What better way would there be to celebrate World Photography Day than by exploring an impressive collection of over 3,000 cameras – including almost every model of the Kodak Brownie camera that was ever produced. The Jim Matthew Camera Collection Trust has officially launched today with the aim of purchasing and providing public access to a collection of over 3,000 cameras, so that this dream can become a reality.
These cameras were collected by the late Jim Matthews and are now currently housed in the village St Monans in East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. Jim Matthew's family are keen to keep the collection together and have offered it to the Jim Matthew Camera Collection Trust, which has been set up to take ownership and maintain the collection.
• The history of World Photography Day
Over the course of Jim Matthew's lifetime, he amassed an enormous personal collection of cameras that was, at one time, very close to the world record. This collection grew so large that he even purchased a building to house it. However, despite Jim's wish for his vast array of cameras to be open to the public, many who lived in the small Scottish village in which it was housed didn't even know it was there.
Unfortunately Jim Matthew passed away before his wish to open his camera collection to the public could be realized. However, the Jim Matthew Camera Collection Trust is now in a position to purchase his unique collection and transform it into a public resource to help highlight and promote the understanding of the significance of the cameras in the development of photography.
However, in order to secure the cameras and the premises on which they're kept, the trust needs to raise £30,000. This will cover both the purchase and the improvements to the premises for accessibility and display purposes. This sum will also help meet the running costs.
The Jim Matthew Camera Collection Trust has set up a Go Fund Me page where you can donate to help the trust purchase the camera collection and set up the public resource that Jim Matthews was working towards. Anyone that donates will have a public thank you mentioned on the Camera Collection Trust's social platforms and their name included on the premises on its display of donors.
To donate to this worthy cause, you can visit the Go Fund Me page. For more information, you can visit the official website.
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