Lives of the Valley:
Meet Fannie Clary and Jessie Tarbox Beals

Frances Guilford Clary was a teacher and one of Williamsburg’s turn-of-the century dynamic women.

Did you know that the Pioneer Valley was the home and inspiration for America’s first female photo-journalist?  Come to Williamsburg and find out more!

To celebrate American Archives Month and kick off a year-long program celebrating biography and the stories of people here in the Pioneer Valley, the Meekins Library and the Williamsburg Historical Society present Fannie Clary and Jessie Tarbox Beals: Williamsburg Ladies Ahead of Their Time on the Leading Edge in a Changing World, an illustrated talk by historian Ralmon Jon Black.

Get acquainted with your neighbors, both old and new. On Tuesday, October 12th, 2010, gather in the Friendship Hall of the Williamsburg Congregational Church in the center of Williamsburg after 6:00 for a potluck at 6:30. The program will begin at 7:30. The Williamsburg Historical Society is the Meekins Library partner for this event. The events are free and everyone is welcome.

Jessie Tarbox Beals taught in Williamsburg with Fannie, and from here launched her pioneering career as the first female photo-journalist.

Frances Guilford Clary was a teacher and one of Williamsburg’s turn-of-the century dynamic women.  Jessie Tarbox Beals taught in Williamsburg with Fannie, and from here launched her pioneering career as the first female photo-journalist.

It is the stories of our historical Valley friends and neighbors that reach across generations and make this a special place.  Look for more programs at the Meekins Library in the coming year and seize the chance to meet other Valley residents, including poet Emily Dickinson and first lady Grace Coolidge.

October is American Archives Month. It is a collaborative effort by professional organizations and historical repositories around the nation to highlight the importance of records of enduring value. Archivists are professionals who assess, collect, organize, preserve, maintain control of, and provide access to information that has lasting value, and they help people find and understand the information they need in those records.

For more information call:  413-268-7472, contact Daria D’Arienzo at: ddarienzo@cwmars.org or at ddarienzo@me.com or visit the Meekins Library online at: www.meekins-library.org.