LEWISTON – A significant collection of Franco-American publications was donated recently to Lewiston-Auburn College’s Franco-American Collection by Oak Hill High School in Wales.

The reprints of rare and sometimes little known novels and poetry, as well as more recent reference works, complement existing holdings at the collection. Most of the works were published in the mid-1970s to the early 1980s by the former National Materials Development Center in Bedford, N.H.

Several local authors, including Alberte Gastonguay, Madeleine Gigure and Grgoire Chabot, are included in the English and French language publications. They are representative of important core works in the study of Franco-American history and culture. The works will become part of the book collection in the Madeleine Giguere Reading Room.

Oak Hill High School’s gift adds to what is already Maine’s largest collection of Franco-Americana. The Franco-American Collection, formerly known as the Centre d’Heritage Franco-Americain, contains material on politics, religion, language, education, business, politics and the arts.

The collection and the Giguere Reading Room are open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Anyone in possession of material relating to the history and culture of Franco-Americans (photos, scrapbooks, journals, news clippings) that they might wish to donate is encouraged to visit or call 753-6545.