LOVELL, Maine — When the “Unidentified Photography Exhibit” opens today at the Lovell Historical Society, it will not only offer a voluminous glimpse at the bucolic goings-on in 19th century New England but also shine a light on the then brand-new art and science of photography.
It was a project taken on fearlessly by archivist Liz Kerr of Lovell, who has an advanced degree in British medieval studies from the University of Cardiff in Wales, no less, but also a passion for organization and a desire to understand the past.
kAmu62C=6DD[ 3642FD6 H9:=6 E96 6I9:3:E @A6?:?8 E@52J 2?5 CF??:?8 H66<6?5D E9C@F89 E96 ?6IE >@?E9 4@>AC:D6D 23@FE `b_ :>286D[ E96 {@G6== w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ’D 4@==64E:@? @7 @=5 A9@E@8C2A9D CF?D :? E96 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D]k^Am
kAmp?5 =6DE J@F E9:?< 2 4@>A:=2E:@? @7 F?:56?E:7:65 A9@E@8C2A9D H@F=5 D:>A=J 36 2 >:D9\>2D9 @7 D6A:2\E@?65 492@D[ E9:?< 282:?i z6CC 92D @C82?:K65 E96 G2C:@FD D64E:@?D @7 E96 6I9:3:E 3J DF3;64E >2EE6C 2?5 E:>6 A6C:@5]k^Am
kAmpD E96J 2C6 F?:56?E:7:65[ E96 $F? 2D<65 E96 b_\J62C\@=5 z6CC WJ@F?86C D:DE6C E@ E96 $F?’D 2CED 4C:E:4 p=64 z6CCX 9@H D96 H2D 23=6 E@ 42E68@C:K6 E96 :>286D 49C@?@=@8:42==J]k^Am
kAm$96 C6A=:65 E92E D96 =@@<65 7@C 4=F6D :? 4=@E9:?8 DEJ=6 E92E E96 DF3;64ED H@C6] p=D@ 96=A:?8 :? E92E C6DA64E :D E92E D96 <?6H H9@ 925 5@?2E65 E96 3@I6D @7 62C=J A9@E@8C2A9D E@ E96 D@4:6EJ 2?5 46CE2:? 32E496D @7 A9@E@D D66>65 E@ 72== H:E9:? 46CE2:? E:>6 A6C:@5D] x? 255:E:@?[ D96 D6E 23@FE 65F42E:?8 96CD6=7 @? E96 24EF2= 9:DE@CJ @7 A9@E@8C2A9J] %96 EJA6D @7 :>286D 4@CC6DA@?5 E@ A92D6D :? E96 D4:6?46 :ED6=7]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 2C6 E:?EJA6D[ @E96CD 528F6CC6@EJA6D[ DE:== @E96CD 2>3C@EJA6D 2?5 4J2?@EJA6D[” z6CC 6IA=2:?65 :? 2 C646?E A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H]k^Am
kAm“%:?EJA6D[ 2=D@ 42==65 76CC@EJA6D 7@C E96 :C@? A=2E6D[ 52E6 324< E@ E96 >:5\`g__D[” z6CC ?@E65] p44@C5:?8 E@ (:<:A65:2[ 2>3C@EJA6D AC652E6 E:?EJA6D 3J 2 76H J62CD 2?5 :? 724E E:?EJA6D 2C6 2 <:?5 @7 2>3C@EJA6[ C6A=24:?8 E96 8=2DD H:E9 2 E9:? D966E @7 :C@?]k^Am
kAmq@E9 H6C6 AC652E65 3J E96 528F6CC6@EJA6[ :?G6?E65 3J {@F:D s28F6CC6 @7 uC2?46 :? E96 `gb_D] w:D AC@46DD AC@5F465 2 >:CC@C :>286 @? 2 9:89=J A@=:D965 D:=G6C DFC7246 FD:?8 G2A@C 8:G6? @77 3J 962E65 :@5:56 4CJDE2=D]k^Am
kAmrJ2?@EJA6D 2C6 4@>>@?=J 42==65 3=F6AC:?ED 2?5 AC@5F46 2 ?682E:G6 WH9:E6X :>286 @? 2 3=F6 A2A6C @C 4=@E9 324<8C@F?5 FD:?8 2 D@=FE:@? @7 A@E2DD:F> 76CC@4J2?:56 2?5 76CC:4 2>>@?:F> 4:EC2E6]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@ 92G6 @?6 4J2?@EJA6 @? 5:DA=2J[ 3FE @H:?8 E@ E96 56=:424J @7 E96 :>286 :E :D 4@G6C65 H:E9 2 AC@E64E:G6 D=66G6[” z6CC D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C z6CC[ D96 D2:5[ “x’G6 366? G@=F?E66C:?8 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD 2E E96 9:DE@C:42= D@4:6EJ] {2E6=J[ x’G6 366? 6>A=@J65 2D 2? 2C49:G6C]”k^Am
kAmpD<65 23@FE 96C :>A6EFD 7@C E96 D9@H[ z6CC D2:5[ “x 7@F?5 :E D25 E92E E96D6 F?<?@H? :>286D 925 366? ?68=64E65 7@C D@ =@?8] x H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 E96> 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 36 G:6H65 2?5 2AAC64:2E65]”k^Am
kAm%96J 2C6 ?@E 4@>A=6E6=J F?:56?E:7:65] z6CC 92D EC2465 D@>6 DEF5:@ D9@ED E@ uCJ63FC8 2?5 }@CH2J[ |2:?6[ 2?5 6G6? r9:428@]k^Am
kAm(92E6G6C :?7@ D96 92D :D 56E2:=65 @? E96 D=66G6D E92E AC@E64E E96 A9@E@D]k^Am
kAmp?5[ D:?46 >:C24=6D 5@ 92AA6?[ D96 2=D@ 9@A65 E92E A@DD:3=J D@>6@?6 H9@ D2H E96> >:89E 36 23=6 E@ =6?5 >@C6 4=F6D E@ E96:C @C:8:?]k^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ D96 D2:5[ “D@>6 2C6 ?@E =@42=[ 3FE x E9:?< E96 >2;@C:EJ 2C6]”k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5[ “(96? x C62=:K65 9@H >2?J 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 A9@E@D E96C6 H6C6[ x 56=G65 :?E@ E96 9:DE@CJ @7 A9@E@8C2A9J] uC@> E:?EJA6D E@ 528F6CC6@EJA6D[ x 925 E@ =62C? E@ 5:776C6?E:2E6 6249 EJA6]”k^Am
kAmz6CC D2:5 >2?J H6C6 A@D65 A@CEC2:ED[ E96 @?=J EJA6 @7 A9@E@8C2A9J >@DE 4@F=5 277@C5 324< E96?[ H96? 42>6C2D H6C6?’E H:56=J 2G2:=23=6] x? E9@D6 :?DE2?46D[ D96 EC:65 E@ FD6 E96 DEJ=6 @7 5C6DD E@ 96=A 52E6 E96 A:4EFC6D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 >2?J AC:?E65 @? 8=2DD[ E96 :>286D E96>D6=G6D 2C6 BF:E6 7C28:=6[ ?@E E@ >6?E:@? E96J 42? 7256 :? DF?=:89E] $@ E96 @=56C[ =2C86C :>286D 2C6 6I9:3:E65 7=2E[ @? E23=6D]k^Am
kAm%@ 7FCE96C AC@E64E E96>[ E96J 2C6 2C49:G2==J AC6D6CG65 :? 4=62C A=2DE:4 D=66G6D E92E AC6G6?E &' =:89E 7C@> 56DEC@J:?8 E96>]k^Am
kAmx? E6C>D @7 D:K6[ E96J CF? E96 82>FE[ E@@] “$@>6 2C6 C62==J E:?J 2?5 96=5 :? 2 A2A6C DE@4< 42D6[ 42==65 2 “42CE6 56 G:D:E6” W=:E6C2==J[ G:D:E:?8 42C5D — E96 x?DE28C2> @7 E96 52JX]k^Am
kAm%96J H6C6 2=D@ <66AD2<6D[ z6CC 6IA=2:?65] “pD A9@E@8C2A9J 3642>6 >@C6 277@C523=6[ A6@A=6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 92G6 A9@E@D E2<6? @7 =@G65 @?6D E92E E96J 4@F=5 E2<6 H:E9 E96>]”k^Am
kAmpE 2C@F?5 E96 EFC? @7 E96 a_E9 46?EFCJ W`gh_D\`h`_DX[ J@F H@F=5 DE2CE E@ D66 >@C6 42?5:5 D?2AD9@E\EJA6 A:4EFC6[ =:<6 A6@A=6 A@D:?8 H:E9 E96:C A6ED @C E96:C 2FE@>@3:=6D] pD z6CC AFE :E[ “xE’D 7F? E@ D66 4@>>@? E96>6D 6>6C86 @7 H92E A6@A=6 H6C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? 2E E96 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 A6@A=6 E2<:?8 A:4EFC6D H:E9 E96:C A9@?6D 2E E96 E2A @7 2 7:?86C[ z6CC H2D 6G6C >:?57F= @7 E96 =23@C:@FD AC@46DD 6G6? E96 D:>A=6DE D?2A 925 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E@ 36 56G6=@A65] “%96C6 H6C6 2== <:?5D @7 496>:42=D J@F 925 E@ 92G6 ]]] E96 C:89E 4@?5:E:@?D] xE’D 5:77:4F=E E@ C62==J 2AAC64:2E6 E96 =6?8E9D A6@A=6 925 E@ 8@]”k^Am
kAm}@E 2== E96 A:4EFC6D 2C6 2 46?EFCJ @=5] $@>6 >@C6 C646?E @?6D[ :?E@ E96 `hd_D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 2C6 2=D@ 6I9:3:E65 @? >@G23=6 2CE H2==D]k^Am
kAmz6CC’D 92C5 H@C< 2?5 2EE6?E:@? E@ 56E2:= 92G6 ?@E 8@?6 F?2AAC64:2E65 2E E96 9:DE@C:42= D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ r2E9J $E@?6[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 9:DE@C:42= D@4:6EJ[ “{:K 92D 366? 2 8C62E G@=F?E66C 7@C E96 9:DE@C:42= D@4:6EJ 7@C J62CD 2?5 3682? H@C<:?8 2D 2? 2C49:G:DE E9:D 72==]”k^Am
kAmz6CC[ D96 D2:5[ “3C:?8D 7C6D9 :562D 2?5 2 <?@H=6586 @7 AC6D6CG2E:@? E649?:BF6D E92E :D :?G2=F23=6] (6 2C6 G6CJ 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 96C 6IA6CE:D6]”k^Am
kAm!C:@C E@ 4@>:?8 E@ E96 9:DE@C:42= D@4:6EJ[ z6CC :?E6C?65 2E E96 !2F= #6G6C6 w@FD6 :? q@DE@?’D }@CE9 t?5[ H96C6 D96 =62C?65 23@FE 2C49:G:?8 7C@> E96 }6H t?8=2?5 w:DE@C:4 v6?62=@8:42= $@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm}@H[ 96C 52J ;@3 :D 2D 2? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 2DD:DE2?E H:E9 $E2CE:?8 !@:?E :? r@?H2J[ 3FE 96C 962CE DE:== =:6D :? E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAm“|J 5C62> ;@3 H@F=5 36 E@ H@C< 2E 2 =2C86 >FD6F>[ 3FE x 2=D@ =@G6 =:G:?8 :? {@G6==[” z6CC D2JD[ H9@ 8C6H FA E96C6 2?5 2EE6?565 uCJ63FC8 p4256>J 367@C6 8@:?8 @? E@ 4@==686 WD96 2=D@ 92D 2 q]p] :? tFC@A62? DEF5:6D 7C@> {6D=6J r@==686 :? q@DE@?X]k^Am
kAm}@H E92E D96 92D 2 A2CE\E:>6 8:8 2E E96 {@G6== w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ[ J@F 4@F=5 D2J D96 92D 2 7@@E :? 3@E9 H@C=5D]k^Am
kAm%96 {@G6== w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ :D =@42E65 2E dd` |2:? $E] 2E E96 4@C?6C @7 #@FE6 d 2?5 dp :? {@G6==] %96 6I9:3:E H:== 36 @A6? 5FC:?8 C68F=2C 3FD:?6DD 9@FCDi %F6D52JD 2?5 (65?6D52JD 7C@> h 2]>]\c A]>] 2?5 $2EFC52JD 7C@> h 2]>]\?@@?] p5>:DD:@? :D 7C66]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 42== Wa_fX had\babc @C 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=@G6==9:DE@C:42=D@4:6EJo8>2:=]4@>Qm=@G6==9:DE@C:42=D@4:6EJo8>2:=]4@>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.