Only one industry has chronicled the life of Jefferson City since the legislative session convened for the first time in the Capitol City in June 1826.
The Jefferson City News Tribune carries on the tradition of newspapers both as a "paper of record" and also to capture the moments and lives within the community.
To celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2015, the local newspaper has partnered with the Cole County Historical Society, the Missouri State Archives and The State Historical Society of Missouri to create a keepsake book filled with photos crossing all the decades of greater Jefferson City's life.
The public is also invited to participate.
Three scanning events have been scheduled in the upcoming week, where individuals may bring their treasured photos in to be scanned, leaving with them still in hand.
In addition to those photos potentially being selected for the book, digital copies will be shared with the above organizations tasked with preserving local and statewide history.
At least one photo shared by by each reader will be included in the 144-page, hardcover book. And each family is limited to 10 submitted photos.
Scanning sessions will be 3-5 p.m. Monday at the Missouri State Archives, 600 W. Main St.; noon-3 p.m. Thursday at the Cole County Historical Society, 109 Madison St.; and 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Cole County Historical Society.
The types of photos the public is encouraged to submit, include:
• General interest photos, such as commerce, industry, transportation, rural life and public service
• Those dating back to the mid-1800s
• Photos taken in the greater Jefferson City area
Newspaper clippings or photocopies cannot be reproduced.
The book will be published by Pediment Publishing, which has specialized in pictorial history books designing more than 600 titles in the last 17 years, including the News Tribune's recent "Reflections," commemorating the Great Floods of 1993.
A similar project is underway in Callaway County, where the Fulton Sun has partnered with the historical society there to create a book in honor of the newspaper's upcoming 150th anniversary.
"Jefferson City 150: 150 Years of Jefferson City Through the Eyes of the News Tribune and its Readers" may be pre-ordered for $29.95, and it will ship Dec. 5.