Christmas is one of the most nostalgic times of the year. We get together with loved ones, reflect on the year and the celebrations of the past, and look forward to what’s going to happen next.
One way loved ones reminisce is by looking through old photos, whether those are old photo albums, newspaper clippings, home videos or, these days, Facebook memories.
Through its Faces and Places program, the Kenton County Public Library has collected nearly 130,000 photos of NKY, some newer, some older, and all showing off the unique history of the region.
The library has been collecting historic photographs since the 1970s, and until the online Faces and Places catalog launched, the photos lived in “file cabinets at the Covington Library and were accessible to the public who could visit,” Kenton County Public Library Executive Director Dave Schroeder told LINK nky.
Schroeder said the collection was really filled out when the Kentucky Post closed in 2007; he and the library director at that time, Wayne Onkst, asked if the paper would donate its photography collection.
“Our concern was that the photographs would end up being put in storage and never seen again — or destroyed,” he said.
After that, Schroeder said, library staff set about digitizing the 100,000-plus photographs, in addition to what they had in its previous collection. A contest was held to name the photo database. Jessica Johnson, who still works for the library in the history and genealogy department, won, and Faces and Places was launched in 2008.
The photos are donated by individuals, churches, schools and other institutions. One of the library’s largest collections, Schroeder said, comes from the Lawrence Brand Collection, whose father and grandfather were professional photographers in Cincinnati. This collection of over 500 photographs features “photographs of the construction of the Union Terminal in Cincinnati, public buildings on both sides of the Ohio River and the Beverly Hills Supper Club,” said Schroeder.
“I have been told by area residents that Faces and Places is the photographic memory of our region. It is, without a doubt, the largest collection of photographs documenting Northern Kentucky. Some of our oldest images are from the Civil War era, and (the collection) continues to current-day,” said Schroeder.
The database is used by everyone from historians to journalists to authors, but Schroeder said it is mostly used by residents.
“People love looking through old photographs,” he said. “It brings back memories and sparks interest in our past. People also love finding pictures of themselves, their relatives and friends.”
In the spirit of the season, we have gathered some of our favorite photos of Northern Kentucky Christmas celebrations over the years from the Kenton County Public Library Faces and Places database.
Dec. 6, 1982: Sarah Boatright, 1, daughter of Eddie and Pam Boatright of Walton, doesn’t want anything to do with Santa at Florence Mall. 
Dec. 15, 1977: Christmas shoppers at Coppins department store. 
Dec. 23, 1978: Michael Barrett, 7, and Mike Behymer, 9, clean dirt off their shoes with a Christmas sign between them in Bellevue. 
Dec. 25, 1901: The Ritchie family gathers at the table in Ludlow on Christmas Day. 
Dec. 17, 1973: Chris Piper, 5, saws a Christmas tree. 
Dec. 12, 1977: Helen, John and Dennis Lutz cut their own Christmas tree at Dixie Pines. 
Dec. 9, 1991: Cassie Jo Hill, 1, and her mother, Connie, laugh at Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, played by Dan Maher. 
Dec. 15, 1991: Kathleen Hennessey, 5, and Christopher Hampton, 6, perform in a skit at Devou Park. 
Dec. 13, 1990: Quality Inn Riverview chef Rick Zumwalde and Jim MacFarlane show off the Christmas Eve menu that the revolving restaurant offered. 
Jan. 23, 1981: James Biedenharn with his plaque and what is left of his Christmas display after vandals hit it. 
Dec. 11, 1967: Debbie Williams, 6, visits with Santa at a Christmas party. 
Dec. 15, 1991: Mary Courtney, 7, gets a Christmas tree painted on at a Christmas party in Devou Park. 
Dec. 18, 1976: (Left to right) Zellma Axt, treasurer; Anna Strubbe, secretary; Joe Schwalbach, member of the board; and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Necamp, administrators of Lakeside Terrace attend the Senior Citizens Club Christmas Party at Lakeside Terrace. 
Dec. 1, 1970: State Christmas tree in front of Capitol in Frankfort. 
1948: An unidentified Santa Claus poses for the camera. 
Dec. 8, 1991: Santa waves to the crowd during the fourth annual Burlington Hometown Christmas parade. 
Dec. 4, 1991: Aaron Adams, 9, and Terry Snelling, 8, check out each other’s costumes before appearing in a play at First Church of Christ in Florence. 
Dec. 8, 1972: Bill Culbertson puts up Christmas decorations on Fort Thomas Avenue. 
Dec. 11, 1991: Kids sing carols at a Christmas party sponsored by the Newport Elks and Campbell County Jaycees. 
Dec. 9, 1966: Irwin Hurley, Jack Keene, James Theissen and Les Norman pose in front of a nativity that they sponsored in Covington. 
April 14, 1967: Wally Baynum and family celebrate Christmas in April. 
Dec. 14, 1980: Christmas Pops Festival takes place at Candlelight Inn in Fort Wright. 
Dec. 21, 1971: A live nativity scene in Covington.