About the Community History Project
The Community History Project (CHP) at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History collects the stories and experiences of Connecticut residents to create a more diverse archive of what life is like in the state. Phase 1 of the project was completed in March of 2024. The U.S Department of Education is currently funding the CHP’s next phase.
Phase 2: “Redefining Moments of Change”
The focus our current phase is “Redefining Moments of Change”, where we are looking for Connecticut residents to share stories of people or events that have changed the direction of their lives to shape who they are today, as well as how the interviewee has sparked change in small or large ways.
OUR GOAL
Our main goal of “Redefining Moments of Change” is to actively engage college students and professors in public history. We aim to accomplish this by training interested student interns in oral history practices and working with responsive professors to implement collected oral histories into existing curricula.
Are you a college student interested in becoming an intern with the Community History Project? Click the button below for more information on the CHP internship.
CHP Intern Description
To be considered for the Community History Project Internship at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, please complete the Application Form linked below, and email your cover letter and resume to Lyle Cairdeas, Community History Project Manager, at lcairdeas@connecticutmuseum.org.
Complete the Application Form
About CHP Phase 1
CHP was proposed in early 2020 with the purpose of preserving stories from marginalized communities about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 1 was made possible by the Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and additional funding from the Higher Education Congressionally Funded Community Projects Program. The Connecticut Museum worked in collaboration with Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), the Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA), public libraries in Hartford, New Haven, and Norwich, and diverse communities across the state
What did the CHP accomplish in its first phase?
- The Community History Project successfully collected 73 oral history interviews across 22 communities in Connecticut.
- Community members, including high school students, were trained in contemporary collecting practices to conduct their own interviews.
- Project members volunteered at and attended many local organizations, events, and charities in Hartford, Norwich, and New Haven.
