Columbia native Lloyd Mifflin, who lived from 1846 to 1921, was a painter, photographer and prolific sonnet writer, but he's not as well known in the area as you might expect, said Jerry King Musser, who became intrigued with Mifflin after moving to Columbia in 1994.

"As I asked around, I was surprised by how little most people actually knew about him," Jerry recalled, noting that he wondered why Mifflin's house wasn't a museum. "I didn't understand the lack of daily interest. However, it's understandable that people living in a town are less interested in a 'fellow towny from the past' because they lack a larger context. I wasn't from the town, so I brought that larger context with me."

Determined to showcase everything Mifflin contributed to the world, Jerry formed the Lloyd Mifflin Society. It's an opportunity to spotlight the work of "America's greatest sonneteer" as well as other local people of historical interest.

"This 'society' is one in which the subjects are the members," Jerry said, explaining that the society consists of a website detailing people who have impacted Columbia and the surrounding area. "Others who find the site are only visitors to an overview of (the members') creative accomplishments. To assemble these creators into one place allows citizens of the town to feel something richer about their town's past than initially perceived. For those who know little of substance of Columbia and hold a preconceived notion, they might think differently after meeting these creative members of 'the society.'"

Along with Mifflin, other people showcased on the website include painter Caroline Peart, illustrator Jasper Green, musician John Reginald Kehoe and poet Dean Young. "As my site demonstrates, there were far more creative souls in Columbia's past than should be expected for a town of 10,000 - less in Mifflin's day, of course," Jerry said.

Jerry's interest in Mifflin began when he and his wife, Janette, moved to Columbia from Harrisburg. "We started hearing references to 'some guy' from the past who was a poet and a painter," he recalled. "I learned much later, firsthand, that he was also entrenched in photography."

The first image of Mifflin that Jerry saw cemented his interest in learning all he could about the artist. The photo depicted Mifflin dressed in a tuxedo against a hasty backdrop, his hand in an odd position. Jerry deduced that Mifflin's unusual pose hid a cable release he was using to trigger a camera shutter and record the image. "That invited me to get inside his head," Jerry said, adding that he felt a connection because he, too, is a photographer. "I've been trying to stay inside his head since."

Jerry and Janette are both artists, so exploring more about Mifflin was a natural fit, Jerry said, and the society has allowed him to pursue a passion for history as well.

"Some of the people I've outlined on the website are commonly known, albeit with limited knowledge," Jerry stated. "Others I've profiled were suggested to me by friends at the historical society and even friends in my neighborhood." As the sole researcher, editor and photo re-toucher for the Lloyd Mifflin Society, Jerry said he stays energetic about the project with the support of friends who offer ideas and some financial support for web hosting.

"I'm not pushing anything but history - no mugs or T-shirts," he said. "It is a personal labor of love. I do it for my own edification. Most of all, I do it for those creators mentioned who left a legacy worth uncovering."

To learn more, visit http://www.lloydmifflinsociety.org.