Do you enjoy exploring Bridgeport’s history? Do you want an excuse to spend hours researching? Want to write? Become a part of the Grassroots Historians program at the Bridgeport History Center starting July 2022!
Grassroots Historians is a signature program of the Bridgeport History Center which invites historians from all walks of life – be they enthusiasts, archivists, students, academics, or someone who just loves one topic so much – to make use of the collections, write about what fascinates them, and raise awareness of the rich material within the Bridgeport History Center. The articles span a variety of topics, all centered around Bridgeport collections and history, and are shared on the BHC website as well as the Connecticut Digital Archive. Grassroots Historians are also given a nominal fee for their time and effort upon publication.
How to become a Grassroots Historian
- Come up with an idea of what you’d like to research! While we prefer articles, the Bridgeport History Center will consider oral history interviews on a case by case basis.
- Contact the Bridgeport History Center. Please email: hclibrarian@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org with the subject line “Grassroots Historians Program” OR call 203-576-7400, #7
- Our head of the program, Elizabeth Van Tuyl, will get back to you and help with some initial resources!
From there, the research and writing are up to you! Once done, the Bridgeport History Center will edit your work, send it back to you for final edits. When that’s done, the piece will be published on the Bridgeport History Center website, the Connecticut Digital Archive, and promoted in the Bridgeport Public Library’s newsletter. The Bridgeport History Center is especially interested in promoting the voices and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and grassroots historians of color, as well as highlighting immigrant and minority communities past and present. We try to avoid repeating past topics, so be sure to look at what’s been written already on the Connecticut Digital Archive.
You do not need to be a Bridgeport resident to participate in the program, but we do prefer if you live in the state of Connecticut.