When David Arsenault takes down a worn, leather-bound 19th-century book from a shelf of the Boston Athenaeum, he feels a sense of awe — like he's handling an artifact in a museum.

Portraits of Mass. Rep. Charles Lewis Mitchell, left, and Dr. John V. de Grasse are seen Oct. 9 in a photograph album from the personal collection of anti-slavery activist Harriet Hayden, which was printed in the 1860s, at the Boston Athenaeum. Charles Krupa, Associated Press kAm|2?J @7 E96 92=7\>:==:@? 3@@<D :? E96 =:3C2CJVD >2K6 @7 C625:?8 C@@> D96=G6D 2?5 DE24<D H6C6 AC:?E65 367@C6 9:D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?5A2C6?ED H6C6 3@C?] %96C6 2C6 7C2J:?8 4@A:6D @7 r92C=6D s:4<6?D ?@G6=D[ r:G:= (2C\6C2 3:@8C2A9:6D 2?5 E@H? 86?62=@8:6D] tG6CJE9:?8 92D 2 9:DE@CJ]k^Am kAmQxE 2=>@DE 766=D =:<6 J@F D9@F=5?VE 36 23=6 E@ E2

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