A few steps up from the Burnett Gallery, you will find the Jones Library’s Special Collections.
A town treasure, it houses an extensive collection that focuses on the history of Amherst and the library’s Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost Exhibit Room. Among the collection of old photographs, original manuscripts, first editions and secondary research materials, you will find Ed Wilfert, deep in thought, and transported back in time, researching the history of our town and its citizens.
I consider Ed Wilfert to be our town historian. He spends most days researching the historic homes and neighborhoods of Amherst using the Jones Library collections. If you need to know who lived in a particular house in the early 1900s, Ed is the person to ask. Be prepared to sit a while and listen: he is both passionate and knowledgeable about our town’s history. He is also a recipient of the Amherst Historical Society’s annual Conch Shell Award, for distinguished contributions to the history of the town of Amherst.
Ed also serves on the Lincoln-Sunset Local Historic District Study Committee. This committee is researching the histories of more than 200 houses in order to establish a local historic district that will preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics and architecture of this neighborhood’s homes. Even before his official appointment to this committee, he was always there sharing his expertise and knowledge.
Ed Wilfert is both passionate and knowledgeable about our library, its history and our history. Because of these credentials and his passion for our library, I am voting March 28 for Ed for the two-year seat as a trustee. Please join me in electing Ed Wilfert as trustee of the Jones Library.
Bonnie L. MacCracken
Amherst
