Connecticut Historical Society

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September 2013

Current Exhibit: Behind the Wheel

May 23 - September 28, 2013

For more information, visit our Exhibits page.

Current Exhibit: This Won't Hurt a Bit! A History of Pain Relief

April 26 - September 28, 2013

For more information, visit our Exhibits page.

Ongoing Exhibit: Making Connecticut

Ongoing

Visit our Exhibit page to learn about our other ongoing exhibits.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Putting History on the Map

Saturday, September 14 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | $5 members | $15 non-members
tickets available online

In case you missed it in June, we're offering this fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at CHS again. As the CHS concludes its ambitious project to digitize and catalog its large collection of maps, visitors will get a glimpse into the project, the new storage facilities, and some of the most significant pieces in the collection, including Abel Buell's first map of the United States, Dutch maps from the 1600s, and the earliest published maps of Connecticut. Join us every Second Saturday of the month for a different sneak peek into non-public storage areas and see some of the Connecticut Historical Society collection not currently on exhibit. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! Tickets are available online until noon the day prior to the tour. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

Focus on Furniture Series

September 20 │ October 17 │ November 22 │ 5:30-7:00 pm
Series price for all three programs: $30 for CHS and Windsor Historical Society members, $40 for non-members (individual program pricing below)

Join us this Fall as we highlight our nationally-renowned furniture collection through a series of programs designed to help you learn about the rich legacy of furniture in Connecticut, how to begin collecting furniture (or add to your collection with an eye to value and use), and techniques from centuries past in a hands-on demonstration. Discounted series tickets are available for online advance purchase. Individual program tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x 289 or email Jenny Steadman. Thanks to our series sponsors: Nathan Liverant and Sons Antiques, LLC and Connecticut Humanities.

The Heritage of Windsor Cabinet Makers Comes to Life
Friday, September 20 │ 5:30-7:00 pm | refreshments provided
$10 CHS and Windsor Historical Society members | $15 non-members

Christina Keyser Vida, Curator of Collections and Interpretation of the Windsor Historical Society, will share the history of cabinet-making in Windsor, Connecticut, in its heyday of the late 1700s. Vida will bring that story up to the present day with the restoration of the Strong-Howard House which will re-open October 5 and allow visitors to experience a hands-on historic home with reproduction pieces produced by artisans and students of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking. Thanks to our program sponsor: Windsor Federal Savings.

From Marketplace to Living Room: Tips for Beginners and Experienced Collectors on Building a Collection to Live with and Love (and Actually Sit On)
Thursday, October 17 │ 5:30-7:00 pm

See below for details.

Hands-On Demonstration: The Complex Joinery and Designs of Eliphalet Chapin
Friday, November 22 │ 5:30-7:00 pm

See below for details.

Smithsonian Museum Day Live!

Saturday, September 28 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Free admission to the museum galleries and Secrets of the Veeder House tour (if spaces are available) for anyone who presents a Museum Day Live! ticket (one ticket admits two people). Tickets may be requested at smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ticket. Please note that regular admission fees apply for admission to the Research Center.

Secrets of the Veeder House Tour

Saturday, September 28 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
FREE for members | $4-8 non-members | tickets available online

From the servants' quarters to the original elevator, this is a rare opportunity to explore the architecture and see some of the non-public details of the 1928 house that is now the Connecticut Historical Society. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

October 2013

Should Connecticut Apologize for Hanging Witches?

Friday, October 4 | 5:30-7:00 pm
$10 CHS members | $15 non-members | Refreshments provided

The harrowing story of the hanging of witches in Colonial New England continues to haunt our present-day imagination. In 2008 and 2009, bills were introduced in the Connecticut State Legislature to express regret at the witchcraft executions that occurred in Colonial Connecticut and to affirm that no disgrace should attach to the descendants of the accused. These bills died in committee, but the issue has not gone away. Appeals have continued with petitions to the Governor to take some action. What should the Governor do? Does the State of Connecticut owe an apology to the descendants of those who were hanged? Walt Woodward, State Historian of Connecticut, Lisa Johnson, Executive Director of the Stanley-Whitman House, and Richard G. Tomlinson, author of Witchcraft Prosecution: Chasing the Devil in Connecticut, will discuss the issue. For more information, please call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

Free Admission to the Museum Galleries

Saturday, October 5 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Please note that free admission does not include the Research Center.

Family Program: Celebrating Family!

Saturday, October 5│Drop-in between 10:00 am & 1:00 pm│FREE

Celebrate Family History Month with the CHS on October 5th. Spend time together exploring our galleries and designing your own family tree. Work as a team to fill in the names of your family members and then decorate your tree with pictures, drawings, and descriptions of your favorite family activities and memories. Please bring your own photographs, if you would like include these on your family tree. All other supplies will be provided by the CHS. This program is recommended for children 10 and under. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x222 or email Erin Strogoff.

New Exhibit Opens: Through a Different Lens: Three Connecticut Women Photographers 

October 11, 2013 - March 29, 2014

Visit our Upcoming Exhibits page for more information, including how to enter the Connecticut Photo Contest.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: CHS Gets Creepy

Saturday, October 12 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | $5 members | $15 non-members
tickets available online

History gets creepy with this spooky look behind the scenes. Tales of vampires, corpses on ice, death portraits, and even s‌éances haunt the storage vaults of the CHS. Come and get the history scared out of you! Join us every Second Saturday of the month for a different sneak peek into non-public storage areas and see some of the Connecticut Historical Society collection not currently on exhibit. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

From Marketplace to Living Room: Tips for Beginners and Experienced Collectors on Building a Collection to Live with and Love (and Actually Sit On)

Thursday, October 17 │ 5:30-7:00 pm
$20 CHS members | $25 non-members | refreshments provided

Dr. Philip D. Zimmerman is a museum and decorative arts consultant, author, and nationally recognized authority on early American furniture and decorative arts. For beginners and seasoned collectors, Zimmerman offers practical tips to selecting pieces that you can live with and treasure. For less than the price of contemporary mass-market sofa and loveseat combo, Zimmerman can show you how to furnish your home with beautiful, well-made antiques that will fit your budget and have quality and style that lasts. Participants will have a chance to ask Zimmerman their collecting questions and to see several examples from the renowned CHS collection to illustrate construction techniques, style characteristics and period details that will help collectors and craftsmen alike appreciate the heritage of Connecticut furniture. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x 289 or email Jenny Steadman. Thanks to our series sponsors: Nathan Liverant and Sons Antiques, LLC and Connecticut Humanities.

 

Furniture Special Event
All Access Pass: Hands-on Furniture Study Day

Friday, October 18 | 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
$125 CHS members | $150 non-members
Lunch included | Registration required, space limited

Join nationally-renowned furniture experts Dr. Philip D. Zimmerman, Frank M. Levy, and Arthur Liverant for a Furniture Study Day at the Connecticut Historical Society. The Society's collection of early Connecticut furniture is unparalleled in its scope and depth. This day-long program will provide an extraordinary opportunity to learn about these important objects through informative presentations followed by extensive examination and discussion sessions featuring several objects. Limited enrollment and an open format will allow each individual maximum access and participation. Inquiry and assessment from a variety of perspectives–such as design, construction, materials, and history–will be encouraged and pursued.

Philip Zimmerman is a museum and decorative arts consultant, author, and nationally recognized authority on early American furniture based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Frank Levy is a principal of Bernard & S. Dean Levy, Inc., leading dealers in the best early American furniture, silver, needlework, and paintings. Arthur Liverant is an antiques dealer and appraiser specializing in American antique furniture, paintings, silver, porcelain and related fine art and accessories and the third generation owner of the firm of Nathan Liverant and Son, LLC.

Enrollment is limited and is first-come first-served. This program may fill up quickly, so please do not delay. For registration, please call (860) 236-5621 x 289 or email Jenny Steadman.

Cheers to History

Friday, October 25 | 5:00 - 7:30 pm | $50 donation
1210 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, CT

Raise a glass to history and view a  "parade"  of mid-century items from the CHS collection. Tour the home of CHS members Krystian von Speidel and Nathan Frank and meet Jody Blankenship, the new Executive Director of CHS. Drinks and refreshments will be served. Proceeds help fund CHS operations. Space is limited. R.S.V.P. by October 1 by calling (860) 236-5621 x223 or emailing rsvp@chs.org. Thank you to our generous sponsor: Nadeau's Auction Gallery

Secrets of the Veeder House Tour

Saturday, October 26 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
FREE for members | $4-8 non-members | tickets available online

From the servants' quarters to the original elevator, this is a rare opportunity to explore the architecture and see some of the non-public details of the 1928 house that is now the Connecticut Historical Society. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

November 2013

Free Admission to the Museum Galleries

Saturday, November 2 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Please note that free admission does not include the Research Center.

Family Program: Picture Yourself at CHS!

Saturday, November 2│Drop-in between 10:00 am & 1:00 pm│FREE

Come and explore our newest exhibit, Through a Different Lens: Three Connecticut Women Photographers, and then decorate your own picture frame to take home. Use the frame to display one of your favorite photographs or use it as a special gift for a friend or family member. This activity is great for children 10 and under. Supplies are provided by the CHS. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x222 or email Erin Strogoff.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: A Veteran's Day Remembrance of Military History at the CHS

Saturday, November 9 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | $5 members | $15 non-members
tickets available online

The CHS says thank you to our veterans by remembering their service through scrapbooks, uniforms, letters, photographs, and the weapons they used. Join us every Second Saturday of the month for a different sneak peek into non-public storage areas and see some of the Connecticut Historical Society collection not currently on exhibit. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

Hands-On Demonstration: The Complex Joinery and Designs of Eliphalet Chapin

Friday, November 22 │ 5:30-7:00 pm
$10 CHS members | $15 non-members │ refreshments provided

Will Neptune, winner of the 2013 Cartouche award from the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, furniture maker, master carver, writer for Fine Woodworking magazine, and instructor for the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking's year-long course on the Chapin High Chest, will discuss and demonstrate construction techniques that were unique to East Windsor Cabinetmaker Eliphalet Chapin in the late 1700s. The apparent simplicity of Chapin's furniture designs belied his extensive use of simple and complex geometry to achieve the graceful final pieces that continue to inspire today's furniture craftspeople. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x 289 or email Jenny Steadman. Thank you our program sponsor: the Society of American Period Furniture Makers and to our series sponsors: Nathan Liverant and Sons Antiques, LLC and Connecticut Humanities.

Secrets of the Veeder House Tour

Saturday, November 23 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
FREE for members | $4-8 non-members | tickets available online

From the servants' quarters to the original elevator, this is a rare opportunity to explore the architecture and see some of the non-public details of the 1928 house that is now the Connecticut Historical Society. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.

December 2013

Free Admission to the Museum Galleries

Saturday, December 7 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Please note that free admission does not include the Research Center.

Family Program: Make your own Holiday Poppers

Saturday, December 7│Drop-in between 10:00 am & 1:00 pm│FREE

Begin the holiday season with a bang! First invented by a London pastry chef in the 1840s, poppers (or "crackers") have become timeless favorites. Poppers make great gifts, holiday party favors, or New Year's Eve noisemakers. Traditional fillers, like candy, paper hats, and fortunes will be provided or you may bring your own. This is a favorite for both kids and adults! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x222 or email Erin Strogoff.

Special Program: Adult Crafternoon – Holiday Poppers and Paper Crafts

Saturday, December 7│Drop-in between 2:00 & 4:00 pm│FREE

Join fellow crafters for a relaxed afternoon of creating holiday poppers (or "crackers") and other paper crafts. No crafting experience is necessary. Bring your own materials or use some of our supplies. For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x222 or email Erin Strogoff.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: G. Fox and Holiday Shopping: Remembering Holidays Past at the CHS

Saturday, December 14 | 11:00 am & 1:00 pm | $5 members | $15 non-members

Holidays in Hartford in the 1950s through the 1990s were synonymous with its largest downtown department store. Come take a holiday stroll down memory lane through the CHS's collection of G. Fox memorabilia, store displays, and holiday ornaments. Stay to browse through our CHS store and take home your own piece of G. Fox. Join us every Second Saturday of the month for a different sneak peek into non-public storage areas and see some of the Connecticut Historical Society collection not currently on exhibit. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tour price includes general admission. Space is limited. Don't be disappointed--buy tickets in advance! For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x289 or email Jenny Steadman.