Highlights of the Collections

Highlights of the Collections

LITCHFIELD'S ALMOST 300 years of growth and change are reflected through the permanent collection, which contains material related to local families, homes, businesses and institutions. Objects in the Society's collection include furniture, paintings, textiles, toys, ceramics, trade signs, and other fine and decorative arts. The collection includes objects that date from the founding of the town in 1719 to the present day. MORE about the scope of the collections.

BROWSE the highlights by category:

	Furniture and Decorative Arts Includes items produced by local craftsmen.
	Early Trade and Tavern Signs From shops and other businesses.
	Household Textiles Pockets, sewing rolls and needlecases, quilts and coverlets, woven bedspreads, needlework, homespun blankets and 18th century bed hangings.
	Costume Clothing made or worn in Litchfield.
	Personal Accessories Hair ornaments, gloves, fans, hats, shoes, parasols, umbrellas, canes, walking sticks. Also, jewelry, particularly hair mementoes and mourning jewelry.
	Household and Utilitarian Goods Redware made by Goshen potter Hervey Brooks, American silver and Connecticut pewter, trunks, band boxes and children’s toys.
	Tools and Equipment Farming and building equipment, medical instruments, military equipment, Hervey Brooks’ potting wheel and slitting stone, looms, spinning wheels, yarn winders, carding combs and sewing machines.
	Historical Artifacts Other objects of historic interest.
	Art Portraits of the town's families. Also, works collected by Litchfield families, as well as by artists who have lived or worked in Litchfield.
	From the Ingraham Library:
	Photography Documentary images of town life. Also, portraits.
	Manuscripts Letters, diaries, journals, account books and personal papers of local residents.
	Please note that not all objects described above are pictured on this site, and not all objects pictured are on view at the museum. For details about image use, see photographic services.

This page was created by intern Liz Acas. Go to the Internship page if you would like to work on a similar project.

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