PIERCETON – Learn about the Whitko Community Digital Image Project and see a sampling of the photographs copied so far at “Picturing Pierceton: Then and Now.” This slide show contrasts historic photos of businesses, churches, schools, and other buildings with current-day views. The free program is 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pierceton and Washington Township Public Library, 101 W. Catholic Street. The Pierceton and Washington Township Library and the South Whitley-Cleveland Township Public Library have joined forces to gather local history. The libraries are digitizing items from existing collections as well as borrowing items from individuals and organizations. The goal is to document all five townships, past and present, within the Whitko area. Phase one focuses on Washington, Monroe, and Jackson Townships in Kosciusko County. This collection will assist in the celebration of Pierceton’s sesquicentennial in 2016. Phase two (scanning of items in Cleveland and Richland Townships in Whitley County) begins in mid-2011. The project will create a lasting digital pictorial archive of the area accessible on the Internet for students, historians, and local researchers. This project is part of the Indiana Memory Digital Library and is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Indiana State Library. Other funds provided by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, the Whitley County Community Foundation, the Pierceton Library Friends, and donations from individuals. “Picturing Pierceton” is the first of six workshops in the Photograph Preservation Workshop Series, funded by Indiana Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The next workshop will be “Preserving Your Family Photographs,” June 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Pierceton Library. To make a reservation, call 574-592-5474. A sampling of scans from phase one is on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagephoto/collections/72157623245522581/ Facebook members can join the "Memories of Pierceton" group.
