Historical Society to put collections on-line

BETHEL — A generous and much-appreciated financial gift from Bethel Historical Society members Ned and Susan Robertson of Solon, OH, has allowed the organization to purchase more than $1000 worth of computer software and hardware to greatly enhance its ability to catalog collections and share them on-line. Recognizing that the Bethel Society owns or has access to a wealth of historical artifacts, photographs, archives and books, the Robertsons offered to fund a major upgrade to the “PastPerfect” software already in use by staff and volunteers. “As the world's most popular museum software, PastPerfect has made it possible for us to automate many of the time-consuming tasks associated with collections and contacts management,” stated Randall Bennett, BHS Executive Director and Curator of Collections. “Besides providing us with the latest version of the PastPerfect program, the Robertsons’ extraordinary gift has encouraged us to buy software that will enable the Society to post on-line exhibits and individual collection records on the Internet,” he added.

Under the direction of Society Registrar Jacalyn Bell, the organization’s collection records continue to be transferred from paper to digital form. “With the upgraded software, we’ll be able to expand our descriptions of items in the collection,” said Bennett. “For the first time, we’ll also be adding photographs of individual objects and scans of old photographs to our computer records, and the process of posting them on-line will begin as soon as possible.” One of the program’s new features will allow old photographs of the same or similar subjects to be retrieved and viewed together as a slide program - giving anyone with computer access the ability to compare locations, buildings and people over time. Since the Bethel Historical Society’s collections focus heavily on western Maine and the White Mountain region of Maine and New Hampshire, the possibilities for research and study will be wide-ranging.

Founded in 1966, the Bethel Historical Society is western Maine’s largest  - with a focus on western Maine and the White Mountain region - by collecting, preserving, displaying and interpreting historically significant artifacts and documents for residents, visitors, students, and scholars. Through its exhibits, programs, events, and publications, the Society makes the region’s history meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable. For more information contact 824-2908, 800-824-2910 or info@bethelhistorical.org.