Stamford History Real Time

Welcome!

This blog keeps readers up-to-date about what's happening at The Stamford Historical Society.  The society is committed to putting  information about  its function and Stamford's history into cyberspace, both through its website and here.

Readers' comments on blog posts are welcome!  Comments are moderated to weed out spammers.

HISTORY CENTER OF STAMFORD
preserving the past / defining the present / connecting with the future
VOLUNTEER MATTERS — VOLUNTEERS MATTER!
The society is largely a volunteer powered organization and always in need of volunteers.

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The Society celebrates 100 years since its incorporation.  Visit our exhibit "100 Years in the Making:  Highlights from the Society's Collections" (Tuesday through Saturday 12 Noon to 4:00 PM)

Blog authors:  Stamford Historical Society, Tom Anderson, Suzann Emmens.

The Society will be closed Saturday, December 19, 2009 through Saturday, January 2, 2010. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thanksgiving Holiday Closings

The Society will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays Wednesday, November 25 through Saturday, November 28, 2009.

Enjoy your holiday!

Stamford Historical Society Receives Conservation Bookshelf

Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Society will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  IMLS has now awarded almost 3,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf, in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).

The Society did not have any current materials related to conservation, preservation and storage of our collections, and these books will greatly aid us as we seek to better house and police our items.

“When IMLS launched this initiative to improve the dire state of our nation’s collections, we understood that the materials gathered for the Bookshelf would serve as important tools for museums, libraries, and archives nationwide,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of IMLS.  “We were both pleased and encouraged by the overwhelming interest of institutions prepared to answer the call to action, and we know that with their dedication, artifacts from our shared history will be preserved for future generations.”

100th Birthday Party – help us spread the word

A flyer to distribute:
Download the 100th Birthday Party Flyer

A Major Milestone: 100th Anniversary of the Stamford Historical Society’s Incorporation

This year the Society celebrates its 100th Anniversary of Incorporation.

Although the Stamford Historical Society was founded in 1901, it took a number of years before the Society met regularly.  After meeting five times between October of 1901 and March of 1902, the Society did not meet again until the fall of 1905.  From then on, monthly meetings were held, other than during the summer months of July and August.  This practice continues today as there is no August meeting of the Board.  It was not until 1909 that the Society was recognized by the State of Connecticut as an incorporated body.  Colonel Woolsey Hopkins, Society President (1901–09), had appointed a committee to see to this goal as early as 1907, but it was not until after his death that the goal was realized under the Society’s second president Frederick G. Mather (1909–23). 

In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of incorporation, the Society is putting together a centennial exposition, 100 Years in the Making: Highlights from the Society’s Collections, that will chronicle our history as well as show off some of the finest pieces in our collections.

The Stamford Historical Society celebrates 100 Years! A Family Event! Sunday, October 25

Bring the entire family to our 100th birthday celebration
Sunday, October 25
12 – 4 PM
Society Headquarters
1508 High Ridge Rd.

Music, magic, games, and crafts.

Admission $10
ages 4-12 $5
under 4 free
Ice cream, cake, drinks and goodies included.

EXHIBIT OPENING
100 Years in the Making: Highlights from the Society's Collections

Chief Historian Emeritus, National Park Service, Edwin C. Bearss to speak Thursday night in Stamford

Please mark your calendar!

The Civil War Round Table of Fairfield County is hosting Edwin Bearss at its monthly meeting at the Stamford Historical Society headquarters at 1508 High Ridge Road, Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 PM.  Admission is free.

Mr. Bearss' talk is titled

The Defense of Little Round Top:
A New Interpretation

How important was this terrain in averting Union disaster on the Second Day, and does Joshua Chamberlain deserve the fawning credit heaped upon him for its successful defense? Ed will challenge the conventional view of this pivotal action. Get set for the controversy!

More on Mr. Bearss

Newsletter Stamford Pioneer, Fall 2009 Edition

The Fall 2009 edition of our newsletter, Stamford Pioneer, is available online now.

The Look of Stamford a Century Ago
East Main Street from Atlantic Square, 1909

Download Stamford Pioneer, Fall 2009 (PDF)

Learn about the 100th Anniversary of Society’s Incorporation, related celebrations, and a new exhibit.  Read "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," discover the result of the "Cozy Sundays" survey, and more.

The Stamford Historical Society: Mission Statement

The Stamford Historical Society
Mission Statement

The Stamford Historical Society, the municipal historian of Stamford, is an educational and research institution, whose primary functions are to collect, preserve, conserve, interpret, and exhibit materials relating to Stamford, Connecticut and our region in order to engage citizens in the telling of their stories.

The Society is dedicated to preserving regional history and providing opportunities for the community to understand and experience the past through the presentation of exhibits and displays, lectures, demonstrations, special events and participatory programs. In particular, we preserve and offer tours of the unique Hoyt Barnum house, built in 1699. As the city of Stamford’s history center, we have a responsibility to all citizens of our community to preserve the varied experiences that reflect our cultural heritage.

Our History

Why Do We Need A Historical Society?

Dick Roberts Receives Stamford Historical Society Award

At the society's annual meeting on June 8, 2009, Richard J. Roberts received the Virginia T. Davis, Stamford Historical Society Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding work on recording "lost" Stamford cemeteries.

In the past he has been featured on News 12, and written up in the news:

Richard Roberts tracks Stamford's lost graveyards (Stamford Times)
Uncovering mysteries (The Advocate)

On this blog:  Mapping Lost Graveyards in Stamford.

Read more about Dick Roberts.

  We still need volunteers for the scanning and electronic recording, as well as creating interactive maps.  Anyone interested should contact Volunteer Coordinator Jane Flounders or call the Society at 203-329-1183.