Environmental Monitoring at the Torrington Historical Society

FAIN: PG-51923-13

Torrington Historical Society, Inc. (Torrington, CT 06790-5201)
Gail Kruppa (Project Director: May 2012 to October 2014)

Purchase of environmental monitoring equipment and hiring a consultant to evaluate one year's worth of data and make recommendations for improving environmental conditions. The society's collections fall into three main areas: 1) the John H. Thompson Library and Archive, with 2,000 volumes and 1,500 linear feet of documents relating to local history and dating back to 1730; 2) the Torrington History Collection, with 15,000 items, including art, artifacts, and photographs that document the history of Torrington, Connecticut, and its transition from an agricultural community to a factory town; and 3) the Hotchkiss-Fyler House, a Victorian-era house known for its architecture, interior decorations, and collections, which include Asian and European porcelains, art glass, and paintings. The collections are used for exhibits, educational programs, and as a resource for researchers in local history and genealogy. Among the holdings of national significance are a letter written by Torrington native, John Brown, and photographs by Margaret Bourke-White.

Funds will support consultant fees and equipment to monitor temperature and relative humidity in collection areas at the Torrington Historical Society. These collections provide an understanding of the city's history, which has long been the largest and most diverse town in Litchfield County. The collection includes objects, photos, and archives that interpret the social, ethnic, religious, agricultural, industrial, and military history of Torrington from pre-European contact to the present. Categories of particular significance include Native Americans, Abolitionist John Brown, Immigration, Industrial History, and the Arts. After one year's worth of data has been collected, the consultant will analyze the information and make recommendations for improving conditions. The goal is to understand the environmental conditions so that we can plan for climate-controlled exhibit and storage areas. This will ensure the preservation and knowledge of the community's history for future generations.