Litchfield Historical Society

Purpose: Sustaining Cultural Heritage During the early Federal period, Litchfield was a busy commercial and crossroads town. The Litchfield Law School was the country's first, and the Litchfield Female Academy was one of the first major academic institutions for women in the United States. The Litchfield Historical Society collections include many artifacts that date from the period 1780 to 1840 and correspond to the major activities of the community at that time: family portraits; trade and tavern signs; art, needlework, and textiles produced by local women; furniture and decorative arts produced by local craftsmen; and letters, diaries, journals, account books, and personal papers. In this project, the Historical Society will catalog artifacts and manuscripts from this period in an effort to improve its collections management and increase the public's appreciation of its holdings. The curator will identify objects and archival collections that fall within this significant period in the city's history, establish connections between object and archival collections, complete catalog records, identify and prioritize preservation needs, and improve staff and public access to the Society's holdings.