Collections : [Friends of Wood Memorial Library and Museum]

Albertus Eugene Jones (1882-1957) was one of the most influential artists and art teachers in Connecticut's history. He was born in South Windsor, CT. The collection collection consists of a small group of biographical materials and several photographs.

Barney E. Daley (1909-2008) was a South Windsor, Connecticut native who grew up in a tobacco farming family. As an amateur archaeologist, Daley amassed a large collection of Native American artifacts. He served in Europe during World War II and returned to South Windsor after the war. He was a historian, preservationist, and collector on various topics including local Anglo and Native American history, tobacco farming, and veterans affairs. The bulk of the materials are more than 5,000 archeological artifacts, including Native American projectile points, pottery shards, and tools. In addition, there is location data for almost all of the artifacts about where they were found. The photographic collections include photos of Daley's life in South Windsor and during World War II, slides of archaeological digs, and historical images of South Windsor, the region, and its residents, some of which came from the photo departments of local newspapers.

Ellsworth Fairbanks was born in South Windsor, CT, and operated a photography business from 1954 until his death at age 58 in 1966. The collection consists of black and white negatives and photographic prints and was given to or purchased by Barney Daley, who then donated the collection to the library.

Bill of sale from Dr. S. W. Rockwell to Theordore Elmer.

The Bonnie Enes Kings Island research files, 1975-2010, consist of research files documenting the history of Kings Island (Terry's Island), created by writer Bonnie Enes in preparation for a book.

Two pages from the family bible of George Burnham inscribed with genealogical information about the Burnham and Wood familities of South Windsor, CT, 1772-1856.

Autograph books belonging to Bessie Andross Chandler and Fred Chandler, containing autographs from family and friends in South Windsor, Connecticut.

The Charles G. Griffin papers include booklets, a magazine, tobacco festival programs, and eight black and white photographs. Most documents are undated, but items with dates span 1948-1958. They contain information on the history of the tobacco industry in the Connecticut River Valley. Among the subjects covered are the different types of tobacco cultivated, their uses, and the agricultural, harvesting, and processing methods that were utitlized. Major tobacco producers from South Windsor, Windsor, East Windsor, and other towns are highlighted.

Autograph book belonging to Charlotte T. Barnes, containing autographs from residents of the East Windsor Hill neighborhood of South Windsor.

The Clapp family papers, 1900-1989, consist of documents kept by multiple generations of the Clapp family of South Windsor, documenting their tobacco farm and local history more generally.

The Clesowich collection of Dorothy B. Jones and Albertus E. Jones artwork includes 4 sketchbooks of fashion drawings, portraits, nudes, and other images in pencil, pen-and-ink, and watercolor, drawn by Dorothy Burnham Jones, daughter of Albertus Jones and Eva Burnham Jones. It also includes a black and white photograph of an Albertus Jones painting with a stamp on the black that says "please credit federal art project W.P.A."

Diary describing a woman's daily life in the Hartford area (possibly South Windsor) in 1911. The author is unknown.

The East Windsor Town Records Collection includes publications and documents created by the East Windsor town government, including deeds, annual reports, plans, and regulations.

21-page scrapbook documenting South Windsor history, assembled by Edward Curtin, a lifelong South Windsor resident, in the 1990s.

Letter from Elizabeth Ellsworth of Windsor to Horace House of Saybrook, dated 1813 Nov 7.

Ledger book of Elizur Foster, blacksmith, whose wagon shop was located on Foster Road, South Windsor.

The Erastus W. Burnham collection documents the life of Erastus W. Burnham of South Windsor. It contains Burnham's correspondence, including letters from aboard a whaling boat near New Zealand (1851-1852), 77 Civil War letters (1862-1865), and letters from Burnham's inlaws in Glasgow, Scotland (1855-1870). It also contains Civil War and veterans association ephemera, a collection of about 500 Native American artifacts from South Windsor, and biographical and genealogical material.

The Everett J. Miller papers include report cards and other school records and certificates for Miller and his older brother Charles E. Miller; materials related to a secret society that Miller created with high school classmates, which they called The United World Rangers; and news clippings and other materials related to Miller's genealogy research as an adult. The collection also includes a large photograph of students from Hartford Public High School, 1935.

Letter regarding street drainage in East Windsor Hill from E. W. Ellsworth to Charles Vibert. Handwritten note on copy of the letter reads, "Excellent description of water table and ground water flow at East Windsor Hill."

The Foster collection of Wapping Fair and Wapping Grange records contains two boxes of materials from 1914-1994 (bulk, 1947-1958). It includes photographs, scrapbooks, fair programs, and tickets. These materials were collected and maintained by Evelyn and Walter Foster of Foster Farm, who were very involved with the Wapping Grange.

The Frederick Porter family photograph collection contains primarily portraits taken about 1865 to 1910. The photographs have been removed from two albums, which are retained in the collection. The Porter family resided on Main Street in South Windsor, CT.

The Fred J. Doocy papers, 1945-2017, consist of materials documenting the life of Fred J. Doocy. The collection consists primarily of photographs, ephemera, and newspaper clippings, and emphasizes Doocy's public service, which included serving as Connecticut state senator (1958-1967) and lieutenant governor (1966-1967).

The Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum records, c. 1900-2022, consists of records created in the Library's operations or documenting the Library's history. Some records are restricted.

Eighty slide photographs depicting buildings, farms, cemeteries, and other notable sites, events, and items in South Windsor.

Booklet, "Genealogy of Sadd Family, 1694-1904," with some handwritten notes.

The Gorham Fuller papers consists of documents (and copies) from 1794 to 1861, including seven deeds for land transfers in East Windsor, Wilbraham, MA; two commissions as sargeant in 1813 and 1815 in East Windsor; a petition letter from Gorham Fuller dated 1832 to East Windsor selectmen requesting a new highway; and probate will of Gorham Fuller dated 1861 in Ellington, CT.

The Grant family collection includes genealogical information about the Grant family, photographs, and nine business ledgers of Ebenezer Grant, Roswell Grant, and Thomas Mickell dated from about 1750 through about 1820. Also included in the collection is a manuscript entitled The Grant Mansion, written by Frances Judd, a descendant of the Grants.

The Green family papers consists of photographs, photo negatives, correspondence, and news clippings related to the Green family and 660 Main Street, South Windsor.

The Hartford Audubon Society records document the activities of the Hartford Audubon Society (HAS), formerly known as the Hartford Bird Study Club. The records are a mix of physical materials, held at the Wood Memorial Library in South Windsor, and digital materials held in cloud storage by HAS.

The Henry Cote fuel cell history collection, 1952-2011, documents the creation and production of fuel cells by the United Technologies Corp. (UTC) Fuel Cell division, as well as the fuel cell industry more generally. The collection consists of internal documents from UTC Power, reports and technical papers, technical drawings, manuals, marketing materials, periodicals, articles about fuel cells from professional journals and newspapers, photographs, and ephemera.

Day book/ledger for a general store in South Windsor run by Henry M. King.

Hildred Sperry Raymond (1907-1992) lived in South Windsor, CT, and was an avid collector of local history materials. The collection consists of catalogues, memorabilia, information on the Watson House (which she owned), and photographs.

Autograph book belonging to Ida L. Abbey King, containing autographs from family and friends in Bingham, Maine, and South Windsor, Connecticut.

Mary Janette Elmore was born in South Windsor, CT, in 1832 and died in 1922. She was the daughter of Harvey and Clarrisa Burnham Elmore and sister of Samuel Edward. She never married. She did extensive research and made notes on family and neighborhood genealogy. The Janette Elmore papers contain extensive notes on the genealogy and life of the Hayes family and neighbors, correspondence concerning family data, and newspaper articles and obituaries.

The J.E. Shepard collection contains photographs and documents related to the Shepard family of South Windsor, CT, and tobacco growing. This includes a scrapbook, news clippings, photographs of tobacco fields and tobacco processing. Also included are photographs of the South Windsor Cigar Festival from the early 1950s.

The Jillson family lived in South Windsor, CT. The papers consist of a family journal containing transcriptions of letters sent home during the Civil War and other records and an autograph book (about 1894-1897) that belonged to Fanny Jillson.

The Joan Newberry papers, 1911-1943, consist of materials documenting the Newberry family farm and South Windsor history more generally.

The John Torrance diaries consists of 13 bound diaries of South Windsor, CT, resident John Torrance for the years 1875-1885 and 1888-1893. Typical entries note the weather and talk about Torrance's farming activities. There are also accounting pages with prices paid for different goods and services.

The Jonathan Pasco restaurant collection consists of documents and photographs that were previously framed and hung on the walls of Jonathan Pasco's restaurant, which stood at 31 South Main Street in East Windsor, CT. Most of the documents name members of the Lord family, and they may relate to the property on which Jonathan Pasco's restaurant stood

Joseph A. Bost collection of UTC Fuel Cell papers contains materials relating to the design, manufacture, and use of spacecraft fuel cells produced at the UTC Power facility in South Windsor. The materials comprise photographs, company memoranda and internal documents, blueprints and technical drawings, several printed and bound publications, NASA and UTC publications, and assorted small items and artifacts relating to United States manned spaceflight from the Apollo period through the late Shuttle period, roughly 1966-2001.

The Joyce B. Clapp papers contain a series of letters published in The Vermonter magazine from February through July 1945. These letters were written while she was on duty with the United States Army Nurse Corp in France during World War II to family members from October 1944 to May 1945.

Letter dated 1919 Jun 19, written by Katharine Ludington, President, Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association to the Honorable A. C. (Arthur Clinton) Burnham regarding the question of a special session of the state legislature to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment.

Lawrence Tenney Stevens (1896-1972) was a sculptor. For the 1939 New York World's Fair, he selected an elm located in South Windsor, CT, and created a 60-foot object believed to be the world's largest wooden carving. The collection consists of photographs and articles relating to the carving and a biographical article.

Collection documenting the League of Women Voters of South Windsor, a chapter of a nonpartisan civic organization advancing the participation of women in American politics. Contents include publications, publicity releases, membership records, bylaws, and correspondence.

Levi Lincoln Felt was born in New York City on November 25, 1849 and died at his home in Wapping, Connecticut on December 8, 1912. He was employed by the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut from 1864 to June 1912. The Levi Lincoln Felt family papers include the multi-part Felt Genealogy: A Record of the Descendents of George Felt of Casco Bay, by John E. Morris (1889-1893), along with biographical information, correspondence, legal and financial records, and photographs.

Six black and white photos of Spring Pond in the 1940s (now Veterans Memorial Park). Also receipts for various items for J.A. Alvord from the Wapping Creamery and other area businesses. Lorraine Jones formerly owned an antique shop and believes these images were ones that came through the antique shop.

224 page spiral-bound memoir by Louise Maude Crawford Evans, tited My Life: Louise Maude Crawford Evans, Volume One, December 18-1927 - late December 1962. Contains photographs.

The Louise Crawford Evans papers, 1891-2018, consist of materials documenting the teaching career, public service, and personal life of Louise (Crawford) Evans, a South Windsor resident.

The Manchester Evening Herald clippings and photograph collection contains materials related to people and organizations in South Windsor, CT, and the surrounding area. Topics include engagement and wedding announcements, politics, crime, business, and accidents. Approximately half of the folders include photographic prints or negatives. Most of these are portraits or publicity-type photos that were printed in the newspapers. Also includes material from the Manchester Herald, Hartford Courant, and Hartford Times.

Autograph book belonging to Mary Lee Ford, containing autographs from friends at Glastonbury Academy, including William Wood.

Two copies of Mary Nicholson, South Windsor Democratic Party candidate, scorecards for the New York Yankees-Brooklyn Dodgers World Series. Also listed on the card are Adlai Stevenson, Estes Kefauver, Thomas Dodd, Matthew Kuta, Patrick Ward, Griffith, and Nicholson.

Program booklet for event presented by the Timothy Edwards Fellowship of the First Congregational Church.

The Mulligan-Carney Family Collection consists of four accounts ledgers and enclosures belonging to James Mulligan and Peter Carney related to property in South Windsor that the Mulligans and Carneys owned.

The Myrtle Odlum papers consist of material pertaining to South Windsor history, news, events and organizations and the Odlum family, including topical files of newspaper clippings, mostly dating from the 1970s and 1980s; South Windsor's Main Street prepared for an application for National Historic District status; and Odlum family papers. Myrtle Odlum (1912-2007) was born and lived in South Windsor, CT.

The Newberry family collection consists of correspondence of Emma Wickham Newberry (Mrs. Samuel Newberry) of South Windsor, CT, from 1863 and 1879. Correspondance includes letters from her brother-in-law A. E. Newberry written in 1863. Other correspondence is from her sisters Maria Brewer and Jane Smith and leters to and from her mother. Also in the collection is a probate certificate of descent dated July 10, 1932 pertaining to the estate of Priscilla Newberry.

The Norman Priest Collections (1998.30) consists of materials related to the history of South Windsor, CT, collected by Norman Priest (1912-1998) and Edna Canham Priest (1914-2006). The collection includes wedding and anniversary invitations sent to the Wilbur Hills family dated 1877-1926; an autograph book belonging to Emily Clark; ledgers from the Wapping Creamery; Henry Stoughton's account book dated 1846; various agreements, handbills and inventories, and numerous family photographs and daguerreotypes.

The Mothers' Club of South Windsor had been formed by 1910 as a part of the National Congress of Mothers, which was organized in 1908. In 1929, it reorganized as a parents and teachers assocition (PTA). The records consist of one Hollinger box containing three notebooks and spanning the years 1913 to 1942. Arranged chronologically, the notebooks contain records of the clubs' secretaries including minutes of regular and special meetings, annual reports, and various committee reports. They provide information on the organizations' structure, policies, members, programs, and fund-raising and charitable activities.

Autograph book belonging to Pauline F. Green, containing autographs from family and friends in South Windsor, Connecticut.

The Paul Margiott fuel cell history collection, 1960-2018, documents the creation and production of fuel cells by the United Technologies Corp. (UTC) Fuel Cell division, as well as the fuel cell industry more generally, both in the United States and abroad. The records consist of internal memoranda, newsletters, photographs, magazines and press clippings, promotional materials, product manuals, a fuel cell cutaway and presentation folio, and oversize items.

Three ledgers from Peter Bossen's store. Each consists of handwritten records from the store in a bound book. The building that housed P.E. Bossen was originally built at 1042 Main Street, South Windsor, CT, about 1890 by Benjamin Skinner and was moved later moved to 819-821 Main Street South Windsor, where the building still stands.

Records of the Pleasant Valley Club, a charitable and social organization active in South Windsor from 1924-1970.

Records documenting the Pleasant Valley Estates Residents Association, an association of South Windsor residents who contested the development of an Allied Plywood Corporation warehouse near the Barbara Road col-se-sac.

The Porter Collins papers, 1825-2014, consist of materials compiled by South Windsor town historian Porter Collins, documenting the history of South Windsor and the Collins family.

Letter from Rev. Dr. McClure to Dr. Stiles dated 1771 Nov 11 regarding missionary possibilities amongst indigenous peoples. Presumed to be David McClure of Hanover, NH, and later East Windsor Hill, CT, and Ezra Stiles of Newport, RI.

Autograph book belonging to Robert Valentine, containing autographs from family and friends in Hartford, Connecticut.

Two deeds conveying land in South Windsor, CT, one from Hiram Rockwell to Roswell Rockwell, 1842, and a copy of one from from Frances Rockwell to Martin McGrath, 1900.

The Roderick King collection, covering 1833-1889, is an artificial collection comprised of two series: Personal Papers and Town Records. Their provenance and original order are unknown. The arrangement was constructed based on internal evidence.

Romeo J. Richard (1915-2011) was a South Windsor, CT, resident who documented town events occurring n South Windsor, CT, during 1985-1995, including the Wapping Fair, South Windsor 150th birthday, Strawberry Festival, parades and picnics, and other civic events. The collectinon consists of 10 albums and a goup of loose materials that had been stored in the albums.

Contents include three ledgers and an arithmetic book belonging to the Hayes family of South Windsor, as well as three medals and a photograph of Frank L. Burton, a South Windsor veteran of World War I.

The Schools collection includes documents, photographs, and yearbooks related to South Windsor area elementary and secondary schools including (among others), East Windsor Hill Academy, Ellsworth Memorial High School, South Windsor High School, Theological Institute of Connecticut at East Windsor Hill (Hartford Theological Seminary), Union District School, Wapping Elementary School, and Wapping Grammar School.

The Sherwood Waldron collection (1995.04) relates to the tobacco industry in South Windsor, CT, and elsewhere and includes histories, account books, articles, personal letters and photographs, and objects and artifacts.

Programs, newspaper clippings, and a t-shirt documenting the South Windsor 175th anniversary celebration held on September 17 and 18, 2021.

Meeting minutes of the South Windsor Baseball Club for the 1928 season.

An album of calling cards of South Windsor residents from about 1870-1890.

Records of the South Windsor Cultural Arts Commission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the fine, applied, and performing arts.

Records of the South Windsor Exchange Club, a chapter of the National Exchange Club, an American service organization. Contents include the club charter, membership records, program records, member meeting minutes, and board of director minutes.

Administrative records and program records documenting the South Windsor Garden Club from 1930-1973.

Research files documenting South Windsor Guided History, a project of the South Windsor Historical Society and National Trust for Historic Preservation to compose a guide to South Windsor historical sites.

The South Windsor Historical Society collection consists of news clippings about the historical society and their activities.

Records documenting the South Windsor Historic District Commission, a town commission dedicated to historic preservation.

The South Windsor Public Library collection (1990.01) consists of accessions books, a bound catalog, and press clippings related to the South Windsor Public Library system. Wood Memorial Library was part of the South Windsor Public Library system from when it opened in 1928 until 1971.

The South Windsor Town Records Collection includes publications, documents, and ephemera created by the South Windsor town government, including annual reports, newsletters, by-laws, voter registration lists, maps, post office account books, and a bee hive registration ledger.

The South Windsor Women's Club records consist of event programs during 1965.

St. Margaret Mary Parish entertainment programs consists of "Best of Broadway," 1962 Mar 2-3, and "Snowflake Fashions," 1962 Nov 7.

The Stoughton family papers (1776-1989) consist of correspondence, genealogical materials, press clippings, and other documents related to members of the Stoughton family and homes on Main Street South Windsor, CT.

Small collection assembled by staff that includes programs for the Temple Beth Hillel ball (1961 and 1963) and news clippings.

Pamphlet, "The Currency," speech of the Honorable Lewis Sperry before the House of Representatives on 1894 Dec 20 for further consideration of H.R. 8149 to amend laws relating to national banking associations.

The tobacco industry collection is an artificial collection of ledgers, a stock certificate book, booklets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other materials related to Connecticut's (and South Windsor's) role in the tobacco growing and tobacco product producing industry.

The United Technologies Corporation fuel cell history collection documents the creation and production of fuel cells by the United Technologies Corporation (UTC) Fuel Cell division, as well as the uses of UTC fuel cells, including for NASA's Apollo program. Contents include internal reports from the Fuel Cell division, three large fuel cell engineering notebooks, product documentation, fuel cell and space program ephemera, correspondence, and photographs.

Walter R. Green lived in South Windsor, CT. The papers consist of several nineteenth century books, family photographs, and a family bible including tipped in items.

Historical booklet published by the Wapping Community Church.

The Wapping Creamery Co. records consist of an annual report, 1883; rules and regulations, 1901; and a Hartford Courant article, 29 Sep 1930 "Still operating in creamery."

Collection documenting the Wapping YMCA of South Windsor. Contents include organizational documents, minutes, correspondence, programs, membership lists, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets.

The Watson family collection consists of a photographic scrapbook, artwork, documents about the Watson homestead on Main Street, and other materials related to artist Amelia M. Watson (1856-1934), her sister photographer Edith S. Watson (1861-1943) and their family, all of South Windsor, CT.

The Wednesday Afternoon Club is a South Windsor social and philanthropic club for women. This collection includes three boxes of minutes, by-laws, constitution revisions, programs, audit reports, and membership lists from club inception in 1901 to present.

Constitution, bylaws, regulations, and newspaper clippings documenting the Women's Republican Club of South Windsor, a member unit of the Connecticut Council of Republican Women's Clubs.

The Wood Memorial Library Quilters (1974-2014) was a volunteer organization of quilters that supported the Wood Memorial Library. They repaired and finished quilts for customers and created quilts from scratch that were sold in auction or raffled off, and donated the proceeds to the Wood Memorial Library. This collection consists of four scrapbooks that have been disassembled and copied and three series of records: financial papers, correspondence, and miscellaneous papers and photos.