Preserve Your History While Celebrating Mercer

Mercer County is celebrating its 175th Anniversary this year, and you’re invited to the party! 

Mercer residents, past and present, are invited to bring historical photographs, letters and other special documents to be scanned at one of the County’s “Participate Please” events being held throughout the year. The first takes place on Tuesday, May 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the .

County staff will be on hand to scan your material on site. Originals immediately go back to the owners. Bring a flash drive if you wish to leave with a digital image.

Mercer County’s long, interesting history is richly colored by the waves of immigrants who came from around the world to make their home here. Some arrived in Colonial days, others arrived more recently. All are a part of Mercer’s vibrant history! To help share this history, families are invited to bring up to three items—photographs or documents—representing themselves, their ancestors, their community as part of the larger Mercer County Story. Photos taken at homes, sites and events within Mercer County are especially welcome.

These photos will be shared online with the larger Mercer County community. Contributors will be asked to complete a release form granting the county permission to include scanned photos and papers in Mercer County’s collections and Internet archives. You’ll also fill out a very short form providing information about each item scanned.

The May 7 “Participate Please” event will take place in the library’s large meeting room on a first-come, first-served basis. A second event is planned at the Mercer County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Ave. in the Acme shopping center, Hamilton, on Monday, May 20, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Future events will take place at additional locations around the County. Watch the Mercer County 175th Anniversary website for future dates: www.mercer175.org. The document information form can be found on the website for your convenience. Scanning may also be done at Mercer County’s McDade Administration Building, 640 South Broad St., Trenton, by appointment, 609-989-6597.

Digital copies of old family photos are a great way to share your past with children and other family members—and to add your history to Mercer County’s.

—Mercer County