PHOTOGRAPHY TALK: Flemington photographer Mary Sunderlin captured this image of an airplane accident in Hunterdon County. The photo date is unknown. Photo historian Gary Saretzky will discuss the area’s earliest local photographers at the annual fall meeting of the Hunterdon County Historical Society (HCHS) on November 10 at 2 p.m. in the Flemington Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. (From the collections of the HCHS)

Discover the unique stories of the area’s earliest local photographers at the annual fall meeting of the Hunterdon County Historical Society (HCHS) on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m. in the Flemington Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

In a profusely illustrated slide program, photo historian Gary Saretzky will provide an overview of the way photographs were made in the 19th century and discuss the interesting stories of numerous photographers active from about 1850 in Flemington, Lambertville, Clinton, and Frenchtown. About 90 professional photographers were based in Hunterdon in the 19th century. Among those covered in this talk are Gideon C. Angle, Clinton; Frank Fritz, Lambertville; John and Mary Sunderlin, Flemington; and George W. Freeland, Milford and Frenchtown.

Saretzky is an archivist, educator, and photographer. He worked as an archivist for more than 50 years at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Educational Testing Service, and the Monmouth County Archives. Saretzky taught the history of photography at Mercer County Community College from 1977-2012 and served as coordinator of the Public History Internship Program for the Rutgers University History Department, 1994-2016. He has published more than 100 articles and reviews on the history of photography, photographic conservation, and other topics.

Saretzky noted that some takeaways from the program include the role of professional photographers in small towns during the era when most people did not have their own cameras, and how the appearance of people and places in New Jersey have changed with the passage of time.

“Photographers varied quite a bit in their personal lives,” Saretzky said. “While most photographers were men, some women had significant careers in photography.”

The program is free; everyone is welcome. The church’s Fellowship Hall at 10 East Main Street, Flemington, is accessible to all. Refreshments will be served.