[409] MTSU PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS TO PRESERVE RUTHERFORD COUNTY HISTORY

MTSU PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS TO PRESERVE RUTHERFORD COUNTY HISTORY

April 6, 2009

CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

MURFREESBORO—Middle Tennessee State University’s Public History Program will present Visions of the Past: Through the Lens of Shacklett’s Photography, a free exhibit featuring the historic collection of Shacklett’s photographs, beginning Thursday,
April 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Heritage Center, located at 225 West College Street in Murfreesboro.
In order to preserve this critically important collection, the MTSU public history program, Rutherford County Archives and Shacklett’s Photography collaborated for this Heritage Reclamation Project. This ongoing initiative will preserve hundreds of historically significant images through digitization.
Using this project as a foundation, MTSU graduate students will design and build an interpretive exhibit to provide a glimpse into Rutherford County’s rich heritage.
“The exhibit looks at four aspects of local culture: religion, education, sports and the changing landscape,” said exhibit director Layton Carr. There will also be a piece on photo conservation, which explains the cleaning and digitization processes employed in restoring the collection, Carr added.
Bill Shacklett, owner of Shacklett’s photography, noted, “The Heritage Reclamation Project is setting a standard through such exhibits for preserving historically significant photographs.”
The exhibit will be on display until July 31. The Heritage Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.