UMass Selects Amesbury for 2018 Mass. Memories Road Show

Just in time for its 350th celebration year, Amesbury has been chosen as one of four 2018 host locations for the Mass. Memories Road Show, a project organized by the University of Massachusetts, Boston. This project documents people, places and events in Massachusetts history through family photographs and stories.

The Amesbury Road Show is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be held at Amesbury High School. Mass. Memories Road Show staff and volunteers will be on hand to scan family and community photographs and to videotape “the stories behind the photos.” All Amesbury residents are invited to bring up to three photos for the Amesbury community album, which will eventually become part of a state-wide digital collection called the Mass. Memories Road Show. Photos will be scanned on site and immediately returned to their owners.

This is your chance to become part of Massachusetts history by sharing photos and stories. All subjects are welcome, including ordinary snapshots, formal portraits, family reunion or wedding photos, military portraits, community events and club meeting photos. Photos can be recent or from the past, as long as they have meaning for you personally. Everyone is welcome to contribute, whether your family has been in Amesbury for generations or you just moved here. Bring photographic prints or electronic images on a CD or portable drive.

The coordinators for Amesbury’s Mass. Memories Road Show project are John Mayer, executive director of the Amesbury Carriage Museum, and Doreen Brothers, Council on Aging director at the Amesbury Senior Community Center. Other participating groups include Amesbury’s 350th Committee, Amesbury Cultural Council, the Amesbury Public Library, the Whittier Home, the Amesbury Lion’s Club, Lowell’s Boat Shop, Amesbury Treasures and the Amesbury Improvement Association.

The goal of the Mass. Memories Road Show is to hold public scanning events in all 351 Massachusetts communities, creating a digital portrait of the Commonwealth, providing access to family photographs and stories, and building community knowledge and connections. The Amesbury event will be a wonderful way to celebrate the 350th anniversary.

For more information, contact John Mayer at the Amesbury Carriage Museum or Doreen Brothers at the Amesbury Senior Community Center. You can view the current Mass. Memories Road Show collection at http://openarchives.umb.edu.