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Stewardship
Alfred W. Mueller
(1909-2004)
Galena
What began as a childhood pastime became a lifelong pursuit for this
Galena native. For over 90 years, Mueller amassed a collection of historic
images of his hometown and the surrounding area. At last count, the
collection numbered in excess of 10,000 items—all available for |
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public
use, thanks to Mueller's generosity. The oldest pieces in the collection are a series
of 1840s daguerreotypes, an early form of photography.
Postcards and
photos from Mueller’s collection were a primary source for The Building of
Galena (1977), a publication that documented the city’s architectural
history. Countless researchers, residents, and visitors to Galena have
benefited from Mueller’s careful stewardship of these items. In choosing
this award, the jury noted how “rare it is in this country to find an
individual archivist dedicated to the conservation of such an extensive
collection.”
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