Inside the CHS

We just acquired a particularly rich family collection that we hope researchers will use a lot.  It consists of correspondence among members of the Terry and Bacon families of Hartford and New Haven, respectively.  Nathaniel Terry, the progenitor of the family, married Catherine Wadsworth.  Nathaniel was mayor of Hartford and a Congressman.  His sons were…
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It isn’t too often that I start cataloging a collection and find that the subject has his own Wikipedia entry. That was the case yesterday as I worked with the diaries of Rev. William Weston Patton. Patton was born in New York on October 19, 1821. He graduated from the University of the City of…
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Though I have not specifically mentioned our NHPRC funded project lately, it certainly continues. Yesterday we completed our 2400th record. That leaves us with 600 to complete in the next seven months, definitely an achievable goal. Since we began this project in September 2008, over 5400 collections have been cataloged (3000 during the first two-year…
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Alexander Carrington was the patriarch of an African American family in Norwich, Connecticut. By profession Carrington was a cook, and his services were often used for events at halls in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. A scrapbook he created between 1882 and 1886 recently came to the Connecticut Historical Society. The scrapbook contains advertisements, tickets,…
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At last, I can write about my favorite young woman of the 19th century! Her name was Charlotte Cowles, and we recently acquired a number of letters she wrote between the ages of 13 and 21 while living in Farmington, Connecticut. I don’t know if she meant to be humorous, (it may be my modern…
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Fall is my most favorite time of the year – slightly cooler weather, fairs and festivals serving delicious pumpkin and maple flavored treats, and the changing of leaves from green to vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. If it were up to me, (and I know a lot of you will be happy that it is…
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Every once in a while I come across a really poignant document in the midst of deeds and letters and other family papers that can be more mundane. That happened this week when I cataloged a collection of papers related to the Work and Smith families. Tucked in among the numerous deeds and family memorabilia…
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It is that time of year (I can’t believe that November is already here) when everyone begins to think about the things that they are thankful for. I want to give a big thank-you to the following for making 2013 such a great year!

Summer is right around the corner – the weather is getting warmer, the grass has turned a brighter green, and flowers are popping up in gardens all over the state! Perhaps one of the most amazing Connecticut gardens to view at this time of year is the Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park (Hartford, CT). The…
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Children and parents got to experience what it would be like to go back to school during colonial times at our family program last Saturday.

Celebrate the re-launch of our Free First Saturdays with photography fun at CHS!

How to create sun on a rainy day – that was the question I dealt with last week in preparation for Saturday’s family program.

CHS and Hartford Prints! are partnering for some printmaking fun! Families can make a card with some Hartford Prints! stamps, and then make their own buttons to bring home.

Come celebrate the holidays at CHS with our annual popper craft! These timeless favorites, filled with candy, paper hats, and fortunes, make great gifts, holiday party favors, or New Year’s Eve noisemakers.

What can you do with three hundred toilet paper rolls?

Calling all builders! Join other families at the CHS as we build our own community on our giant floor map.

Instead of buying your Valentine’s Day cards this year, join us to create unique and personal cards inspired by Valentines from long ago.

On February 7th, the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS), with support from Berkshire Bank, hosted a program for children and their families to create personal and unique Valentine’s Day cards inspired by Valentines from long ago. With snow falling on the ground, this event was well attended with many creative designs made.        …
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Join us for story-time to celebrate African American History Month. Children will listen to a story and make a simple craft to take home.

Help us celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America with a Dr. Seuss story and craft at CHS.

Join us for story-time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Children will listen to a story and make a simple craft to take home.

Enjoy Free First Saturday at CHS with a historical twist on “arts and crafts time”!

Looking for a fun activity for the whole family to do over spring break? Come to CHS and experience what life was like for kids long ago.

Looking for a fun activity for the whole family to do over spring break? Come to CHS and experience what life was like for kids long ago.

Looking for a fun activity for the whole family to do over spring break? Come to CHS and experience what life was like for kids long ago.

Looking for a fun activity for the whole family to do over spring break? Come to CHS and experience what life was like for kids long ago.

By Corinne Swanson, Coordinator of Youth and Family Programs, Connecticut Historical Society I’m a huge fan of maps. When studying history, maps are essential for getting a visual, concrete understanding of the places where events take place. They can be incredibly powerful in influencing the way we think (Remember the episode of “The West Wing” where C.J….
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Where in Connecticut do you call home? Join us as we make a giant map of our favorite places in Connecticut.

By Corinne Swanson, Coordinator of Youth and Family Programs at the Connecticut Historical Society Do you have a childhood memory of visiting a museum with your class or family? During these visits, did you ever feel that if your voice rose above a whisper, or if you dared to try to touch something, that you…
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Explore our new exhibit Connecticut: 50 Objects/50 Stories with an educator-led tour designed especially for kids!

Explore our new exhibit Connecticut: 50 Objects/50 Stories with an educator-led tour designed especially for kids!

Explore our new exhibit Connecticut: 50 Objects/50 Stories with an educator-led tour designed especially for kids!

Beat the heat this summer with a story-time program that’s great for our youngest visitors!

Beat the heat this summer with a story-time program that’s great for our youngest visitors!

Beat the heat this summer with a story-time program that’s great for our youngest visitors!

Beat the heat this summer with a story-time program that’s great for our youngest visitors!

Join us on the CHS lawn for all your favorite childhood games! Enjoy everything from hopscotch to hula hoop, and play them with your kids, parents or grandparents.

Calling all detectives! Decorate your own magnifying glass, then work with your family to figure out clues and search through the galleries to see how many objects and pictures you can find.

Join us for Tellabration!, a world-wide celebration of storytelling from the Connecticut Storytelling Center that happens each November at sites around the state.

Join us for storytime at the CHS! Children will listen to a reading of I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, make a thanksgiving craft, and help “cook” an old-fashioned dinner.