Collections : [Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library]

Peter Arnell, a Bridgeport native, took up radio performance and production when he attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1941. After working as a disc jockey for several stations across the U.S., he developed a number of popular, nationally-broadcasted television game shows of the 1950s, including the original version of Wheel of Fortune. His papers include promotional materials seeking shows' support from consumer-goods companies, as well as scripts, photos of participants, entertainment-industry journals, and newspaper clippings.

The Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers Union Local No. 2 was a part of the Bricklayers Masons and Plasterers International Union of America, now the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Within this collection is a small snapshot of union activities.

An English immigrant to Bridgeport, John D. Cooper's interest in aviation saw him become an employee of the Curtiss Aeroplane Company in 1910. He traveled primarily in Europe to both sell planes to governments and train their aviators, doing so for four years until 1914.

Jack Goldring was an active member of the Communist party in Connecticut. A labor leader, he was based in Bridgeport. Originally working for General Electric, Goldring went on to become a carpenter and builder, then a home inspector, through which his dedication to affordable housing for all was apparent and active.

Lucille Ohland, later Lucille Viets, was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1901. She came to Bridgeport in the late 1930s as a volunteer with the United Way. She was active within that organization and a large number of other Bridgeport non-profits. This collection contains a sampling of some of her work.

In 1947, 13 women founded Les Treize Inc. in order to support higher education for African Americans. Les Treize helps to fund African American high school students' secondary education, be it college, technical school, or business school. The material within focuses primarily on the organization in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

John Mandanici served as mayor of Bridgeport from 1975-1981. . While Mandanici was able to make positive change within Bridgeport, his administration is primarily known for corruption scandals, with various members of his administration charged. This included an FBI sting on Police Chief Joe Walsh for corruption charges. Material provides a fleeting snapshot of some of Mandanici's actions as mayor, including election material, correspondence, and additional select material donated by Mandanici himself.

Little League began in 1939 as a means to invite young boys (and some girls) to play baseball. The organization was formed in Williamsport, Pennsylannia, and experienced a rapid growth in the years after World War II. Bridgeport affiliated with the Williamsport organization in 1949, early adopters of the structure. A number of Little leagues formed, including Park City, East End, and Black Rock.

Cynthia and Sherwood Stratton were the parents to Charles S. Stratton, a little person made famous by P.T. Barnum under the stage name of General Tom Thumb. The family was native to Bridgeport, and the papers within offer a glimpse into how the family's most famous son impacted the family's wealth.

The Connecticut Post has its origins in two newspapers: the morning edition Bridgeport Telegram and the evening edition Bridgeport Post. Prior to extensive news on the television, a morning and evening paper were not uncommon in most major cities. The material within this collection reflects the political events on a local and national scale as featured in the Post during the 1970s and 1980s.