Meyersdale Public Library - Photographs

About This Collection

The Meyersdale Public Library photograph collections contain approximately 2,000 photographs. From the total collection, about 320 will be selected for digitization based on the selection criteria. The photographs that will be selected for online display are significant because they provide a broad overview of life immediately before, during, and after the Progressive Era in the Allegheny Mountains region (mostly Somerset Co., PA & northern Maryland). The photographs capture families & individuals both in portraits and in natural settings, military men, coal mines, mills, railroads, transportation, education, and African American families. Our photographs have been used in Somerset Magazine and in the book "Allegheny Passage Companion, Guide to History & Heritage Along the Trail" by Bill Metzger. Accessibility to the collection will be enhanced because the images will be searchable online. Currently the photographs are accessioned on paper but are not included in our library catalog. Digitization would allow users easy & free access to historical photographs that would otherwise essentially be hidden in a closet.
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Young lady in striped dress
Portrait photographs, Women
Her stance, with head held high, shoulders straight, and arms behind her back, gives a look of determination. Her hair is full and softly pulled back. She chose a long striped dress with capped short sleeves over long sleeves, and a high necked collar. She wore a locket. 3 3/8 x 5 3/8 in. black and white postcard.
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Young lady in white dress with high collar
Portrait photographs, Women
For this portrait, she chose a white jacket over a high necked white blouse, and a collar secured with a brooch. A locket is pinned by her left shoulder. Her curly hair is parted on her right. 3 x 3 in. black and white photograph.
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Young lady posing by table
Portrait photographs, Women
This woman chose a dark, full skirted dress with ruffled sleeves and a lace trimmed collar for her photograph. After her hair was neatly pinned in a bun in the back, she sat primly with her arm resting on an intricately carved table. She looked off to her right with a steady gaze, and rested her other hand in her lap. 8 x 9 7/8 in. black and white photograph.
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Young lady with a rose on her collar
Portrait photographs, Women
In this young lady's profile, her hair is fastened with a fancy hair clasp. The bangs in front are very short. The front of her dress is intricate with a high rounded collar fastened with a cloth rose. 3 3/8 x 5 1/8 in. black and white photograph.
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Young man leaning on chair
Portrait photographs, Men
A fringed curtain is draped behind where the young man rests his hand on a chair. Standing tall in a three button suit, he faces straight ahead with a faraway look. His jacket is buttoned with three buttons, and a button shows on his vest. A high collared shirt is matched with a large knot tie. He has a full head of curly hair. 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. black and white postcard.
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Young man looking sad
Portrait photographs, Men
He has a full head of curly hair, and is dressed in a suit jacket, vest, white shirt, and large bow tie. He does not seem happy. 2 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. black and white photograph.
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Young man with a happy smile
Portrait photographs, Men
A young man poses with bright eyes and a smile. His hair is combed neatly back. In a dark suit with a vest, and a white shirt, he poses confidently. 8 7/8 x 5 3/4 in. black and white photograph.
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Young man with determined look
Portrait photographs, Men
Looking to his right with his head held high, he has a determined look. He is wearing glasses and has neatly combed, curly hair parted on his left. He chose a striped bow tie to go with his dark suit jacket and white shirt. 2 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. black and white photograph.
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Young man with stern look
Portrait photographs, Men
Not smiling, looking straight ahead, the young man wore a very stiff high white collar on his shirt. A striped tie was worn with his white shirt and lighter colored jacket. A bit of curl was in his hair, and he had it parted in the middle. 3 1/8 x 4 1/8 in. black and white photograph.
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Young men reading The Standard Newspaper
Men, Newspapers, Portrait photographs
With a painted scene behind them, two men read the Standard Newspaper. The man sitting in the chair wears light colored slacks, a dark jacket, a white shirt, a bow tie, and a bowler hat. The other man, with a newsboy hat, smokes a cigarette and sits on the arm of the chair. He is wearing a dark suit and a high collar white shirt with a bow tie. 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. glass negative.
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Young scholarly man
Portrait photographs, Men
This young man wears glasses and looks solemn. His hair is parted and combed smoothly on the sides. He is wearing a suit jacket, vest, white shirt and tie. 2 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. black and white photograph.
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Zilda cutting the grass
Lawn mowing, Women, Houses
The lawn looks quite overgrown, and Zilda will have to work hard pushing the bladed mower. Zilda will be cool in her bonnet and white, short sleeved, ankle length dress. The lawn is across the road from a two story house. Transcribed from the album page ‘Zilda, the farmeress.’ 2 1/2 x 4 in. black and white photograph.
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