Scope and Contents

The J. Howard Catlin diaries (2011-30-0) consist of six pocket diaries kept by J. Howard Caltin in 1867, 1868, 1873, 1874, 1880, and 1892. Catlin's entries are brief and generally chronicle his daily activities. He regularly notes the weather, and in several of the diaries keeps a cash account of his personal spending. The six diaries are currently housed together in 3A Box 1a. Also housed in this location is an enlarged photocopy of the 1868 diary.

Abstract

Stephanie Whitney Cunningham manuscript (2011-29-0) is an unfinished manuscript draft of "From Bride to Great-Grandmother in Litchfield" by Stephanie Whitney Cunningham. Written in a small spiral bound notebook, the manuscript gives insight into the author's life in Litchfield, as well as the social scene, families, buildings, etc. that were present in the community in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Scope and Contents The Maria Tallmadge Cushman home remedies notebook (1949-39-0) was compiled by Maria Tallmadge Cushman from the year 1840 through 1864. The small notebook contains home remedies for illness as well as many recipes and hints for household cleaning. Many of the remedies are handwritten, and a fair amount are newspaper clippings. Health remedies include treatments for cholera, cancer, colds, rheumatism, dysentery, and "Mrs. Noyes Recipe for purifying the blood." Interspersed with health cures...

Scope and Contents

The Mrs. E.S. Downes album (1923-32-0) is a collection of pressed algae that was given from Mrs. E.S. Downes to Mrs. H.W. Buel (Catharine Laidlaw Buel) on October 5, 1874. The album contains eight samples of pressed algae in various colors and is titled "American Algae or, Flowers of the Sea."

Scope and Contents The Friday Fasters record book (1913-33-0) was made by Mary H. Willis to document the Litchfield female lunch club known as the Friday Fasters. The book contains a variety of items recording the activities of the club from 1902 to 1904. Inside the front cover is a watercolor depicting the lunch club in a satirical manner. The words "Semper Puratus", which translate to "always ready", appear under the name "Ye Friday Fasters". Also present in the record book is a brief explanation of the...

Scope and Contents The Bernice Fuessenich collection consists of photographs, invoices, programs, invitations, advertising, brochures, dance cards, calling cards, and other ephemera documenting cultural, social, religious, and business activities in Litchfield, Conn., 1897-1976. Among the subjects covered are drama productions, church dedications and services, horse shows, minstrel shows, dances and balls, businesses and restaurants. There are also receipts for goods and services. Some of the papers relate to...

Abstract

Seven diaries kept by Estella Hewitt from 1946-1973 documenting daily activities including cooking, cleaning, baking, social activities, playing organ at churches, and working at the Gilbert and Oliver Wolcott libraries. While the other volumes document daily life in Litchfield, the 1962 diary is a trip diary detailing a trip to England, France, Italy Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.

Scope and Contents

The Harriet Kilbourne diaries (1922-39-0) consists of two diaries handwritten by Harriet Kilbourne. The two items chronicle the daily life of Mrs. Kilbourne, and frequent topics include the weather, who came to call, and who she sent and received letters and notes from. The second volume (April 27, 1908 - October 5, 1812) contains a short list of "Monthly Bills and Checks Sent" written on the inside of the back cover. Items are currently housed in 3A Box 3.

Abstract

The Litchfield Historical Society photograph collection is an artifical collection brought together by staff that contains photographs that primarily were part of the vertical files collection. They are arranged into three series by format: Series 1. Prints; Series 2. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes; and Series 3. Glass plates. The content of the prints and glass plates are categorized in this finding aid by subject; the physical objects are arranged by accession.

Scope and Contents The Loring Family Correspondence consists primarily of letters to and from Mary Pierce. The main correspondents are: Mary Pierce; Anna Pierce Brace, Mary's niece; Charles Greely Loring, Anna's husband; Jane Loring Gray and Susan Loring Jackson, daughters of Charles and Anna, grandnieces of Mary Pierce. The Lorings were a prominant family in Boston and in addition to news of the extended families (Cunninghams, Putnams, Jacksons, Grays, & Lowells) and friends, the letters describe life...