Sumner County Volunteers Preserve Over 10,000 Historic Glass Plate Negatives

In a remarkable display of dedication, volunteers in Sumner County have successfully preserved over 10,000 glass plate negatives, offering a vivid glimpse into the county's early 20th-century life.

Initially estimated at around 7,000, the collection expanded significantly as the project progressed. "But in the end, it came out to be more like between 10 and 11,000," noted Allen Haynes, a key figure in the endeavor.

These negatives, captured by professional photographer E.M. Stark in the early 1900s, have been meticulously cleaned, preserved, and indexed at the Sumner County Archives. "I've seen every one because I indexed," said Julie Kincheloe of the archives. "I indexed – every – image." The final count reached 10,157 negatives, each carefully stored in special archival paper.

The collection predominantly features portraits that encapsulate the essence of Sumner County's residents. "He (Stark) captures, I say, the soul of people," remarked Bonnie Martin, director of the county's archives.

The preservation effort demanded significant dedication. Volunteers from the Sumner County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution learned specialized cleaning techniques to restore the fragile negatives, many of which were dusty and damaged. "The ladies that cleaned the negatives before, they had to learn how to do that too," Haynes explained.

The collection offers glimpses of soldiers, schoolboys, and everyday people whose descendants might still reside in the community today. "You don't find people with dedication much anymore, for something like that," Haynes said. For those involved, the project represents more than just preserving old photographs – it's about saving history itself. "If somebody doesn't do it, and sometimes that ends up being me," Haynes said. "It just won't get done and history will be gone."

In a related effort, the Sumner County Archives has been seeking public assistance to identify individuals in over 4,000 restored portraits. "We have had people in the community that have come in and have identified some of the people, that has helped quite a bit," said Martin. This initiative underscores the community's commitment to preserving and personalizing its rich history.

For those interested in exploring this extensive collection or contributing to the identification process, the Sumner County Archives is located at 365 North Belvedere Drive in Gallatin, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This endeavor not only safeguards historical artifacts but also strengthens the community's connection to its past, ensuring that the stories and faces of early 20th-century Sumner County are remembered for generations to come.