CREATING THE ARCHIVE OF TOMORROW

What is the Community History Project (CHP)? 

• The CHP at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is a community-driven, history-making project 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.
   
• CHP was proposed in early 2020 with the purpose of preserving stories from marginalized communities about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, the project is looking to work with colleges, professors, and students to implement oral histories in the classroom.
   
• The CHP seeks to cultivate a deeper understanding of Connecticut history. The CHP aims to include experiences from community members to better reflect the state’s diverse population and their stories.
   

Who is working on the CHP? 

• During its first phase, the Connecticut Museum was 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.
   
• In the project’s newest phase, the Connecticut Museum is looking to partner with more colleges and universities across Connecticut to help spread contemporary collecting practices and expose more majors to the world of museums.  

What has the CHP accomplished in its first phase? 

• The Community History Project successfully collected 73 oral history interviews across 22 communities in Connecticut. 

• To hear the oral histories, check out our collection on the Connecticut Digital Archive!

• 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.
   

What does the future of CHP look like? 

• The second phase of the project is centered around incorporating contemporary collecting practices in the classroom. One of the Connecticut Museum’s goals is to build interest in the field of museums and public history. 
  
• CHP hopes to work with various college departments, professors, and students on preserving the stories of Connecticut’s Unsung Heroes – Connecticut residents who try to better their community through everyday efforts.