Posted 7-24-08
Museum Announces Photo Collection Available
Lander, WY (Fremont County Pioneer Museum) -- Though the Pioneer Museum will have its grand opening Spring 2009, the museum has been working hard to make their collections more accessible to the public. Through a generous grant from the Wyoming Humanities Council, portions of the museum's photo collection are now available at www.fcpm.org.
"The museum is very excited about this opportunity" notes director Heather Watson. "In securing this grant, we have not only had extra funding to unpack and organize our photos, but to also take the next step in increasing accessibility to the county". The photographs in the Fremont County Pioneer Museum have the depth and breadth to take us back to main street Lander in 1908, to a Sheep Camp complete with sheep wagon, dogs, and horses in 1910, to a family reunion picnic under the trees in 1898, or to join 4 women on a merry trail ride on the Popo Agie. These are just the tip of the iceberg - besides family photographs, the collection includes the subjects of Lander, South Pass, Atlantic City, Mining, Oil, Ranching, tourist destinations, and just give a feel and flavor of this part of Wyoming from when it was a Territory until present day. The Pioneer Museum's photo collection exceeds 10,000 treasures and the museum takes its responsibility to preserve and protect these treasures very seriously. As Archives Manager Carol Thiesse notes, "photographs can evoke strong emotional responses and move the viewer to another time and place."
Digitization increases the number of people who will have access to these treasures. Now a researcher in Laramie can share in the treasures of what this county has to offer without the lengthy trip. School children can also access the archive, allowing them access to primary documents they would not normally be allowed to handle. On-going digitization efforts can increase access to the collection, while reducing wear and tear on the artifacts.
Digitization also offers the museum staff a distinct record and report of condition, so they can monitor the status of the photograph. "A small fingerprint left on an original photo today can ruin the photo permanently in just a few years" notes Curator Elyssa Dillon. The museum is working to monitor changing conditions of its photographs so it can be proactive in its conservation efforts.
For those with precious old photographs at home, the museum staff can advise you on the best storage conditions and options. Small steps toward prevention will make a world of difference in how long your photographs can be preserved. The museum is also looking for volunteers with strong computer skills, excellent typing and grammar skills and an interest in old photos to continue the project. If you are interested in volunteering or have additional questions about the project, please contact the museum at info@fcpm.org or 307-332-3373.
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