A Courier series on the history of Biddeford mills was awarded second place for highest achievement in reporting on local history by the New England Newspaper and Press Association.

The series “An American Tale,” written by Gillian Graham and David Harry, was published last summer. The series focused on industrialization of Biddeford and the contribution of mills to the social and economic success of the city.

The award was presented at the annual New England Newspaper and Press Association banquet Saturday in Boston.

Graham and Harry said they enjoyed working on a story so closely tied to the personal histories of Biddeford residents.

“The success of the stories came from the contributions of people involved. It was great fun interviewing so many people about their memories of growing up in Biddeford,” Harry said.

“As pleased as I am to receive recognition from the New England Newspaper and Press Association for our work, I was even more touched by the response from the community,” Graham said. “The stories of mill workers who spent years tending to machines to make better lives for their families are inspiring.”