The Victor Labrecque Photographic Collection was acquired by the Franco-American Collection in 2002, after Victor Labrecque's death, through the generosity of his daughter, Pauline Moreau. The collection consists of some 5,000 negatives spanning more than 350 distinct events, of which the majority (approximately 200) are weddings.
Victor Labrecque was born in Lewiston in 1926 to French-Canadian parents, Louis and Marie (Samson) Labrecque. The youngest of 15 children, he was the only one of his siblings to be born in the United States. He taught himself photography while at St. Dominic High School, and was the photographer for the yearbook, L'Echo in 1945.
After graduation, he began work on a part-time basis as a professional photographer, working initially out of his home - his first darkroom was in a corner of a spare bedroom. Labrecque's wife, Irene, and children all helped out with the business. This enterprise grew into "Vic's Photo Service." In an era before widespread personal photography, "Vic's" had a brisk trade in weddings, Christmas parties, baptisms, funerals, bridal showers, anniversaries, and other important life events. The vast majority of the families represented are Franco-American.
The Labrecque Collection offers an insight into the world of Lewiston-Auburn's Franco-American community between 1947-1963. The photographs are particularly valuable for assessing middle-class family life and religious traditions, especially with regard to the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council.
Reprints of photographs are available upon request.-
Langelier Family Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Langelier Family at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP] in Lewiston, Maine, c.1994.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Dumont-Girouard Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Dumont-Girouard wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP] in Lewiston, Maine, 1961.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Labrie-Dyocio Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Labrie-Dyocio wedding at St. Mary's Church, Lewiston, Maine. 1961.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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St. Hilaire-Castonguay Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
St. Hilaire-Castonguay wedding at St. Mary's Church, Lewiston, Maine, April 8, 1961.
Roland Vachon, uncle of the bride, greeting the bride Jeannie Castonguay with flower girl and sister of the bride, Denise Castonguay. Following is the father of the bride, Roland Castonguay.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Dozois-Fortin Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Dozois-Fortin wedding at St. Mary's Church, Lewiston, Maine, 1959.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Dozois-Fortin Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Dozois-Fortin wedding at St. Mary's Church, Lewiston, Maine, 1959.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Leblanc-Guay Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Leblanc-Guay wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP], Lewiston, Maine, 1958.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque -
Dufour-Gosselin Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Dufour-Gosselin wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP] in Lewiston, Maine, 1957.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Labrecque House Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Photograph of the Labrecque family at their home the day of the Easter Parade in Lewiston, Maine, 1961.
L to R: Mrs. Labrecque [Mom], Paul Labrecque, Roger Labrecque, Victor Labrecque
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Marie Boucher Normand-St. Denis Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Marie Boucher Normand-St Denis wedding at St. Mary's Church, Lewiston, Maine, October 15, 1959.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Paradis-Foucher Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Paradis-Foucher wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP] (lower chapel), Lewiston, Maine, July 2, 1949.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Plante-Simoneau Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Plante-Simoneau wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP], Lewiston, Maine, 1949.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Thibodeau-Patry Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Thibodeau-Patry wedding at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP] (upper church), Lewiston, Maine, August 27, 1949.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
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Plourde-Nadeau Wedding Photograph
Victor Labrecque
Plourde Nadeau at the SS Peter and Paul Church [SSPP], Lewiston, Maine, 1947.
Photograph by Victor Labrecque
