The Stamford History Center (formerly known as the Stamford Historical Society, Inc.), is an independent non-profit organization located in Stamford, Connecticut serving as an educational and research institution, whose primary functions are to collect, preserve, conserve, interpret, and exhibit materials relating to Stamford, Connecticut. The museum has a collection containing art, photography, furniture and other artifacts from throughout Stamford's history and regularly presents programs and special exhibits.
The Center's Marcus Research Library and Archives is a specialized collection dealing in depth with the history of Stamford, Connecticut, from pre-settlement to the present. Its holdings consists of books, pamphlets, and periodicals and boxed manuscript materials from the 17th century to the present. In addition, there are 200 bound manuscripts dating from the 18th to 20th centuries; 18th, 19th, & 20th century maps, atlases, and newspapers. Also included are a 10-volume survey of Stamford’s historic structures, vertical files containing information on local organizations, schools, government, biographies, transportation and churches & synagogues, city directories, W. P. A. Stamford and Darien Cemetery inscription volume.
History
The Stamford History Center was founded in 1901 and incorporated in 1909 as the Stamford Historical Society Inc. The early collections concentrated on objects thought to have been made before machines, such as wooden implements, early furniture, ironware, earthenware, pewter and silver. The focus was also directed toward the interior agrarian economy and the American farmer. The fact that many of the forms that were part of the collection were made by industrial processes (lathes, molds etc.) and used division of labor (joiners and turners) was for the most part overlooked.
In 1979 The Center was named principal beneficiary of the Cruikshank Collection, an extensive collection of Early American furniture. The bequest came about, because a collector, Charlotte D.S. Cruikshank[1], a lifelong resident of Stamford, wanted future generations to enjoy learning how earlier Americans had lived.
With the Center's move in 1984 to its present headquarters, a 1914 building that was first the Willard School and later the Martha Hoyt School at 1508 High Ridge Road, the mission and purpose became more clearly defined. As an exhibits oriented and educational institution which collects, preserves, conserves and interprets materials relating to the history of Stamford and Connecticut between the 17th and 20th centuries, The Society reflects the diversity and change that this region has experienced.
On November of 2016, the City of Stamford arranged for the move of Hoyt-Barnum House to the Historical Society’s North Stamford campus at 1508 High Ridge Road. The 1699 Hoyt-Barnum House depicts Stamford's colonial Puritan past through the inventory of Samuel Hoyt, blacksmith, who died in 1738. David Barnum's 1838 inventory is also interpreted to reflect the farming, cottage industry era of Stamford before the canal and railroad transformed Stamford into a bustling, industrial town.The Board of Directors voted to use the name, Stamford History Center, to reflect the physical change of the organization.
External Links
- ^ Phipps, Frances (1985-04-21). "ANTIQUES; STAMFORD INHERITS AN UNEXPECTED GIFT (Published 1985)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- ^ Phipps, Frances (1985-04-21). "ANTIQUES; STAMFORD INHERITS AN UNEXPECTED GIFT". The New York Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)