Event Calendar

The Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library will be closed April 19th, 2024 to researchers. Call 860 567 4501 or email archivist@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org to make an appointment for research.

Date: Friday, April 19th

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street)

FREE for LHS Members Only

Registration Required - Space is Limited

Members are invited for an exclusive preview tour of Litchfield Historical Society's newest exhibit "With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them" on Friday, April 19th at 5:30 p.m. Meet at the Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street) for this exclusive look at our latest exhibit!
 
Free for members! Space is limited! If space runs out, email skunic@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org to be notified of an additional date.

Date: April 26, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street)

Members of the Litchfield Historical Society are invited to attend our Annual Meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26th at the Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street). At the meeting we will review finances, elect new trustees, and recap the year.

The opening reception of our newest exhibit "With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them" will immediately follow the Annual Meeting. The opening is free and open to the public. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Kindly R.S.V.P. by Email to registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org | Phone at 860-567-4501

Date: April 26, 2024

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street)

FREE and open to the public

Kindly R.S.V.P. by Email or Online

Please join the Litchfield Historical Society for the opening reception of our newest exhibit "With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them" on Friday, April 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Samplers are more than thread stitched through cloth. As objects of art, samplers tell stories of creativity, instruction, and skilled work. As historical records, they document the lives and experiences of thousands of young women, histories that might otherwise remain unknown.
 
With Their Busy Needles: Samples and the Girls Who Made Them showcases works from the sampler collection of Alexandra Peters, displayed alongside examples from the Litchfield Historical Society’s textile collection. Peters, a sampler historian and collector, serves as guest curator of the exhibit.


The opening is free and open to the public. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Kindly R.S.V.P. by Email to registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org | Phone at 860-567-4501 | or Online

Date: Sunday, April 28th

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum

Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-Members

Registration Requested

How was Litchfield involved in the Connecticut Western Reserve? From investors to migrants to policymakers, join Head of Education, Kate Zullo, for a walking tour of Litchfield's Historic District that visits the homes of families whose lives were impacted by westward expansion.

The walk will begin at the Litchfield Historical Society and lasts approximately 1 hour. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.

Date: Sunday, May 5th

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street) and Online via Zoom

Suggested Donation $10

Registration Requested for In-Person Attendees

Registration Required via Zoom


To accompany the opening of their newest exhibit, With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them, The Litchfield Historical Society is delighted to welcome guest curator, Alexandra Peters, for a lecture title “Know My Name: How Schoolgirl Samplers Created a Remarkable History” on Sunday, May 5th at 3:00 p.m. at the Litchfield History Museum. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom option is also being offered.

The power of the needle wielded by girls in the creation of samplers has often been overlooked in early American history. Revolutions were taking place, abolitionists were fighting slavery, and literate schoolgirls were sewing thousands of samplers that were meant to show off their accomplishments. The samplers they stitched, often strikingly beautiful, give us a surprising way to look into the lives of these girls, their families and the changing world around them.  

Alexandra Peters, a collector and historian of samplers, will talk about a variety of the samplers from her collection now being exhibited at Litchfield Historical Society, how she became a collector, and why schoolgirl needleworks are so important in our understanding of women in American history.  With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them will be on display at the Litchfield History Museum April 27th – December 1st.  

Date: Saturday, May 11th

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum

Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-Members

Registration Requested

Explore Litchfield’s town center through the words, sketches, paintings, and photographs of artists. See how they saw Litchfield and expressed it through their artistic work.

The walk will begin at the Litchfield Historical Society and lasts approximately 1 hour. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water.

Walking Tours are sponsored by Berkshire Alarm

Date: Saturday, May 11th

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum, 7 South Street
Advance Tickets - $35 | $45 at the door

Join the Litchfield Historical Society and your favorite local artists for Creativity Blooms on Saturday, May 11th from 6-8 p.m. at the Litchfield History Museum. Featuring works from local artists, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktails, it is an evening not to be missed!

Proceeds benefit our mission and community-focused operations.

$35 Advance Tickets | $45 at the door

Tickets Available Online Here