Histories Mysteries - The Malta Collection Story
Histories Mysteries - The Malta Collection
The Rowing History Project where this story resides is like all history ,is a tale of twists and turns.
The Malta Story begins in 1985 when in the in cleaning the House a movie was found in a canister seemingly abandoned in an old filing cabinet. When opened the contents were an old 35 mm 10 inch reel that was literally bubbling as a result of the Nitrate film disintegration. Upon a very unscientific examination it looked like a rowing film, but in terrible condition. Coincidentally, the Seaport Museum was mounting an exhibit of rowing History. The graciously offered to restore it if it could be used in their exhibit. They did and turned out to vintage films from 1925-1928 now available on You Tube.
Also, in 1985 for the 125th Anniversary, the Club Secretary, Ed Lentz undertook a task to produce a History of the Club using other onsite documents, long forgotten. That History is attached herewith.
But the story does not end, in 2010 for the 150th Anniversary of the Club research began anew into the onsite Archival material, much of it still contained in old filing cabinets and suffering, apparently assembled by longtime member Fred Weiss in the 1930’s and through 1970. It contained minutes from 1887 onward ( some contained here), log books, photos, correspondence, etc, all in need of preservation. Not to mention physical trophies and rowing shells.
The next step was to seek some professional help. Doing a search an amazing coincidence came to our attention. The Pennsylvania Historic Society had in their collection seven boxes of Malta records, that we did not know existed. Upon meetings and examination with them in turns out that in 1947 a Mr. Bruener had donated them to the Society, not a member, but they contained documents thought to be long lost to history. They seemingly came from the estate of longtime treasurer and secretary Howard Young.
Pulling all together starting in earnest in 2017 has been the task of devoted members of the Club to preserve our Archives both on site and with the Pennsylvania Historic society which has graciously agreed to house original documents for safe keeping.
As a result of these efforts, it identified the need for broader approach to preservation, and the participation of all clubs and private collections. This with others is how the Rowing History Project began.