P3D Preserving the history of Stereo Clubs

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill's comment that he'd rather not bother with our club's everyday 
news got me thinking.  Now, how many of us would like to go back and 
read old club newsletters and descriptions of meetings?  Read about 
Harold Lloyd leading the Hollywood stereo club?  Read about young 
Piper?  Pinsky and Starkman?

This is history.  Club members today should try and record this 
history by taking pictures in the meetings.  Newsletter editors 
should put this history to printed form in the newsletters.  

I subscribe to a number of club newsletters.  Most of them do not 
spend any time to detail what happened in the last meeting.  That 
should be corrected, IMO.

The Detroit stereo club will be 50 years in 1999 (was formed in 1949). 
Some members (myself included) said that they would like to read about 
the history of the club.  Billy Turner then told us that the club 
records were lost when they were given to some Secretary 20 or so 
years ago and he lost them or refused to pass them along.  It's really 
socking to think that 50 years of this historic stereo club have been 
lost for ever.

In Cleveland there was a stereo club, meeting at NASA.  I have only 
heard remote stories about it.  There are no newsletters, no pictures 
(that I have seen), no records.  We will have to approach past members 
of this club before they move to the 4th dimension, to document the 
history of stereo photography in the Cleveland area.

I know in Rochester NY where Bill Davis lives, there is a stereo club 
meeting at Kodak (for Kodak employees?)  Does anyone there care to 
document the history of this club?  How about the history of stereo
in New York city?

About our club:  We issued our first 12 the newsletters in one volume. 
In there you will find the history of how our club was formed.  
Details of every meeting.  Pictures of the officers.  In every meeting 
I now take my stereo camera.  I take stereo pictures.  I put pictures 
and details in the newsletter.  I interview members.  (Sorry for the 
many "I"s but I happen to be the Editor.... I hope this will continue 
by future Editors)

It will be fun 20 or 50 years from now to see pictures of "young DrT". 
See how much we changed (in appearance and views - "hey here is DrT 
while he was still using a Realist... Ahhh... the good old times!")  
Some people will pass away but their legend will be preserved in these 
newsletters.  Future generations 50 years from now will have something 
to read to feel part of this history.

Bottom line:  It's OK if you don't care to read our story but please 
make sure that you record your story (your personal and club story) 
properly! (in 3d and with written details)  It only takes a little 
effort but the payoff for future generations is large.

Imagine, this little historical preservation lesson comes from someone 
who does not even use Kodachrome! (Or Bill who's favorite B&W)  But I
collect old stereo publications and newsletters and enjoy reading 
about old times and the legends of the past.

George Themelis



------------------------------