.” – George Putz, editor Island Journal (1984-1991)
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Browse each digital issue of Island Journal, dating back to the first issue published in 1984.
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