MORE than 150 years worth of an Albury family's history has been donated to the Albury Library Museum.
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Now it it's seventh generation in Albury, more than 400 of the Reis family photos have been handed over to the library after collecting dust in the garage of Melbourne's Charles Reis.
"My kids said once I go, the photos go," he told The Border Mail.
"So I decided it was time to preserve all the history in a place, where all the history occurred, here in Albury.
"There are still so many descendants in the area and I think it is important to keep the photos and history of families together.
"In keeping it together and preserving it all, history becomes available to everyone, which I think is very interesting.
The black and white photos were all presented in photo albums put together by his grandfather.
Mr Reis said the German descended family came together to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of them coming to town in 2002.
"We had an incredible turnout and plenty of the younger generations who I believe are the custodians of our history," he said.
"The Australian German ambassador even made the trip down for the anniversary which I don't think has happened since.
"He was meant to just come down for the Sunday celebration but he was new to Australia and wanted to see outside of Canberra so we met him on the Friday and made a weekend of it.
"It was important to share all our old photos and bits and pieces to map out how our family got to where it is now."
Packed in a large box, Mr Reis presented three large photo albums containing photos of family and Albury events including the 1919 Anzac Day march.
"This is particularly incredible," he said.
"To have photos of the nurses and the view down the main street is very unique."
Mr Reis said he encouraged any other families to get their photos together and donate them to the library.
"How many photo albums, letters and family history is in a box somewhere gathering dust," he said.
"Get it together and let it be preserved and enjoyed by generations to come."
Mr Reis also donated a copy of the book he wrote on the history of his family, his grandfather's extensive stamp collection and information, photos and items collected from the reunion.