DONEGAL County Museum is unveiling a never-before-seen collection of photographs dating from the early 1900s, along with photographic equipment used over the years to capture memories of the locality.
This important photographic collection is one of the largest undiscovered and undeveloped collections of Donegal images from this period.
In 1988, a year after the official opening of Donegal County Museum, the McCausland family donated a significant and important collection of items from their shop in Milford. The shop had just closed following 123 years of business on the Main Street since opening in 1856.
This collection included many personal effects from the family, such as old cameras, film and developing equipment.
It also contained a small collection of glass plate negatives, featuring scenes of family life around the Milford area and beyond. There were also magic lantern slides used for entertainment and learning, as well as advertisement slides for the shop.
A lantern slide advertising Meccano for sale in McCausland’s Shop, Milford. Photos: Courtesy of Donegal County Museum McCausland Collection.
“We have looked after the collection for nearly 40 years and have now decided to digitise it as part of an ongoing project to make our collections more accessible in the lead up to our 40th anniversary next year” explains Judith McCarthy, Curator at the County Museum.
“Our museum collection is continuing to grow and as newer technology allows us to digitise it, we are very excited to be able to open some of it to the public.
“It’s all part of the magic of museums, providing a vibrant snapshot of our unique heritage that continues to amaze us years later.”
Ian Mc Causland, future proprietor of McCausland’s store in Milford as a young boy in 1910.
The exhibition also includes period toys from the shop and a magic lantern – a precursor to the modern cinema projector from the early 1900s.
“We’ll also be displaying a wonderful industrial portrait camera, from Barr’s Printers in Letterkenny. It’s the kind you see in the old silent movies that looks like a giant concertina” says Judith.
“Camera technology was relatively new back then, so it’s wonderful to see all these people posing for the first time to a brand-new technology in their own homes and around Milford.”
The exhibition, entitled Light and Magic, will be open to the public from today (Thursday) to November 12.
Admission is free.
For further information contact Donegal County Museum, 074 9124613; email [email protected]
A photo of Main Street, Milford with old RIC Barracks on left c.1908-1912.