LEWISTON — Androscoggin Historical Society has accepted a collection of postcards to its permanent archives in Auburn.

Robert Bedard collected postcards for many years and finally, he didn’t have enough space to store them all. Among the most valuable were 132 scenes of old Lewiston and Auburn, gathered in a leather-bound scrapbook.

Bedard thought these should be preserved as local history so he took them to the Lewiston City Hall, where he was told there no space to display them. But a staff member scanned the cards for possible use in the city’s economic development and historical publications and arranged for them to be sent to the Androscoggin Historical Society, located in Auburn. There, they have joined other old postcards in the society’s archives.

Bedard received a letter from the society that said, “We are very pleased to accept them. Many businesses and people come in to seek various pictures that they can scan or photocopy for publication in newspapers and books, as well as for personal use. We have very few postcards. Your collection can be added to our collection of images of the area, so they are a valuable resource.”

The oldest postcard in the collection is from 1909. Others include scenes in the 1920s or 1930s. All are in excellent condition.

Bedard, who lives in an apartment on Wildwood Drive, says he is glad his collection will be safely preserved.

He retired four years ago after being employed at St. Mary’s Hospital for 25 years, and then for 15 years as activities director at the St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion, working with Alzheimer’s patients.

Asked where he found all the cards, he said, “I’ve been collecting postcards for 40 years, at yard sales, flea markets and antique shows. I’ve got cards from all over the world. Whenever I go traveling I buy postcards.”

Will he be collecting more postcards? “No,” he said. “I finally got enough.”