OLD PHOTOS OF BROOKS, MAINE, IS SUBJECT OF TALK

OLD PHOTOS OF BROOKS, MAINE, IS SUBJECT OF TALK

Museum Archivist to Present Images of Brooks' Past, Collect Information from Public

Searsport, Maine - A slide talk featuring old photographs of Brooks, Maine, and nearby communities will illustrate the area's past, spur memories and generate historical input from the audience, says Kevin Johnson, photo archivist at Penobscot Marine Museum. Johnson will present "Greetings From Brooks: Selections from the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Co. Collection," at the Harvest Home Grange Hall in Brooks on Friday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Consisting of tens of thousands of old photos of Maine and other New England states, the Eastern Illustrating Collection is the centerpiece of Penobscot Marine Museum's extensive photography archives. Eastern Illustrating was a Belfast-based postcard publisher that documented thousands small-town scenes during the first half of the 20th century. Most of the images are on glass plate negatives, and many are 75 to 100 years old.

"Presentations like this generate valuable oral history from audience members," said Johnson. "The photos get people talking about their memories, which we encourage, and this makes a town's past really come alive." Johnson added that information gathered in such talks is often added to the museum's archives, enhancing a town's permanent historical record.

"Greetings From Brooks" is sponsored by the Brooks Historical Society and will be held at the Harvest Home Grange Hall on Moosehead Trail Highway (Rte. 7) in Brooks. A donation will be requested at the door. For more information, contact Betty Littlefield, 207-722-3633.

Photos of Brooks and other communities are available in Penobscot Marine Museum's free online database at www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org.

Located in Searsport, Maine, Penobscot Marine Museum is home to outstanding collections of marine art and artifacts, small craft, ship models and historic photography. The museum will open for 2012 on Friday, May 25. More information is at www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org or call 207-548-2529.

A slide talk featuring old photographs of Brooks, Maine, will be held at the Harvest Home Grange Hall in Brooks on Friday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m.