Cornwall Historical Society Receives CT Humanities Grant to Support Cornwall’s Celebration of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary

Cornwall, CT (February 12, 2026) — We are excited to share that the Cornwall Historical Society has been awarded a grant of $4,999 from Connecticut Humanities in support of our upcoming exhibition War Stories: Cornwall in the Revolution. Funding from this grant will assist with the cost of fabricating the exhibit and installing it.

Featuring historic documents, objects, works of art, maps, and other materials, most of them from the Cornwall Historical Society’s own collections, this exhibition will bring together stories of diverse individuals and the larger events of the Revolutionary War to teach visitors about the personal decisions Cornwall’s people made as they fought for liberty and independence from 1775 to 1783. From the Connecticut town with the highest voter turnout, today’s Cornwallians will recognize the roots of their civic engagement in these stories.

War Stories is guest curated by curator and historian Dr. Steven H. Jaffe, with assistance from Suzie Fateh, curator of the Cornwall Historical Society, and Margi Hofer, Museum Director Emerita of The New-York Historical Society.

War Stories opens Memorial Day weekend and will be free and open to the public through October 2026.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT HUMANITIES

Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY GARDEN

This year we began the process of creating a garden behind our building on Pine Street. The space will ultimately consist of 4 levels progressing from an Event Space adjacent to the building, an area for a raised bed Cultivated Garden a few steps down, a Meadow below that and lastly a Forested Area with a walking path.

Last spring, we created the leveled lawn for the Event Space with a fieldstone retaining wall and steps and planted a historic Cornwall Burnham apple tree in the Meadow below.

This Fall we planted a border of Wild Strawberry, Fragaria Virginiana, at the edges of the Event Space lawn. It is a native non-invasive groundcover cultivated and valued by indigenous peoples and early settlers, and it is attractive to pollinators, birds, bees and butterflies.

In addition, we planted two ornamental Firebird Crabapples, Malus Sargentii, at the corners of the lawn. Historically Crabapples were very popular specimen trees when our building, originally a carriage house, was built in the mid-19th century.

To view a PDF of our garden plan, click here.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY NAMED AS “CT TREASURE” FINALIST BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

CORNWALL, CT (July 21, 2025) — We are honored to announce that the Cornwall Historical Society has been nominated as a finalist by the American Institute of Architects (AIA CT) in the 2025 CT TREASURES AWARD. This prestigious recognition celebrates architectural treasures in each of the State’s eight counties. The Cornwall Historical Society Museum has been nominated for Litchfield County. Please show your support by casting your vote before July 27. Vote here: AIA Connecticut

About our building: The Cornwall Historical Society’s exhibitions, programs, collections and workspaces are housed in an expanded nineteenth-century Italianate-style carriage house contributing to the cultural landscape of Cornwall Village that includes a relatively dense neighborhood of well-preserved residential, civic and religious structures. Built ca. 1865, the building is notable for its cupola and its wide molded eaves with elaborate brackets. Historians believe that the carriage house may have been the work of master builder Cyrus William Marsh (1824-1899) of Cornwall. In 1966, the building was acquired by the Cornwall Historical Society, and in 2007, with the help of a grant and funds raised from the community, the building was renovated and a new addition was constructed. The process took almost two years to complete and focused on returning the exterior of the building to its original appearance

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDED GRANT FROM THE CORNWALL FOUNDATION, INC.

CORNWALL, CT (May 9, 2025) — The Cornwall Historical Society was recently awarded a $4,000 grant from The Cornwall Foundation, Inc. The grant will allow the Society to engage Dr. Steven H. Jaffe as guest curator for next year’s special exhibition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The exhibition is set to open in May of 2026 as part of a town-wide celebration and will feature original materials from the Society’s collection, including a number of items belonging to Colonel Heman Swift. A veteran of the French and Indian War, Swift served on General Washington’s staff, accompanying the commander on his famed crossing of the Delaware River in December 1776.

Dr. Jaffe has been curating and co-curating public exhibitions for museums, historical societies, and other venues since 1993. He was curator at the Museum of the City of New York and has worked at the Center for Jewish History in New York City, the New-York Historical Society and the South Street Seaport Museum.

The Society is grateful to The Cornwall Foundation, Inc. for contributing generous funding in support of this project.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDED $3,000 GRANT FROM THE NORTHWEST CT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

CORNWALL, CT (April 9, 2025) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce it has received a grant of $3,000 from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Khurshed Bhumgara Fund. These funds will support the repair and repainting of the Society’s cupola.

The Society occupies a nineteenth-century Italianate-style carriage house believed to have been built by master builder Cyrus William Marsh (1824-1899). Constructed ca. 1865, it is notable for its cupola and its wide-molded eaves with elaborate brackets. The structure serves both as the organization’s headquarters and also as an exhibition space.

This is the second consecutive year of support from the Northwest CT Community Foundation, enabling us to complete the maintenance of our building’s street-facing façade. The Society is extremely grateful to the NCCF for their generous support.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDED GRANT FROM THE CORNWALL FOUNDATION, INC.

CORNWALL, CT (May 9, 2024) — The Cornwall Historical Society is grateful to have recently received a $2,500 grant from The Cornwall Foundation, Inc. Funds will go towards hiring a consultant with expertise in CRM and donor database installations for non-profits. CHS is upgrading from spreadsheet record keeping to a new online fundraising software. The new system will allow the Society to more easily and accurately communicate with potential visitors and donors. “This is a long overdue improvement to the way we connect and communicate with our supporters,” said the museum’s curator, Suzie Fateh. “We are extremely grateful to the Cornwall Foundation for their generosity.”

The Cornwall Foundation was established in 2003 to make grants to nonprofits, community organizations, and civic entities that serve the residents of Cornwall, CT.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDED GRANT FROM NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

CORNWALL, CT (MAY 6, 2024) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $8,000 through the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation Ruth and Robert Cron Endowment Fund, and the Making Cents Fund.

The grant will support the upkeep of the Society’s ca. 1865 Italianate-style carriage house, which serves both as its headquarters and as a local historical museum. Funding will be used to repair and paint part of the building’s street-facing façade, which has suffered from weathering and wear. “We take pride in knowing that our efforts will contribute to the preservation of the entire building,” said Suzie Fateh, the Cornwall Historical Society’s curator.

Steve Brandfield, the Society’s board president expressed his gratitude for the grant, saying, “We are delighted and relieved by this much needed help allowing us to restore part of our beautiful nineteenth-century Italianate-style carriage house, where we store our important collection. Many, many thanks to the Northwest Community Foundation!”

The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation (NCCF) is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Northwest Connecticut. The Foundation offers grant funding to support various initiatives in areas like education, health, social services, environment, and arts and culture.

The Cornwall Historical Society relies on grants and donations to produce exhibitions, provide educational programs, and provide for the upkeep and care of our building.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDED GRANT

CORNWALL, CT (October 25, 2023) — Following a statewide survey by the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board and Conservation ConneCTion, Cornwall Historical Society was among ten institutions chosen to participate in its grant funded “Subject Guide Project.” The Subject Guide Project aims to bring together resources that document the experiences and representations of African Americans, Native Americans, and other people of color in Connecticut from the colonial era to the present.

The Cornwall Historical Society was awarded a grant of $1,250 which will be used for a Traveling Archivist. The archivist will help create a subject guide for the records in the Society’s collection that reveal the stories, experiences, and history of these traditionally excluded voices. The subject guide will be added to Connecticut’s Archives Online, where other subject guides can currently be found. The project is designed around the goal of making these resources discoverable online.

Funding for the Subject Guide Project was provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and administered by the Connecticut State Library on behalf of the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board and Conservation ConneCTion.

CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES CT CULTURAL FUND OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT FROM CONNECTICUT HUMANITIES

CORNWALL, CT (January 4, 2023) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce that it was awarded a $7,300 CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant by CT Humanities (CTH). This grant will help supplement the Society’s operating budget.

CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grants are administered by CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature. These grants are designed to assist organizations as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cornwall Historical Society was one of 725 organizations in Connecticut receiving a CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant. Totaling more than $8.5M, these grants are part of a two-year, $30.7M investment in arts, humanities, and cultural nonprofits by the CT General Assembly and approved by Governor Ned Lamont.

The Cornwall Historical Society relies on grants and donations to produce exhibitions, provide educational programs, and care for its collections and building.

About Connecticut Humanities

CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

About Connecticut Office of the Arts

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Cornwall Historical Society Receives $11,386 Planning Grant from CT Humanities

Cornwall, Conn. (January 6, 2022) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce it has received a grant in the amount of $11,386 from Connecticut Humanities (CTH). The funds will support the research and planning phase of the Society’s new exhibition Finding Freeman(s): Freedom, Property, and Identity in Cornwall, scheduled to open in the summer of 2022.

The exhibition will be a first time look at the town’s free and enslaved Black residents and that community’s impact on Cornwall’s history as well as its future. “Finding Freeman(s)” will be guest curated by Dr. Frank Mitchell, director emeritus of the Amistad Center for Art and Culture in Hartford.

“Finding Freedman(s) was inspired in part by George Floyd’s death in 2020,” said Suzie Fateh, the Society’s curator. “Although research on Cornwall’s Black residents began before Floyd’s murder, in the months following staff and the Board saw an immediate need for transforming the research project into an exhibition. As an historical society with collections that span almost 300 years, it is our mission and responsibility to ensure that our exhibitions and programming accurately reflect the history of Cornwall and the region.  This grant will ensure the resources necessary to prepare for the exhibition and programs that will change perception of Cornwall’s history. We are extremely fortunate to have Frank as our guest curator — he will play a central role in guiding the development of this exhibition.”

Black and Native residents created a world in 18th and 19th century Cornwall and, as is true for so many Connecticut towns, these residents and their stories disappear by the early 20th century. This exhibition will offer visitors an alternative to the standard history that we know.

About Connecticut Humanities: Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

Cornwall Historical Society Receives CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant

Cornwall, Conn. (December 29, 2021) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received a CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant (CTCFOSG) from Connecticut Humanities (CTH), the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Cornwall Historical Society was one of 624 organizations in Connecticut that was awarded CT Cultural Fund support totaling $16M from Connecticut Humanities. The CTCFOSG are part of $30.7M of support allocated to arts, humanities, and cultural nonprofits through Connecticut Humanities over the next two years by the CT General Assembly and approved by Governor Ned Lamont. The CTCFOSG will assist organizations as they recover from the pandemic and maintain and grow their ability to serve their community and the public.

THANK YOU Connecticut Humanities for generously awarding us with a $10,300 general operating grant!

The Cornwall Historical Society relies on grants and donations to produce exhibitions, provide educational programs, and provide for the upkeep and care of our building.

This grant was administered by CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.

Cornwall Historical Society Receives a $2,268 Grant from The Cornwall Foundation, Inc.

Cornwall, Conn. (February 25, 2020) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $2,268 from the Cornwall Foundation, Inc. The grant will support the cost of purchasing new shelving for the Society’s clothing and textile collection.

In 2018, the Cornwall Historical Society undertook a complete reevaluation of its costume collection, and with the help of a textile consultant discovered that the Society holds unusually fine 19th century costumes. “We are very excited to receive this grant,” said Suzie Fateh, curator of the Cornwall Historical Society. “As part of our ongoing improvements to our collection storage areas, this grant will help support appropriate housing for our textile and costume collection.”

The Society is home to a collection of textiles ranging from circa 1810 through approximately the late 1930s. Some of the materials in this collection include General John Sedgwick’s military uniform (Civil War), two dresses made in India (c. 1810) that were owned by Catherine Wadsworth, several Victorian-era women’s two and three-piece outfits and dresses, men’s Victorian formal wear, children’s clothing, many hats, fans, and parasols, and a large portion of which were gifts from the Gold family of Cornwall.

This grant will make it possible for the Society to purchase shelving for a new storage room to properly protect the collection.

Cornwall Historical Society Awarded $4,500 from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation

Cornwall, Conn. (April 1, 2019) — The Cornwall Historical Society is pleased to announce that it was awarded a grant of $4,500 from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation (NCCF). This grant was used to upgrade and improve the Society’s collection storage areas.

The Cornwall Historical Society collects and protects objects, photographs and documents that tell the story of Cornwall and its people. Like most museums and historical societies, a large percentage of its collection is in storage behind closed doors. A reassessment in the fall of 2018 showed that the Society was quickly outgrowing its storage space; existing areas had become extremely overcrowded and unusable, and collections were at risk. To improve this, storage needed to be reorganized not only to make collections easily accessible for researchers and staff, but also for their long-term care and preservation. The grant funds were used to purchase new storage shelving and new archival storage containers.

The grant awarded helped start a multi-phase storage reorganization project that will be ongoing for several years.