Samson Occom- Getting More Collections Online

The past few days I have been preparing the scans from the microfilm of the Samson Occom papers so I can publish them in Connecticut History Online. This is another of the collections we are getting online with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. I have already blogged about the Wolcott papers, which are only about half done. Continue reading

Hawaii Once Again

One of these days, I will have to go to Hawaii because I keep coming back to it in my research and blog posts. Now I am going to be talking to a college class about Connecticut missionaries in Hawaii. In addition, next week is filled with Hawaii-related programs at Central Connecticut State University(CCSU) and the Hartford Seminary. All are free and open to the public.

On Wednesday, April 9 from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. Keala Kelly will show her documentary film Noho Hewa, with a discussion to follow. This award-winning film explores the effects of colonialism on the indigenous people of Hawaii. The program is in the Thorp Theater at CCSU.

On Thursday April 10 there are two programs. First, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Dr. Keanu Sai from the University of Hawaii will talk about “Hawai’i: An American State or a State under American Occupation?” He will be at CCSU in the Vance building, room 105. That will be followed by an evening program, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Hartford Seminary with a panel presentation on “The Hawaii-Connecticut Missionary Connection: Rumors and Realities” featuring Dr. Steven Blackburn of the Seminary, Aolani Kilihou from the University of Hawaii, and Dr. Clifford Putney of Bentley University, with Dr. Sai serving as moderator. At this event, CHS will display some of the items from its collection related to Hawaii and missionaries from Connecticut.

Letter from Amos Starr Cooke in Hawaii to Obadiah Mead of Greenwich, Conn. Ms 63965

Letter from Amos Starr Cooke in Hawaii to Obadiah Mead of Greenwich, Conn. Ms 63965

This series is sponsored by a grant from the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education, Women’s Studies at the University of St. Joseph, Peace Studies at CCSU, Hartford Seminary, and CHS. Please join us for one or all of these programs.

An Archival Trip to Hawaii

Mrs. Starr, the wife of a whaling captain created this image of Hawaii about 1855.

Mrs. Starr, the wife of a whaling captain created this image of Hawaii about 1855.

With the weather getting colder, this might be a good time to consider taking An Archival Trip to Hawaii, offered this Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, free with admission to the museum. On display will be a number of objects, books and manuscripts documenting the 200-year connection between Hawaii and Connecticut. Continue reading

Another Charlotte Cowles (Hull) letter to write about!

Letter addressed to Charlotte C. Hull from Isabella Hooker. Ms 101809.

Letter addressed to Charlotte C. Hull from Isabella Hooker. Ms 101809.

One of our good friends recently purchased and then donated to us a letter written by Isabella Beecher Hooker to Charlotte Cowles Hull. Yes, a letter to “our” Charlotte Cowles after her marriage to Joseph Hull.  Isabella Beecher and her husband John Hooker introduced Charlotte and Joseph and evidently maintained that friendship. The letter was written February 21, 1845, at which time Charlotte had a child and was living in Essex, Connecticut. Continue reading