Preparing for the next 100 years
Martin County’s great achievement in connection with celebrating its 100 years of existence since 1925 is establishing “Martin Digital History.” Commissioner Doug Smith got the ball rolling in 2022 by charging Martin County Library Director Jennifer Salas to explore the possibilities for digitizing historical items of local significance.
He envisioned making them available, not only for the county’s centennial but for all time. The community response was encouraging and meetings were held. With a grant from Impact100 Martin and CARES Act money that was in the county’s coffers the Martin County Library System initiated Martin Digital History. It was up and running with archivist Georgen Charnes at its helm in August 2023.
Vintage photographs should be shared and now they are being made available to all. Charnes and her assistant, Sarah Bourget, are busy scanning old photographs, most of them formerly hidden away. Individuals, as well as the Stuart Heritage Museum and the Historical Society of Martin County housed in the Elliott Museum, have made their archives available.
Martin Digital History is located in the Peter and Julie Cummings Library in Palm City. You will find the growing collection by entering Martin Digital History into your search engine.
It is a relief to me and all who know me that the photographs my husband and I purchased and those that have been entrusted to me by local pioneer families can be preserved and shared through the Martin County Library System.
What a cause for celebration.
Happy 100th Birthday Martin County!
Sandra Thurlow is the author of a half dozen books on Martin County history, including the recently released A Pictorial History of Palm City, authored with her daughter Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch. She has written history articles for Indian River Magazine since 2008.
Photographs, documents, and oral histories need to be gathered, preserved, and cataloged so they can be celebrated. Our aim is to serve as a catalyst for uniting diverse communities who have worked diligently to document and research our area, and celebrate all voices of Martin County by digitizing materials to high quality standards and providing online access.
PARTICIPATE!
If you are interested in participating in our local history digital archive by allowing us to scan or photograph items you own related to Martin County history and to make them freely available, please contact Georgen Charnes, Archivist
martindigitalhistory.org
