Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

Short Attention Span Literary Club
2023-08-02 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, 1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
This month’s story is “Faith,” by Sayaka Murata. You can find the story here.
The club meets online using Zoom. Click here to register. You’ll receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.
We’re offering this program for free, but if you would like to make a donation to support our public programming, please click here. Or, to learn about the benefits of museum membership, click here!
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org.

Stepping Forth Into the World: The Story of the Xu Brothers
2023-04-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Our exhibition, Journeys, tells the story of the students who participated in the Chinese Educational Mission (CEM). In this program, Henry Qu, who contributed his research and translation skills to the exhibition, will tell the story of three students, the remarkable Xu brothers. Qu will place the brothers’ story into the larger context of world history and reveal how the brothers’ lives became part of a complicated tangle of international exchange.
After the First Opium War (1840-1842), Britain and other countries forced the Qing court to open to foreign trade through international treaties. Collaborating with Chinese merchants, foreign traders ventured deeply into Inland China, created enormous wealth, and brought drastic changes to the life of millions. The Xu family is among these merchants. As the first group of Chinese who started to re-examine the world in the late 19th century, their family members left footprints in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Three of the Xu boys came to the United States with CEM, spending some of their teenage years studying and living abroad. Some of their home letters are still preserved by CMCH, shedding light on the family’s story and history. This is a story of self-made entrepreneurs, a story of international exchange, and a story of personal struggles under the tide of history.
This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to register! When you do, you’ll get an emailed receipt with an attached “ticket” — the Zoom link is in that ticket!
The Chinese Educational Mission is the subject of our current exhibition, Journeys 旅途: Boys of the Chinese Educational Mission. Visit us in person, or click the link to see a virtual 3D tour. And if podcasts are your thing, listen to our exhibition staff talk about how the exhibition came together, and the new discoveries that inspired it, on Grating the Nutmeg: The Podcast of Connecticut History.
Questions? Contact Adult Programs Manager Natalie Belanger via email at natalie_belanger@chs.org, or call (860) 236-5621 x289.
About the Speaker
Dr. Henry Qu is a Data Scientist at Indigo Agriculture and National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. While his main research focuses on data analysis and modeling in agricultural commodity prices, sustainability, and turfgrass cultivar evaluation, he is also interested in history, especially in the immigration history of Chinese Americans. Following the legacy of the Chinese Educational Mission, Dr. Qu came to the United States as an international student. Graduated from Rutgers University, Dr. Qu received his master’s degree in Statistics and doctorate in Plant Breeding. He has released 5 turfgrass cultivars, published 5 journal articles, 12 conference papers, and 1 book chapter.

Lunch and Learn: My Dearest Darling -- Letters of Love in War Time
2023-04-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
U.S. naval officer Donald Storey was not just fighting for his country in World War II—he was fighting to come home to his love, Margery. The letters the couple wrote to each other became their lifeline, providing comfort in a time of constant uncertainty. In Lisa Franco’s book, My Dearest Darling: Letters of Love in Wartime, Donald’s and Margery’s intimate correspondence not only offers a heartwarming account of their romance and personal sacrifices, but also shines a light on historical events as they unfolded overseas and at home. In this virtual presentation, Lisa will discuss her discovery of the letters and her research for the book.
Franco stumbled upon the lost letters during a fateful stop at a Cape Cod antique shop. What started as a curiosity became, with each subsequent letter, an obsession with finding the couple’s family, learning their history, and ultimately, discovering what happened to them after the war. With their family’s help, as well as other historical resources, Franco maps the couple’s life during their five-year-long separation and ensures that no aspect of this enduring love story is left behind.
This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to register through Yapsody. You’ll get a confirmation email and the Zoom link will be in the attached ticket. You’ll also receive a reminder email with the Zoom link the morning of the event.
Questions? Contact Adult Programs Manager Natalie Belanger via email at natalie_belanger@chs.org, or call (860) 236-5621 x289.
About the Speaker
Lisa Franco has been telling people’s stories for more than four decades. As a writer/producer for the ABC television affiliate WTNH 8 in New Haven, Connecticut, she earned multiple Emmy nominations and journalism awards for her documentaries. She also served as public affairs director for the station before she became the state communications director for one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country. While Lisa’s background includes marketing, media relations, and public relations, these days she is a freelance writer and owner of Over the Moon Vintage, an online collectibles shop. Lisa’s parents were members of the Greatest Generation, and her father, Nino Maurizi, was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran. She attributes this to her interest in the war and the loving relationships that developed during that period in our history. Lisa and her husband, Joe, live in Connecticut and Cape Cod and are the proud parents of their sixth rescue dog, Maggie.

Virtual Conversation: Dementia-Friendly Museums
2022-07-08 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-06-24 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Virtual
In this two-part series of virtual conversations, CMCH and partners will explore how museums and cultural institutions can better serve people living with dementia.
Session 1: Friday, June 24 @ 1:00pm – 2:30pm
LiveWell Dementia Specialists will provide an understanding of the signs and symptoms of dementia, as well as provide strategies to become more resilient. We will hear first-hand what life is like living with dementia.
Session 2: Friday, July 8 @1:00pm – 2:30pm
Join us to learn how several Connecticut museums are currently serving people with dementia. We will explore the steps necessary to begin a successful dementia-friendly program. The conversation will be followed by an opportunity for Q & A.
This virtual 2-part program is free. To secure a spot, register now. You will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link attached, and we will send you a reminder on the days of the sessions.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Busa, Public Programs and Special Events Coordinator, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History at jennifer_busa@chs.org.

Short Attention Span Literary Club
2022-07-06 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, 1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Once per month, we get together to chat about short stories. Anyone can join in, no commitment required!
This month’s selection is “The School” by Donald Barthelme. You can find the story here.
The club meets online using Zoom. Click here to register. You’ll receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.
We’re offering this program for free, but if you would like to make a donation to support our public programming, please click here. Or, to learn about the benefits of museum membership, click here!
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org.

Short Attention Span Literary Club
2022-05-04 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, 1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Once per month, we get together to chat about short stories. Anyone can join in, no commitment required!
This month’s selection is “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco. You can find the story here.
The club meets online using Zoom. Click here to register. You’ll receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.
We’re offering this program for free, but if you would like to make a donation to support our public programming, please click here. Or, to learn about the benefits of museum membership, click here!
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org.

A Paramedic’s Dispatches From the Front Line of the Opioid Epidemic
2022-02-19 18:00 - 19:00 UTC
*Update: 1/3/2022: As we see an increase in Covid-19 cases across our state and beyond, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History will temporarily close to the public from Tuesday, January 4 through Saturday, January 15. We currently anticipate reopening the museum to the public on Tuesday, January 18. All on-site public programs and tours are canceled during this time.
This event will now be online and begin at 7pm

Join us for a book talk with Hartford paramedic Peter Canning, author of Killing Season: A Paramedic’s Dispatches From the Front Line of the Opioid Epidemic.
In April 2021, Canning released Killing Season: A Paramedic’s Dispatches From the Front Line of the Opioid Epidemic. A paramedic on the streets of Hartford for over 25 years, Canning has seen the impact of prescription painkillers, heroin, and the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl firsthand. He tells how he once believed drug users were victims only of their own character flaws, but once he began asking his patients how they had gotten started on their perilous journeys, their heart-rending stories changed Canning’s view. Now armed with an understanding of the science of addiction, he fights against the stigmatization of users and now supports harm reduction, which advocates for needle exchange, community naloxone, and safe-injection sites, and argues for a stronger public heath response to the epidemic that claims over 100,000 American lives a year, including 1,400 in Connecticut.
$6 per household. Purchase tickets here. When you register, you’ll get an email confirmation with an attached receipt that contains the Zoom link.
Questions? Call (860) 236-5621 x289, or email Natalie_Belanger@chs.org.

Short Attention Span Literary Club
2022-02-02 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Every other week, we get together to chat about short stories. Anyone can join in, no commitment required!
This week’s selection is “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. You can find the story here.
The club meets online using Zoom. Click here to register. You’ll receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.
We’re offering this program for free, but if you would like to make a donation to support our public programming, please click here. Or, to learn about the benefits of museum membership, click here!
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org.

Speak Up Live Storytelling
2021-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Join us from home to hear storytellers from around the world tell true stories about lived experiences around the theme “Mental Health.” 45-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 6-time GrandSLAM champion Matthew Dicks, Speak Up co-founder, will cap the evening with a story of his own. The program will be hosted by Speak Up co-founder, Elysha Dicks.
$10 per household. Spaces are limited, please register soon! Click here to reserve a spot. When you register, you’ll get a confirmation email from Yapsody. The Zoom link for the event will be in the attached receipt. We’ll also email a reminder the day of the program.
ABOUT SPEAK UP
Speak Up is a Hartford-based storytelling organization that seeks to promote the art of personal storytelling to a wide audience and build a community of storytellers in Connecticut. Speak Up brings professional and amateur storytellers to stage to share true stories from their lives. Speak Up founders and producers Matthew and Elysha Dicks work closely with storytellers to help them craft their stories for the stage and teach storytelling workshops to storytellers at all levels.

Virtual Family Activity: Objects Tell Stories
2021-12-01 10:00 - 23:00 UTC
Do you have any special family recipes? What is your favorite holiday treat? Tune into this episode of Objects Tell Stories to explore some historic recipes from recipe books in the CMCH collection. Then, try your hand at making some holiday treats and writing down your favorite holiday memories in a special cookbook!
This episode is free and great for children of all ages. For more information, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs Manager, at 860-236-5621 x222, or email katerina_mazzacane@chs.org.

Homeschool Workshop: Coming of Age: Growing Up in the 1950s and 1960s
2021-11-08 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
What was life like for children and teens growing up in Hartford in the 1950s and 1960s? How did racial bias impact people’s daily experiences? Through close-looking at a variety of primary sources, including census data, high school yearbooks, and newspaper articles, children will explore the impact of the civil rights movement on the people of Connecticut. Then, they can tune into a live, virtual workshop to explore how popular novels and comic books were influenced by some of the era’s most significant events, including the Cold War and the Space Race.
This program is recommended for children ages 9-12. Pre-registration is required and enrollment is limited. Registration opens on Monday, September 13. Click here for more information and to register. If you have any questions, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs Manager, at 860-236-5621 x222, or email katerina_mazzacane@chs.org.

Homeschool Workshop: The Times They Are A-Changin’
2021-11-08 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
Buckle up Connecticut – things are about to change! The 1950s and 1960s changed popular culture all across the United States. Through close-looking and hands-on activities, children will explore the material culture of these two decades, including clothing and technology, and how it impacted people’s lives. For extra fun, children can tune into a live, virtual workshop to experience various forms of popular culture. They will listen to some of the era’s most iconic music, learn new dances like the Twist, and watch famous moments from Connecticut sports!
This program is recommended for children ages 5 – 8. Pre-registration is required and enrollment is limited. Registration opens on Monday, September 13. Click here for more information and to register. If you have any questions, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs Manager, at 860-236-5621 x222, or email katerina_mazzacane@chs.org.

Virtual Family Activity: Kat’s Creative Corner
2021-11-04 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
Have you ever heard of a Hitchcock Chair? Did you know they are made right here in Connecticut? Tune into this episode of Kat’s Creative Corner to explore some of the tools used to make these special chairs and check out some of the unique designs! Then, use a template to create your own one-of-a-kind chair design!
This episode is free and great for children ages 5 and up. For more information, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs, at 860-236-5621 x222, or email katerina_mazzacane@chs.org.

Witches in Connecticut
2021-10-27 19:00 - 20:00 UTC
The harrowing story of the hanging of witches in Colonial New England continues to haunt our present-day imagination. The trials and executions of witches in Connecticut predated the more famous Salem witch panic by over 40 years. Join CMCH staff online via Zoom to hear the stories of some of the women and men accused, tried, and executed as witches. You’ll learn how Connecticut successfully controlled the spread of witch accusations long before Salem erupted in panic and violence.
Register here. We’re offering this program for free, but we’d appreciate it if you’d make a $6 donation to support public programs at CMCH!
When you register, you will get an email with an attached receipt with the Zoom link in it. We will also send you a reminder with the link at noon on the day of the program.
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org
Image: Illustration from John Ashton, Chapbooks of the Eighteenth Century, courtesy Project Gutenberg
