JOHNSTOWN - Fulton County Historian Peter Betz said recently he's "queried" several grant sources about potential funding for a project to digitize the work of award-winning photographer Frank Ambrose, who died in February.
Betz informed the Board of Supervisors' Economic Development and Environment Committee on Tuesday he may have "very good news" about potential funding, but would not elaborate. Betz said he would inform supervisors of any developments in the project.
Betz told the committee in May he wished to initiate a preservation project involving Ambrose's work. He said Ambrose, who was based in?Gloversville, left behind hundreds of photos involving the history of Fulton County since the 1930s. He also said Ambrose's son, Atlanta resident Frank Ambrose Jr., is willing to offer access to his father's photograph collection for digitization. He said the project might even be a "multicounty" one because Ambrose worked in other local counties, such as Montgomery and Saratoga
Last spring, Betz told supervisors decades of Ambose's work remain filed on three floors at the former Frank Ambrose Photography Studio at 46 S. Main St., Gloversville.
Betz said if a preservation project were undertaken, it would be costly, but would make digital photos available to "researchers and the general public." Betz said the Ambrose project could involve the state museum, Fulton County Museum and Fulton-Montgomery Community College, which has a photo digitization program.
Elsewhere in his July activities report to the committee:
Betz said he talked to Johnstown 3rd Ward Councilwoman Helen Martin, committee chairwoman of her city's tourism committee, and Fulton County's historic sites will be included in a new state initiative. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a new Path Through History initiative that includes installing new signs along the state Thruway, directing travelers to local attractions and placing history-information kiosks at state Thruway rest stops.
Betz was requested to examine the historical collection of St. John's Episcopal Church in Johnstown. He also invited the Capital District Library Council's archivist to make an official collection examination in September for recommendations for a possible preservation grant.
He also participated in activities involving Fish House's 250th anniversary celebration.