Show & Share
Anyone fascinated with old photographs will be interested in a new program being offered by the Kent Historical Society – a “Show & Share” presentation Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. in Kent Town Hall.
People with photographs from the 19th or 20th century of Kent people are asked to bring them to this session, which KHS hopes will be the first of several “Show & Share” gatherings focusing on the town’s past. In this first session the Society invites long-time Kent residents to help identify people in photographs. Photos from the Kent Historical Society archives that need IDs will also be shared. KHS Curator Marge Smith will serve as moderator of this event.
The program was inspired by Kent native Stanley Jennings, who is on a quest to discover many of his own relatives from decades past and has learned how to use photographs to assist in his search, along with genealogical records. He hopes to inspire others to engage in a stimulating discussion and sharing of the town’s history through these photographs.
One photograph that he uncovered was sent to one of his relatives in Pensacola, FL. Her 95-year-old grandmother was able to identify women in the photograph from the Soule/Page, Wing, and Ward branches of the Jennings family – all surnames familiar to long-time Kent families.
Plans for the Show & Share session include both the passing around of prints in small groups and the projection of images to share with all those present. The Historical Society will also scan copies of the photographs, with owner’s permission, for incorporation into the group’s archives. Anyone bringing photos is asked to make a reservation at reservations@kenthistoricalsociety.org.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For more information, see kenthistoricalsociety.org or call 860-927-4587. The Kent Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent’s artistic and cultural heritage.