Beyond Brown Paper is an ongoing project that involves three collaborative departments at Plymouth State University — Lamson Library’s Michael J. Spinelli Jr. Center for University Archives and Special Collections, Karl Drerup Art Gallery, and the Center for Rural Partnerships.
Funded by a grant in 2006 from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, 250 of the 11,000 photographs were scanned with preservation quality resolution. A computer workstation was purchased and set up in Berlin which provided internet access to these images and the capacity for users to provide information on the images either by phone or computer. The Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire worked as a partner in making connections with Berlin-area community organizations and volunteers and in linking this project to a variety of local cultural initiatives through the hard work of a VISTA volunteer.
Scanning these images with preservation quality resolution ensures all subsequent work is done with digital images rather than manipulation of the fragile photographs. The scanned images, totaling over 34,000 to date, are accessible from this website and allow users to input written content related to the photographs.
The Brown Company Photographic Collection, which is located in Lamson Library’s Michael J. Spinelli Jr. Center for University Archives and Special Collections, documents much of the history of the Brown Company of Berlin, New Hampshire from the late nineteenth century through the mid-1960s. Among the subjects depicted in considerable detail are the varieties of work activity from the felling of trees to the final manufacture of pulp and paper in Berlin and Gorham. Also shown in detail are engineering projects, the construction of mills, and the installation of new equipment and machinery. A significant portion of the collection chronicles the social, cultural, and recreational lives of the workers, their families, and the place of these people in the life of Berlin itself.
On October 15, 2008, the Beyond Brown Paper exhibition opened at Plymouth State University in the Silver Center for the Arts, and ran through December 15, 2008. The exhibition, containing roughly 35 enlarged photos, allowed for more interaction from visitors.
St. Kieran Arts Center in Berlin, NH hosted the exhibit from April through June 2009. Along with its opening reception, an evening of Brown Company memories was shared by local folks whose lives were impacted by the presence of the company for many years. It is hoped that the exhibition will travel to other locations in the North Country and beyond.
Hear New Hampshire Public Radio’s report on the Beyond Brown Paper project: http://www.nhpr.org/node/17569
8 responses so far ↓
1 Brad Hachez // Dec 19, 2006 at 9:34 am
I think it is appropriate to acknowledge Dr. Charles Brown, the Academic Technology Fellow of the Lamson Learning Commons, as the individual who has scanned these images and done so exceptionally well.
2 Social Tagging and Cataloging « colombianflowers // Apr 20, 2007 at 10:25 am
[…] Take for example the Beyond Brown Paper site. This is a project based out of Plymouth State University, and it aims to digitize and preserve a photography collection about the paper mills that used to function in the area. The collection contains about 11,000 photographs that are gradually making their way on to their site. The fascinating thing is that the site allows for comments and collaboration, and this has brought new information to the project. Locals who used to work at these mills have seen some of the photographs, and through their comments have started to fill in the information gaps. […]
3 Elmer McKay // Jul 26, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I am a model railroader. As such, we are always researching industries to build and put on our layouts. The paper industry is one that can be modeled in many different ways. I found this site by searching for “pulpwood unloading”. I am thrilled to say the least at finding this site with all of these photos. Great work!!!
4 Alice Elizabeth Strait // Sep 8, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I’m very interested in anything about the boom piers located in the Androscoggin. Please send links or info when you can. I’m very impressed with your website.
A retired educator,
Alice
5 Ian McLaren // Oct 10, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Arthur Brosius was my grandfather….but I knew him only after he retired….I am the son of his youngest daughter…Norma
6 Bilingual Librarian » Social Tagging and Cataloging // Nov 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[…] for example the Beyond Brown Paper site. This is a project based out of Plymouth State University, and it aims to digitize and […]
7 Steve Tardiff // Dec 2, 2008 at 10:23 pm
This site is fascinating! I own a camp in the Swift Diamond on South Valley Brook. I stumbled upon the pictures of camp 25 item 752 on this website. I believe that camp 25 is about 3/4 of a mile from my camp.
8 Dave Brevik // Jun 7, 2009 at 1:59 pm
My father was Ralph Brevik, I was surprised to
see his picures here.
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