Archived Program

MHM Sponsors Photo Day at Villa Marin
— Part of ongoing project, Family Photo Days

On May 23, 2006 volunteers and staff of the Marin History Museum set up shop at Villa Marin, a retirement community in San Rafael, and listened. They listened to the stories told by residents as they shared their family photographs and memories of past times—both remote and recent—in Marin. A professional photographer was on hand to create archival copy prints of the unique visual records brought by the residents. Trained staff and volunteers also were present to record the priceless historical information that accompanied each photograph.

This daylong event involved 14 residents of Villa Marin who shared their family stories, personal memories and snapshots with the Museum. This was the second successful Photo Day event sponsored by the Museum, and more are planned.

The photographs and accompanying stories collected at Photo Day events are added to the Museum’s permanent collection, and, eventually, will become a part of the Family Photo Album exhibit in the new Marin History Museum. This interactive exhibit will illustrate a central theme of the Museum: that the stories of Marin County families are an integral part of our history and influential on our future. To honor, understand and draw inspiration from family stories, this interactive, computerized exhibit will display old and new photographs from as many Marin families as possible. Eventually, this exhibit will contain thousands of images from hundreds of families from all backgrounds and all parts of Marin.

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E.W. Smith Boot and Shoemaker on B Street in San Rafael, 1895. Shop owner Eugene William Smith, center, is the father of San Rafael native and lifetime resident Eugenia Pitcher-Butts, who shared her family photographs at Villa Marin. Courtesy of Eugenia Pitcher-Butts.