Carnegie’s latest display features early photographs of Fairfield, Jefferson County

The Carnegie Historical Museum would like to announce a newly completed display, created by John Stimson, telling the story of the early photographers and their work done here in Fairfield and Jefferson County. John had worked with our long-term director, Mark Shafer, researching old photographs and negatives from our early photographers, long before the digital age arrived.

John has done the research going all the way back to the mid-1800s when the “Daguerreotype” was brought to Fairfield. The invention was done in France in 1839 by Mr. Daguerre and first arrived in Fairfield in 1850. Approximately 30-years ago John spoke with the Carnegie Board about the artifacts that related to photography in our museum. This has been an ongoing project that is now on display on the third floor of our museum.

As part of his research, John found that Rory Goff, in his book “History of Commerce in Fairfield,” had done great research previously and was able to make available the resources that he had located. They are available in a notebook format placed in front of the display listing names and background of many of those individuals who found photography a hobby and some moved to be professionals of our community. Prior to the digital world arriving there were studios in Fairfield that served the community for decades.

This is the second display telling of various forms of commerce in Fairfield.

The public is invited during regular museum hours, to stop and visit and learn more about this historical preservation of photography in Fairfield. The museum hours are Tuesday — Friday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Contact the museum at jeffersoncountyheritage.org or by phone at 641-472-6343.

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