Shenandoah County Library Celebrates History with Photography Exhibit

The Shenandoah County Library is set to celebrate Virginia Archives Month with a special program and exhibition focused on historical photography. On October 4, 2023, the library’s Truban Archives will unveil the Morrison Studio Collection, showcasing a selection of photographs that document life in Shenandoah County from the late 1800s onwards.

County archivist Zach Hottel emphasized the significance of photography in understanding history. “Photography gives more lifelike aspects to our history than just documents,” he explained. “The closer you can get to real life, the more you can learn about history or a historic artifact.” The exhibition will feature photographs taken by Hugh Morrison Jr., who established his photography studio in Woodstock after years as a traveling photographer.

The event will commence at 19:00 at the Shenandoah County Government Center, located at 600 N. Main St., Woodstock. The program will include an exhibit of the Morrison Collection, along with early 20th-century cameras on loan from the Woodstock Museum. Hottel believes that photographs can reveal stories that words alone cannot fully capture. “Photography is just a huge piece of the puzzle,” he stated.

Over the past five years, Hottel and a dedicated group of volunteers have digitized approximately 32,000 images sourced from the Shenandoah County Historical Society. These images span decades, capturing life in the county from the early 1900s through the 1970s. “We’re almost done,” Hottel remarked, highlighting the ongoing efforts to make these historical records accessible.

The Morrison Studio Collection offers insights into various aspects of early Shenandoah County life, from everyday scenes to significant landscapes and buildings. “It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about Morrison and see some of his photos,” Hottel noted. He aims to raise awareness of the collection, which has seen reduced community recognition since its inception in 1999. “We want to remind people how important this collection really is,” he added.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the library will also feature a piece from the Morrison Collection at each county library beginning on October 6, 2023. Each location will showcase a different photograph, allowing residents to connect with their local history. For example, one photograph will depict Orkney Grade, the road leading into Basye, dating back to circa 1920.

Additionally, the community is invited to participate in the Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair on October 8, 2023, at the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg, from 11:00 to 13:00. The fair, which has been held annually since 2019, provides a platform for historians, genealogists, students, and teachers to engage with various historical institutions. This year, the fair will feature 18 institutions sharing their collections, all centered around the theme of photography.

Hottel mentioned that the theme of photography was selected by a state-level committee dedicated to educating Virginians on the importance of preserving photographic history. “As we transition from film to digital photography, preserving digital items is significantly more challenging,” he noted. Despite this shift, Hottel observed that many library patrons still prefer to visit the archives to experience the collections in person.

He expressed enthusiasm for the connections that emerge during these interactions. “There are so many great interactions and just being able to see people when they make connections over a photograph,” he said. For more information about the exhibition and other events, visit: countylib.org.