Collections

Tom Jennings Negatives

Mr. Tom Jennings owned and operated a photography studio on North Tennessee Avenue in Parsons from the late 1940s until the mid 1970s.  He continued to make photographs up until his death. He photographed numerous graduations, weddings, funerals, and civic and social activities in Decatur and nearby counties. Upon his death in 1981,  Mr. Jennings family graciously donated the thousands of negatives to the DCHS.  We are currently in the process of sorting and indexing the negatives.

 

Collections Policy

We collect artifacts that help tell Decatur County's history.  The Historical Society will consider items for acquisition and accessioning if the following criteria are met:

• The item(s) falls within the DCHS collection scope
• DCHS can properly care for or develop a plan for the care of the item(s) in accordance with professionally accepted standards
• The item(s) is in reasonable condition and will not adversely affect other items in the collections or pose a threat to human life
• The item(s) comes with free and clear title
• The item(s) meets collections needs by filling a gap in the collection or replacing an inferior example
• The items(s) does not represent an unnecessary duplication of artifacts already in the collections
• DCHS intends to keep the item in the collection as long as the item retains its physical integrity and usefulness for DCHS’s purposes