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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Middlesex County Historical Society
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260221T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260221T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260213T141839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T141839Z
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SUMMARY:Voices of Portland: The Fight For Freedom & Equality
DESCRIPTION:The Middlesex County Historical Society is delighted to partner with the Portland Historical Society\, Portland Committee on Solidarity\, Portland Library\, and Portland America250 Committee for this exciting Black History Month event. \nTo register for this free event\, and to learn more\, visit:\nhttps://portlandct.libcal.com/event/16223123
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/voices-of-portland-the-fight-for-freedom-equality/
LOCATION:Portlad Senior Center\, 7 Waverly Avenue\, Portland\, CT
CATEGORIES:Educational
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mchsct.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-091335.png
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260226T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260226T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260213T145909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T002523Z
UID:6210-1772132400-1772136000@mchsct.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Event: Book Talk By Eric A. Smith\, Beman Triangle Descendant
DESCRIPTION:In conversation with Jesse Nasta\, PhD via Zoom. \nJoin us to hear author Eric A. Smith speak about his new book\, A Journey of a Thousand Sorrows\, an account of Smith’s New England indigenous ancestors and their role in history. \nSmith is a direct descendant of the Jeffrey family\, the first people of color to own property on Middletown’s Beman Triangle\, one of the first free\, property-owning African American communities in Connecticut and New England. A Journey of a Thousand Sorrows is an account of the history\, destruction\, genocide\, and migration of certain tribes out of New England in the eighteenth century. In addition\, Smith’s book reveals how he discovered his indigenous ancestry among the seashore tribes of New England through historical and genealogical research. From his very first documented ancestor\, Wyandanch\, a Montaukett\, sachem\, to the Jeffrey family\, Smith’s ancestors played a significant role in Indigenous and African American culture in Connecticut\, New York\, Rhode Island\, and the Upper Midwest. \nThis Zoom talk is free but registration is required. Register at: bit.ly/BemanTriangle \nClick here to learn more about Smith’s book\, and to purchase a copy \nAbout the Author\nEric A. Smith is a lecturer\, teacher\, author\, historian\, and television talk show host. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California\, Berkeley\, and Master of Arts degree in history from Chicago State University. Eric is also a member of Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society and has served as past president of the Afro-American Genealogical & Historical Society of Chicago. \nSmith has published articles in the Afro-American Genealogical & Historical Society of Chicago newsletter and the Iowa Genealogical Journal\, Hawkeye Heritage\, and various other publications. His book\, Oak Hill: A Portrait of Black Life in Cedar Rapids\, Iowa 1920-1950\, appeared in 2006. \nSmith has been a consultant and contributor to Iowa Public Television’s documentary\, Searching for Buxton (2012). In addition\, he has been a consultant to Professor Henry Louis Gates’s PBS series Roots\, concerning the genealogy of Gayle King. Smith has also appeared on local Chicago affiliate ABC News interviewed by Janet Davies and FOX 32 News by Wanda Wells about genealogy. Over the years he has been a contributor to the online encyclopedia blackpast.org . \nHe has given presentations on history and genealogy in numerous venues\, including in the Chicago Public Schools\, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools\, the University of Illinois\, Chicago\, Chicago State University\, and the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society\, Inc.\, National Conference in Salt Lake City\, Utah\, and other national conferences. In 2023\, Smith was a presenter at Wesleyan University\, at a conference convened by Jesse Nasta\, concerning the Jeffrey family history in early Connecticut. Also\, in 2023\, Eric gave presentations at Nazareth University and the Rochester Genealogical Society concerning the role the Jeffrey family played in the early Civil Rights\, Abolitionist\, and Women’s Rights Movements in Rochester\, New York.
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/virtual-event-book-talk-by-eric-a-smith-beman-triangle-descendant/
LOCATION:CT
CATEGORIES:Educational
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mchsct.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Beman-Triangle.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260305T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260305T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260214T033001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260214T033139Z
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SUMMARY:Virtual Event: Early Women Artisan Photographers in Middletown and Beyond
DESCRIPTION:WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES: \nLEE MCINTYRE\, PHD \nClick Here to register and receive the Zoom Link. \n  \nDr. Lee McIntyre is an independent historian living in Manchester\, CT. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. McIntyre has given lectures on the social history of photography to international audiences at academic conferences\, universities\, museums\, libraries and other public venues. \nHer current project\, Photographs\, Pistols & Parasols (website: p3photographers.net) looks at the social history of early women artisan photographers\, exploring the lives of women who owned and ran photography studios between 1840-1930. The project celebrates the too-often overlooked achievements of women artisan photographers from the U.S. and Canada\, women who were both early photographers and early photographic entrepreneurs. \nDr. Lee McIntyre will bring the lives of some of these women into focus in her talk\, Early Women Artisan Photographers from Middletown and Beyond. The talk will include several late-19th-century women who operated photography studios in Middletown. Join us to learn their fascinating stories and to see gems from the Middlesex County Historical Society’s photo archives\, taken by these women and their peers.
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/virtual-event-early-women-artisan-photographers-in-middletown-and-beyond/
LOCATION:CT
CATEGORIES:Educational,Virtual Event
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260328T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260328T163000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260214T034320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T002850Z
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SUMMARY:The Lasting Legacy of Dr. Alice Hamilton
DESCRIPTION:A Women’s History Month Presentation By Janet Lemond\n\n(Note: 3 PM is the correct time\, changed from 1 PM!)\n\n  \nThis event is free. No registration required.\n\n  \nThe National Women’s History Month theme for 2026 is “Leading the Charge: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future\,” focusing on women’s vital roles in creating environmental\, economic\, and social sustainability. Who better exemplifies this than Dr. Alice Hamilton? Dr. Alice Hamilton\, M.D.\, a local legend\, was a neighbor and friend of William Gillette\, but she was much more than this.\n\n  \nCome hear the legend of the woman who helped cure the insane “Mad Hatters” in Danbury\, CT\, driven mad by their job.\n\n  \nLearn about the women who stopped factories from exploding and destroying entire towns on the east coast during the World War.\n\n  \nHear the voice of the first female professor at Harvard University\, before women were even allowed to matriculate at this institution.\n\n  \nSee how our neighbor\, Dr. Alice Hamilton\, met with the Pope and tried to stop World War One.\n\n  \nPrepare to be amazed!\n\n  \nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, Janet will present a case study with guidance on how to discover what your ancestors did for a living. She will discuss the lasting legacy of Dr. Alice Hamilton and how her impact is still being felt today.\n\n  \nAbout the Presenter:\nMs. Lemond worked for both OSHA and the EPA. While at OSHA\, she was responsible for sampling at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. Her presentation will be both informative and empowering. Following the presentation\, Ms. Lemond’s book\, Doctor Alice Hamilton\, M.D.\, Neighbor of William Gillette\, will be available for purchase. If you like\, the author will be available to autograph your purchase.
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/the-lasting-legacy-of-dr-alice-hamilton/
LOCATION:Russell Library\, 123 Broad St\, Middletown\, CT\, 06457\, United States
CATEGORIES:Educational
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mchsct.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alice-Hamilton-Event.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260430T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260430T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260401T103921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T234031Z
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SUMMARY:MCHS Annual Meeting: How We Remember the Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Join the Middlesex County Historical Society for our 2026 Annual Meeting\, featuring a keynote presentation by acclaimed historian Dr. Michael D. Hattem. This event offers a timely exploration of the American Revolution’s lasting impact on our national identity as we approach the semiquincentennial. \n  \nFormat: In-person & Virtual (Hybrid) \nSchedule\n6:30 PM | Business Meeting: Annual reports from the Executive Director\, President\, and Treasurer\, followed by the election of Board members and officers. \n7:00 PM | Keynote Address: “How We Remember the Revolution (and why it matters)” by Dr. Michael D. Hattem. \n  \nAbout the Presentation\nWhy have Americans maintained such a powerful emotional connection to the nation’s founding for nearly 250 years? Dr. Hattem will examine the unique place the Revolution holds in our politics and culture. His talk will explore: \n\nHow different generations have reshaped the story of the Revolution.\nThe influence of politics on historical memory.\nWhy the legacy and meaning of the Revolution remain a subject of debate today.\n\nThis presentation serves as a companion to the Society’s upcoming exhibition\, “Democracy 250: Making Every Voice Count\,” part of the local and national commemorations of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. \n  \nAbout the Speaker\nDr. Michael D. Hattem is a public historian\, author\, and the Associate Director of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. A specialist in early America and historical memory\, his works include: \n\nThe Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History (2024) – Finalist for the 2025 George Washington Prize.\nPast and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution (2020).\nThe Declaration of Independence: A Concise History (Forthcoming\, Nov 2026).\n\nHis insights have been featured in The New York Times\, Smithsonian Magazine\, and The Washington Post. \n  \nRegistration\nWhile all are welcome to attend in person\, those who prefer to join virtually must register to receive the Zoom link: \nRegister for Zoom Access: bit.ly/MCHS2026
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/mchs-annual-meeting-how-we-remember-the-revolution/
LOCATION:Middletown Senior Center\, 61 Durant Terrace\, Middletown\, CT\, 06457\, United States
CATEGORIES:Board Meeting,Educational,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mchsct.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MCHS-Events.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260509T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T084429
CREATED:20260401T105940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T234239Z
UID:6334-1778335200-1778342400@mchsct.org
SUMMARY:American Musical Traditions 1865–1915: A Cultural Tapestry
DESCRIPTION:Experience a joyful excursion through the musical innovations of the post-Civil War era. This special performance celebrates our nation’s 250th anniversary by exploring the rich “cultural tapestry” of American sound\, spanning classical\, jazz\, and song. \nTicket Information\nJoin us for this commemorative performance. Tickets are available at the following rates: \n\nAdults: $24\nSeniors / Wesleyan Faculty\, Staff\, & Alumni: $15\nStudents (WesU & Non-WesU) / Youth (Under 18): $10\n\nPurchase Tickets Online by clicking HERE \n\nAbout the Event\nThis concert highlights the transformative period between 1865 and 1915\, showcasing the evolution of American music. From the foundations of jazz and classical compositions to the popular songs of the era\, “A Cultural Tapestry” offers a unique auditory look at our shared history. \nGenerously sponsored by Liberty Bank in support of the Middlesex County Historical Society. \nParking Tip: \nThe closest parking is Lot E\, which is right off Wyllys Avenue and just a short walk from the hall. If you are using GPS\, some systems prefer 283 Washington Terrace to get directly to the Center for the Arts entrance.
URL:https://mchsct.org/event/american-musical-traditions-1865-1915-a-cultural-tapestry/
LOCATION:Crowell Concert Hall at Wesleyan University\, 50 Wyllys Avenue\, Middletown\, CT\, 06457\, United States
CATEGORIES:Live Music
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