The Chelmsford Library has been working with the Chelmsford Historical Society and Chelmsford Telemedia to digitize the historic photographs held in the library's archive.

As they are prepared, these photographs are being uploaded to the library's Flickr account (read about Flickr), in order to make them available to the public. A sample of some of the latest updates are shown here, with the full archive available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelmsfordpubliclibrary/collections/72157618020594045/.

Some of these photographs are part of the Royal Shawcross photograph collection, which includes over 150 photographs taken in the North Chelmsford, Massachusetts area around 1901. The subjects include residences and businesses of the area, including the fire ruins of a major mill. Royal Shawcross was listed in the 1922 Chelmsford Town Directory as an accountant in Boston. His home was on Newfield Street in North Chelmsford.

If you would like to contribute photos, or can identify the buildings or subjects shown here, please contact Brian Herzog, Head of Reference, at bherzog@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521.