WESTBOROUGH – History has always been part of Anthony Vaver’s life.
“History has just always been,” he said. “It’s important to me, to understand the world.”
On Thursday, Nov. 7, Vaver closed a chapter in his history, as he steps down as the local history librarian for the Westborough Public Library.
“Vaver played a transformative role in organizing and digitizing Westborough’s historical records, establishing the Westborough Center for History and Culture within the library as a vital community resource for research and preservation,” the library said in a press release.
Although he was never trained as a historian, Vaver found himself in such a position about 10 years ago.
“They were renovating Town Hall, and the town clerk discovered these boxes of historical records,” said Vaver. “The town clerk approached Maureen [Amyot, the library director at the time], and Maureen contacted Digital Commonwealth. They said the records were just the kind to digitalize, but they needed organization.”
Amyot then approached Vaver, who was then on the Board of Library Trustees, and asked if he would be interested.
“I had just finished a book project, and I had some time,” he said.
Vaver first became local history librarian on a volunteer basis; he now gets paid, thanks to a request made by Amyot at Town Meeting.
Over the past decade, Vaver has overseen the town’s historical collections.
“We’ve been very fortunate. Westborough has its town records, and we also have Ebenezer Parkman’s diaries,” he said.
Vaver has done more than making sure historical records have a good home. He has overseen the digitalization of records, and “creating new ways of working with local history,” he said.
The creation of the center itself was a new approach.
“In many communities, the records are locked away and inaccessible,” he said. “I want the collection to be used, to be seen. The Westborough Center is finally in a solid and unique place to develop and define new ways to practice local history.”
Vaver also helped secure grants for projects such as Scanning Day; establishing a photographer-in-residence program; and collaborating on the Ebenezer Parkman Project, which offers one of the most complete portrayals of a rural colonial town in the United States.
With Vaver’s departure, Adult Services Librarian Tracey Graham will be the point person for the collection. Vaver will continue as a consultant.
