REBECCA BERRY reports.

 West Maitland bootmaker Charles Baker posed for this photograph with his best mate Don the dog in 1890.

Mr Baker has a slight grin on his weathered face, his eyes are kind, he is dressed in his bowler hat and three-piece suit, holding a newspaper casually on his lap and with a hand around his content and loyal companion Don.

The picture begs the question: What kind of life did Mr Baker lead in 1890s Maitland?

For the first time this month, Maitland’s 21st ­century residents will see the city library’s historic photograph collection digitised and on display for NSW History Week which starts this Saturday.

The library has 1000 pictures in its collection and some have been selected for an exhibition projected onto the walls of the Maitland Gaol chapel from September 13 to October 12.

The images will be presented across six themes with 15 images in each – life’s an adventure, streets of our town, water views, the world is a stage, ­generations, and working together.

“This digitised display will mark a momentous occasion,” city librarian Keryl Collard said.

“It will give a unique insight into people of the Maitland community at work and at play.

“It will show people how life was different, what life was like in Maitland and it will help them to understand how our community is today.”

Ms Collard said all the images were chosen to engage the viewer.

“The historic nature of this exhibition will be evocative,” she said.

“The larger-than-life images projected onto a number of walls will be exciting for the viewer, who will be surrounded by them.”

The exhibition launch will be held at Maitland Gaol on September 12 at 6pm and admission is free.

The NSW History Week theme is “Picture This – driving humanity; reflecting change; imagining reality”.

It will focus on photographs and how they have changed, informed and sculpted society and will bring the past into view through the frame of images.