SEARSPORT — Carver Memorial Library and Penobscot Marine Museum will set sail on an adventure through the eyes of two young photographers with a joint event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 3 p.m., at the library, located at 12 Union Street in Searsport.

The focus of the presentation will be on the life and travels of 18-year-olds Ruth Montgomery and Joanna Colcord, both of whom traveled extensively at the turn of the 19th century and photographed their way through the world. Montgomery and Colcord offer a unique perspective on growing up on the coast of Maine and how travel informed their sensibilities and their creative work.

“Today when an 18-year-old travels, she’s constantly taking selfies and photos with her phone and posting them on social media,” said Jeana Ganskop, Education Director at the Penobscot Marine Museum, in a news release. “Looking at Ruth’s life and Joanna’s life through a selection of their photos helps to blur the lines between past and present and makes the girls more relatable. These young women were taking pictures of the places they saw, the people they met, and their mode of transportation. Their photos from 1899 and 1900 are unique in that they show another time and faraway places, yet the content also shows that Ruth and Joanna were just like us.” 

Following a brief talk at the library, attendees will take a short walk to the museum for a private tour of the If You Give a Girl a Camera exhibit featuring photos by Colcord and Montgomery.

“It’s one thing to hear about their lives and imagine what they experienced,” says Carver Library Director Sue McClintock. “But to really see through their eyes what they were seeing as young women traveling in foreign countries is a really amazing experience.”

The event is free and open to all ages. For more information, please visit the library’s website or contact staff at staff@carverlibrary.org or (207) 548-2303.

Carver Memorial Library is a small public library with a beautiful historic building located at 12 Union Street, on the corner of Mortland Avenue in Searsport. Its mission is to be an anchor to the community, providing access to information, ideas and technology, and welcoming to all. The Stash Sale will be held at Mermaid Plaza, 1 E. Main Street in Searsport.