DERRY — Imagine keeping track of more than 16,000 alumni.
Then imagine the task of keeping records, old photos, and various other historical artifacts from many of those alumni in a proper, organized fashion.
That's the calling of town historian Richard Holmes as he peruses and ponders a wealth of Pinkerton Academy artifacts kept safely in the upper floor of the school's Alumni Building.
Holmes has taken on history — since Pinkerton was founded in 1814 to the present — and hopes to put everything in a proper place and category for all to enjoy.
Some of that history is hidden beneath the horse hair-plastered walls and the steep, segregated "boys" and "girls" stairways leading to the upper floor of the building.
"There are always alumni dropping in, asking us questions or telling us things," Holmes said.
He said Pinkerton's trustees take very good care of their archives, but needed someone to come in and help organize everything.
Some Pinkerton items are already on display, including original Pinkerton family furniture, a family Bible, clothing and family portraits.
Holmes hopes to gather Pinkerton history in groups, like putting together a complete set of the "Critic" yearbooks all the way back to 1900.
He is missing the February 1911 Critic and hopes someone out there may have it and want to donate it to the school.
Then there are the photos, boxes and boxes, numbering in the thousands.
"I find different topics in different boxes," Holmes said, "that need to be put together."
Pinkerton had some famous names walk its halls, including poet Robert Frost and Alan B. Shepard Jr., the first American in space.
Holmes has been working with Pinkerton's history for about a year.
The historian has his own ties to the school, named an honorary alumnus.
He credited Headmaster Mary Anderson for giving him the opportunity to do his work.
"I'm working with history, and I'm standing in history," Holmes said.
Anyone with items to donate, or graduates that may want to get involved and help go through documents or photos are welcome to call Holmes at 434-6042.
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