The Touching

Now that the Accidental History exhibit is down, I’ve been looking over the volume of photos I gave the History Museum to look through to make their choice for the show. I should apologize to them for how many photos were in the catalog. And the breadth of what they covered.

There was never a definitive answer about how they chose 75 from more than 10,000 edited photos I gave them. I know the process involved quite a few people in the library having a look through the catalog, or sections of the catalog, before narrowing the choices to a smaller number.

The gallery space was divided into a set of informal themes. Kids, events, sports, and a few others. I’ve gone through the 75 photos and have made my selections within the themes.

About a tenth of the collections shows people touching each other, Whether it’s a grandfather and grandchild, the top photo, or a baptism ceremony at Hoover Reservoir, physical connections change us.

Touching strengthens connections, reduces stress, and promotes overall well-being. It can release oxytocin which fosters bonding and trust between people. It can also lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to a decrease in stress and anxiety.

What seems at first to be a simple act signifies a connection that can alter our mind, or emotions, our body chemistry, and our participation in society.

It was one of the great themes in Accidental History.

Below are photos of the Braun Farm photo archive. The barn and farmhouse were demolished about a year ago. This series for paid subscribers is a look back at the visual history of the farm.

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