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Wallace photography museum changes things up

by JOSH McDONALD
Local Editor | April 29, 2025 1:00 AM

WALLACE — More than a few changes are coming to a popular Wallace photography museum.  

The first and most notable change is the museum’s name.  

Once known as the Barnard-Stockbridge Museum, the historic photo gallery housed inside the former Holy Trinity Episcopal Church will now be known as the Historic Wallace Photo Museum and Digital Archive. 

According to the museum’s newsletter, the change is reflective of the museum board’s desire to feature more than just the works of photographers Nellie Stockbridge and T.N. Barnard. The Barnard-Stockbridge gallery was one of the most detailed and comprehensive in existence, with over 200,000 images of the Silver Valley captured from the 1890s to the mid-1960s. 

With the change, the museum will continue to feature Barnard-Stockbridge photos but will now also include the works of other local photographers and new digital features for searching things like people, landmarks and events. 

The second change to the museum isn’t as in-your-face as changing the museum’s name, but the board believes it could be even more impactful.  

Charlie Roberts, who has served with the museum as assistant director since it opened in 2019, will assume the duties of executive director June 1, following the announcement that Tammy Copelan will be stepping down.  

“I, and the board of directors, have full confidence in Charlie,” Copelan said. “He has extensive knowledge of the collection. The museum will be in great hands.”  

The first featured exhibit under the direction of Roberts is sure to draw the eyes of both historians and sports enthusiasts. Titled "Brawlers, Babies, and Ball Players," the collection will feature baby photos of some of the Silver Valley’s most prominent and/or notorious denizens.  

In the early days of Shoshone County, boxing and baseball were king. Perhaps nobody was a bigger celebrity than boxing Hall of Famer Guido “Firpo, the Wild Bull of Burke” Bardelli. The former Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight champ was widely known as the uncrowned light heavyweight champion of the world. Restored photos of Bardelli’s historic 93-fight career will be on display. 

The other major athlete featured in the new exhibit was born in 1888 and went by Clarence “Skipper” Roberts. Born in Wardner, he moved to Spokane before joining the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913.  

These two will headline an exhibit that will feature teams and athletes from across the Silver Valley.

The first opportunity to see these photos will be during the museum’s season opening Spring Fling Gala at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4. The Historic Wallace Photo Museum and Digital Archive is at 312 Fourth St.

*The name has been corrected in the story to the Barnard-Stockbridge Museum.



    Casey's Kids were a local baseball club from Kellogg.
 
 
This baby is kind of famous... At least in Wallace. This is George Tabor, a well-known photographer from Wallace who had his baby photo taken at the Barnard-Stockbridge Studio in Wallace.