The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

Breaking News

CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARGARET ZIEMAN
MARIAN SUTTON	ORLO KIRKUM
SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
Browse Full Text...

» Inside

Public Notices
Links
About Us
News Stands
Subscriptions
Editorial Forms
Archives

» Deadlines

Friday, 2 pm
Inserts

Friday, 5 pm
Retail Display
Editorial

Monday, Noon
Classified Display
Service Directory Display

Monday, 2 pm
Service Directory Liners

Monday, 3 pm
Classified Liners

All Holiday Deadlines are One Full Workday Earlier

!center image archive2.jpg
COLLECTING HISTORY. The two photographs on this page were recently submitted to the Kezar Branch Library's collection. The one above is labeled with "Tri-County Co-Champs, 1951" while the one below is unlabeled. The photos are a sample of what the library and the Romeo Historical Society are asking residents to submit to their archives.

(Photos courtesy of Stacie Narlock)

Library, historical society
emphasizes donations

Old photos inspire call to
residents to donate materials

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Have you seen these teams?
       In late December, Kezar Branch Library Manager Stacie Narlock received a package in the mail. Within that package were two photographs of football teams. One was labeled "Tri-County Co-Champs" and dated 1951, while the other is unlabeled. Both, however, have the name "The Studio Romeo" as the company that took the pictures.

Also included was a program from the Romeo High School 1953 graduation. The woman who delivered it said the photos originally came from a David J. Aul, and she didn't have the heart to throw them out, so she donated them.
       "They're in black and white, so we can't tell what the team colors are," said Narlock. "It is stamped `The Studio Romeo,' but it could be an Almont team or some other team."
       Narlock, a certified archivist, said the donation has emphasized two points. The first, of course, is asking for help in identifying the teams and their players. The second is a call to anyone with local historic materials to donate them to increase the library's collection.
       "We have the Monday Club records and the Romeo MRP (Merchants, Restaurants and Professionals) Association keeps their records here," said Narlock. "We're trying to build our collection."
       This is echoed by the Romeo Historical Society, which has a huge collection of local items ranging from valentines and photographs to maps, oil paintings and books.
       "The importance of donating materials is that if you leave it in a box, no one sees it," said Richard Beringer, curator of the society's three museums. "If it's in a museum or library, people can see it years from now."
       Thousands of items can be found at the Romeo Arts and Archives Center, including audio and video recordings of people recalling history that can be used as research and learning tools.
       Donated items also contribute toward the different exhibits the musem puts on, including the Romeo on Wheels exhibit that highlights the area's connections with the first Model T engines. Donations for that collection have come from individuals as well as the Ford Motor Company.
       "It's very important that people donate, it helps tell the story," said Beringer.
       To contact the Kezar Branch Library, call (586) 752-2583. The Romeo Historical Society can be reached at (586) 752-4111.
       ~