In conjunction with Heritage Week, Wellesley Historical Society to use Instagram to share vintage images
![A vintage family photo from the Historical and Heritage Society archive. You can view the collection at instagram.com/wellesleyhistory. [Submitted]](https://www.observerxtra.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NEWS_Images.jpg)
The account, which marks the WTHHS’s first plunge into social media, will present archival photographs previously available only by visiting the Historical Room (1137 Henry St.).
“I’m trying to find ways to make our collection more accessible to everyone,” said Nancy Maitland, curator of WTHHS.
“I’m going to feature at least once a week a photo from our historical collection. Sometimes that will be a photo that we know a lot about; sometimes it will be a photo that I’m asking people if they know who the people are or what the event is, because we have quite a number of photographs in our collection that are not identified.”
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More than 700 vintage pictures of the township’s streets, farms, schools, churches, and social events dating back to the 1890s will be added over time, plus images of objects in the collection. Maitland adds that the society is always looking for donations.
“Many, many of [the photos] have to do with Wellesley Village, and I would really like to have much more representation from the rest of the township as well. I’m trying to make it as wide-appeal as possible, but sometimes there are some gaps in our collection in terms of the other villages.
“Sometimes people want to keep the original and they let us scan the photo for our collection. We’d rather have the original, but we’re very, very happy to have any sort of electronic version of the photo.”
The project has the support of Mayor Ross Kelterborn, who said in a statement, “Social media is new to me, but it seems like a great way to showcase out collection.”
“We have quite a few really lovely views of the village – the main street and the mill pond,” added Maitland. “But I would stress we would love to have other photos from other parts of the township.”
The account will be viewable at instagram.com/wellesleyhistory. Users can keep track of the photos by searching the hashtags #wellesleyhistory, #wellesleytownship, and #wthhs.
The WTHHS Historical Room will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Family Day, and is also open the last Saturday of every month except December.
