This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/01/2016 02:30 PMNext year, 2017, will mark the 100th anniversary of the United States entrance into World War I. To commemorate the “War to end all wars,” the Connecticut State Library is working to collect photos, letters, and other memorabilia from the war to be digitalized and documented.
Partnering with the Guilford Parks & Recreation Department, representatives from the state library will come to Guilford Tuesday, March 15 with scanners to document war memorabilia Guilford residents might be interested in sharing.
The project, Remembering World War I: Sharing History/Preserving Memory, aims to document local and family history aspects of the war. Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard said the project director reached out to him about coming to Guilford after hearing Maynard share documents from his relative who served in the war.
“I spoke last November at a World War I event at CCSU,” he said. “There was a short film made about World War I featuring my great uncle who was killed the last day of the war. I have dozens of letters that he wrote to my grandfather.”
The scanning event is being held in Guilford, but is open to residents from neighboring towns as well. According to documents from the state library, Guilford registered 987 men for service in 1917 and more than 100 were eventually deployed. Maynard said this event is a great opportunity to reflect on that sacrifice.
“This scanning event will be a great opportunity for other people in the community or on the shoreline,” he said.
The Guilford Free Library will also play a part in the digitalization event, providing additional scanners and reaching out to residents according to Assistant Library Director Patty Baldwin.
“We do know of some people in town who are particularly interested in war memorabilia who have pretty comprehensive collections,” she said.
All scanned material will be added to a digital database through the state library, but Baldwin said the Guilford library is always interested in cataloging memorabilia from the war right here in town.
“The library always has these resources and we are always happy to add to our digital collection anytime someone wants to bring us something that they don’t particular want to part with but they think would be of interest to others,” she said.
The Remembering World War I: Sharing History/Preserving Memory digitalization event will be held Tuesday, March 15 at the Guilford Community center from 6 to 9 p.m. To learn more about the project, visit www.CTinWorldWar1.org.