A Trailblazing Photographer
Emma Olson
In a male-dominated industry, Emma operated her own photography studio in St. Paul in the 1890s and later moved her business to 118 Front Street in Perham in 1899. By 1910 she had returned to Sweden and passed away there in 1941.
Now Playing at the Museum
Pharmacist and local Cinema Club member, Bernard Kemper made the 11-minute silent 16mm film "The Great Perham Jewel Robbery" in 1926 or 1927, soon after 16mm cameras were available for purchase. According to people in the community, all the folks on camera are Perham residents and the scenes are shot in town.
While of regional interest, the film also stands for an era in amateur film when neophytes took up the new 16mm format and patterned their work after classic films.
