Louise Paine Moore - Angelfish

When I initially paid a visit to Heather Morgan at the Mark Twain Library in Redding, Connecticut I expected to be viewing the library's collection of photographs. [I had started a calendar project in the Summer of 2007 having purchased the printing rights to 10 photos from the Mark Twain Museum in Hartford, Connecticut and I was looking for 2 more to complete the project.] What happened next changed everything! Heather opened up a small closet nearly filled to the ceiling with a mixture of filing cabinets and archive boxes. At first I thought the room might be misc. storage but as Heather pulled out box after box I realized they were all labeled with something relating to Twain. We spent the next 3 hours sorting through about a 1/4 of the material and as we did I began to realize this was a much bigger project than just a calendar or even a booklet could hold.

One item that stood out was a framed letter/picture collage in memory of Louise Paine Moore, Albert Bigelow Paine's daughter. It was given to the library in 1968 by her daughter Dodie Thomas. I took some digital photos of it for Heather but I'm sure it will be of interest to others tracking the progress of this project.









One of the last items we viewed was the Stormfield Guestbook, it really didn't sink in until I was halfway home, but when it did I nearly had to pull over. I had access to the names and signatures of every person who visited that house from 1908 to 1910! and soon the World will too. As mentioned in the initial post, I'm heading down to Redding tomorrow so expect a photo of the guestbook over the weekend.
Brent Colley
HistoryofRedding.com

The Mark Twain Stormfield Project Begins

The Plan

1. Scan the Mark Twain Library's photographs of Clemens, the house, the grounds, the staff, friends and family, etc…

a) Group digitized photographs in folders by subject.
b) Format digitized photographs to print quality. This will allow MTL to lease usage rights for photographs in the future or sell prints online. Will also allow certain items to be included in Centennial Booklet and Calendar.
c) Format digitized photographs to web quality. This will allow for an online exhibit of the collection at MTL.
d) Save digitized photographs to read-write CD's (so they can be added to in the future).
e) Create online exhibit of photographs that are free of copyrights and/or have been approved for display online. Photographs will be displayed in a format known as "Flash". This format makes it impossible for users to download photos for their own use.

2. Photograph items belonging to or relating to Samuel Clemens. These would be digital photographs to allow for online presentation.

a) Format photographs to print quality. Will allow certain items to be included in Centennial Booklet and Calendar.
b) Format photographs to web quality. This will allow for an online exhibit of the items.
c) Save photographs to read-write CD's (so they can be added to in the future).
d) Create online exhibit of items that have been approved for display online.

3. Transcribe documents belonging to or relating to Samuel Clemens. By digitizing the collection at MTL the history these items contain can be freely distributed and shared with Mark Twain scholars. Digitizing would also protect the contents of these items from future damage or loss.

a) Hand-type contents of the MTL collections into digital text format. This will include notes made by Twain in his book collection and his guestbook, letters, etc... while in Redding.
b) Group digital text into folders by subject.
c) Save collection to read-write CD's (so they can be added to in the future).
d) Create online exhibit of documents that have been approved for display online.

This project's objective is to promote and raise awareness of Clemens' time in Redding, Connecticut. If we can do the same for the surrounding towns and cities that are connected with Twain that would be an amazing and welcomed bonus.

I want to work with local historians and local historical societies to promote their "Friends of Twain", their resources and their efforts.

Making Connecticut a destination for Twain research is my ultimate goal but I will need help.

So that is an overview of the project and this blog will be the source of updates. Feel free to comment, the intent is interaction and shared excitement!
Brent Colley
HistoryofRedding.com