Luebs Camera Collection

    The Washington County Museum camera collection now has more than 550 cameras on display, making it the 9th largest collection of its kind in the U.S.  Each camera is labeled with its make, model number and date of manufacture.

    The collection focuses on those used by common hobbyists, from the earliest to the current levels of the type of camera that is used by the average person.  Most people are amazed by the size and scope of the collection, and invariably, while going through the collection, will stop and say, "I used to have a camera just like that."

    The museum collection began when a letter arrived from a man asking if the museum would care for a few cameras.  The man, John Luebs, had been instrumental in starting the historical society back in the late 1970s and had owned and operated three photo studios in the area, including one in Washington.  He was looking to find a place to preserve and display some of his collection.

    "I'd like to see them get a very well-regarded display of antique and collectable cameras that carries through the entire span of photography in America," Luebs said.  "I want people to really know what a tremendous impact photography has had upon our society."

    At first just a few, then large numbers of cameras came, a treasure trove the the museum, and for Luebs, the realization of a dream he'd been working toward for years--a dream yet to be realized by his work with the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y.  Luebs currently lives in Camillus, N.Y.

    John Luebs and his wife lived in Washington between 1976 and 1982.  At one time he was president of the chamber of commerce before relocating to Crawford, Neb., where, he said, "We lost our shirts."

    As his wife still had a teaching certificate from New York State, they decided to move there for the steady income.  John taught photography and assisted James McKeown in putting together his definite work on classic and collectable cameras.

    "We had to move a lot of things to make space for the huge collection," said Jack Barley, President of the Washington County Historical and Genealogical Society and chief architect of the museum's displays.  The school display was taken out with the intent of moving it into the old schoolhouse once renovation is completed.  Once the south center room was emptied in the main museum building, shelves were added to hold the cameras.  Display cabinets were stuffed with film, plates, strobes, flash bulbs, darkroom equipment, modern disposable cameras and other photographic paraphernalia.

    One of the museum's two massive Powers projectors was placed at the entrance of the room.  The projectors were used in the Majestic Theater in Washington from 1926-1936, and in the Major Theater in Washington from 1936-1981.

    In addition to cameras, Luebs donated technical books, a boxed collector's edition on Alfred Stieglitz, and the lastest edition of McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, an invaluable reference guide to collector's and museum curators.

    Since the camera collection display opened in 2007, more than 40 cameras have come in from private donors, and Barley expects many more.  "This fits in perfectly with Luebs' wishes."