News and Events

Edythe Gaines was a Hartford "first" in two respects: She was the first African-American to lead the city school system and the first woman to do so. Gaines, whose tenure as superintendent of schools lasted from 1975 to 1978, died Thursday morning at the age of 83, according to the Hartford Courant.

# Posted by Kevin Flood at 9:45 AM

Thursday, March 16, 2006

CHS director leaving for New Orleans

The Hartford Courant reports today that David M. Kahn, executive director of the Connecticut Historical Society for the past nine years, will leave in May to become director of the New Orleans-based Louisiana State Museum.

Kahn told the Courant that he could not pass up the opportunity to help a historic institution rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The newspaper listed these as some of Kahn's accomplishments at CHS:

The museum's decision in 2003 to assume responsibility for managing the Old State House, where a $3.5 million permanent exhibit on the history of Hartford will open in September. A new audio tour of the Old State House was introduced on March 4.
An expansion of audience-friendly and interactive exhibitions on topics ranging from 18th-century Connecticut furniture to the history of the comic book.
Improvements in cataloging the museum's collections and making them easier for the public to navigate.

By the way, CHS wants visitors to its museum and headquarters on Elizabeth Street to know this: "In order to better protect and preserve our collections, the CHS Museum will be installing new climate control (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems in 2006, thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. While access to the exhibitions, plus the library and museum collections may be limited (especially between February and June 2006), we’ll strive to accommodate your interests and research needs, but recommend you call ahead. Thanks for your patience! Call for further information (860) 236-5621, or e-mail ask_us@chs.org for further information."

# Posted by Kevin Flood at 1:05 PM

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Historic gardens lecture on April 6

Artist, garden designer, and historic gardens consultant Rob Fuoco will present an illustrated lecture on Victorian gardens and new thinking in historic landscapes on Thursday, April 6, at the Butler-McCook House & Garden at 396 Main Street.

Mr. Fuoco oversees the historic gardens at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford and has authored an extensive historic grounds report on the Nook Farm neighborhood.

The event is sponsored by the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, a statewide cultural organization that operates a network of historic house museums, including the Butler-McCook house. The cost: none for A&L members, $6 for non-members. Reservations are suggested, so please call (860) 522-1806.

Also on April 6, the Butler-McCook House’s Aetna gallery will host the opening of "A Photographer’s Eye: H. Robert Thiesfield’s Hartford Images." The opening was originally scheduled for last month, but a snowstorm forced postponement.

# Posted by Kevin Flood at 12:47 PM

Monday, March 06, 2006

Nominations sought for Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame

Governor M. Jodi Rell is accepting nominations to the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, which she created last year "to recognize the post-military achievements of generations of outstanding veterans from the state, living or deceased, and to spotlight their contributions to their community, including education, public safety, politics, recreation and other areas of public service."

Under the executive order that established the hall, 10 Connecticut veterans will be inducted every year, with the ceremony taking place around Veterans Day.

Veterans who served in all military conflicts will be considered, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iraq invasion.

Rell, in a press release, emphasized that the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is not a military hall of fame. Rather, veterans selected for induction must have honorably served their country in the military and continued to serve it afterward, in civilian life. Nominations for deceased veterans are also accepted.

For more details and a nomination packet, visit the state Department of Veteran Affairs website, or call (860)721-5939.

# Posted by Kevin Flood at 9:48 PM

Sunday, March 05, 2006

No free lunch -- but there is a free bus

It's a little nippy out lately for walking tours of the historic sites in downtown Hartford. But you can still check them out from the sheltered warmth of the FREE shuttle bus that runs downtown.

Here's a map of the route and the stops.

# Posted by Kevin Flood at 11:15 PM

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Series of Hartford history lectures begins May 16

The Greater Hartford Arts Council is co-sponsoring a series of lectures on the history of Hartford, in the belief that "newcomers as well as long-term residents of the region should share a base of knowledge about our core city and its environs."

Trinity College historian Andrew Walsh will deliver the first lecture, "The Changing Face of Hartford: From River’s Edge to Ribbons of Concrete," on Tuesday, May 16, at the Hartford Club, at 46 Prospect Street. A half-hour of socializing, with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, will precede the lecture, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $35, with seating limited to the first 100 paid admissions.

Visit the Arts Council's website for more information.

Hartford History