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CMU Library Collaborates with Emeritus Professor Dr. Kittichai Wattananikorn to Develop Digital Archive "Lanna Photos from the Logging Manager's Album," Reviving History into an Online Learning Resource

29 September 2026
Chiang Mai University Library
        Chiang Mai University Library is advancing the preservation of cultural heritage and local memory into the digital age. Mr. Prach Saguansak, Acting Director of the Library, signed a letter of consent with Emeritus Professor Dr. Kittichai Wattananikorn to grant permission for CMU Library to collect, preserve, and publish "Lanna Photos from the Logging Manager's Album 1900-1940" in the form of a digital archive. The signing was witnessed by the library's executive committee.

        This collection of historical photographs is considered a masterpiece of evidence that records the story of the Lanna territory during the early 20th century spanning over 4 decades. It depicts the people's ways of life, environment, society, art, and culture, as well as the economic context through the "logging business" in the North, an era where Westerners or logging managers played a crucial role. Compiling this photo collection is highly beneficial for study, historical research, and understanding the social changes of Lanna in the past.

       For the creation of this digital archive, the library will apply digital information management and preservation processes according to international standards. This includes converting the original photographs into high-resolution digital files and creating a metadata description system, allowing interested individuals, students, and researchers to extensively and sustainably search, access, and utilize them for academic purposes and lifelong learning.

       The library hopes that this transition of photographic heritage from the past into a digital learning resource will serve as a bridge connecting the gap of time, completely passing on the values and memories of Lanna to the next generation.
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