Online from the BHC: Digital Collections
The BHC maintains a variety of online sources related to the department’s holdings. Please check this site for links to online exhibits from the BHC.
The P.T. Barnum Research Collection
Over a thousand items from the Bridgeport History Center and the Barnum Museum collections: advertisements, books, magazines, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, prints, programs, records, sheet music, and souvenirs — all available through the Connecticut Digital Archives!
“Barnum and London” Circus Poster Collection
Posters produced for the Barnum and London Circus by the Strobridge Lithograph Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1882-1885.
Bridgeport News Column – “From the Historical Collections”
History Center Head Emeritus Mary K. Witkowski wrote over 400 articles for the Bridgeport News during her tenure at the BHC. From the Historical Collections articles explore many facets of Bridgeport history –people, places, and things– from the renowned to the quirky, and will take readers on a delightful journey through the City’s past.
Bridgeport Public Library: Images Across the Years
A collection of exterior and interior photographs of the various Bridgeport Public Library buildings over the years.
Civil War Sketchbook: Connecticut’s 8th Volunteer Regiment and the Burnside Expedition
Watercolor, pencil, and ink depictions of General Burnside’s expedition in North Carolina, 1861-62, by eyewitness Corporal Joseph Shadek, CV8th, Company A.
Oral Histories – General Oral History Collection
The BHC General Oral History Collection contains interviews with individuals from all backgrounds, ages, and experiences and spans several decades. The department conducts an ongoing oral history program to collect interviews with members of the Bridgeport community or people with a strong knowledge of the city who have had significant experiences working or living in Bridgeport at some time or have family ties to the Bridgeport area. Additional interviews are added to the general collection each year.
Oral Histories – Afro American Educators’ Association
From 1982-1983, Bridgeport’s Afro-American Educators’ Association conducted interviews with black residents of Bridgeport as part of a project funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council. The project aims to examine the social and economic impacts on Bridgeport’s African-American residents during World War I, the Depression, World War II, and the 1960s.
Oral Histories – Bridgeport Cultural Arts Center
Full audio and transcripts: Michelle Black-Smith Tompkins; Ralph Williams; Yohuru Williams; Wendy Bridgeforth; Richard Stamats; Cyril Lamont Williams; Teddy Daniel Gardner; Lucinda Anderson; Patricia Carey; Ryan Grant
Oral Histories – Bridgeport Living History, 1984 – Dept. of Youth Services Project
In the summer of 1984, the City of Bridgeport’s Human Resources Development, Department of Youth Services conducted an ambitious project to train Bridgeport youth to conduct oral history interviews with older city residents. The goal of the projects was multi-fold: to encourage “respect and understanding between the two targeted groups; increase youths’ and the community’s knowledge of the city; improve Bridgeport’s public image; and assisting businesses in introducing new employees to Bridgeport.”
Oral Histories – Bridgeport Working: Voices from the Twentieth Century
Currently available, full audio and full transcripts with chapters: John Arcudi; Angela Baldino; Hillard Bloom; Frank Bridgeforth; Richard Fewell; Emmett Johnson; Elizabeth Josephson; David Kelly; Helen Mensch-Mott; Edna Smith
Photographs – Bicycle Clubs in Bridgeport: Rolling with the Times
At the turn of the last Century, there were several bicycle clubs in Bridgeport. These groups took outings to city parks and the surrounding countryside. Here are some images of the members and their equipment.
Photographs – Portraits: Cabinet Cards at the History Center, Part I. by Michael Hawkins
Cabinet cards were first introduced in the U.S. in 1866 when photography was already well known and quite common. But most people did not view it as something that they would use regularly in their own lives. Photographers had to increase their business by producing portraits that were relatively inexpensive and enticing to consumers as a mechanism to mark ordinary moments, professional achievements, or even leisure activities, not just births, deaths, and marriages. The 4″x6″ format was intended to be much larger than the prevailing carte-de-visite cards and provided a much more detailed rendering of the sitter’s face, clothing, and personal details they chose to include. Families made albums of their cabinet cards and kept them for entertainment and as a keepsake.
Photographs – Portraits: Cabinet Cards at the History Center, Part II. by Michael Hawkins
Photographs – Portraits: Cabinet Cards at the History Center, Part III. by Michael Hawkins
Photographs – Street Scenes
Photographic images taken from the History Center’s general photograph collection. Check back each month for new additions.
Photographs – The World War One Collection: Bridgeport during WWI
Photographs taken on the home front in Bridgeport during the WWI era. Subject areas include liberty bonds, military exercises, parades and more.
Postcard Collection: Vintage Views of Bridgeport, Part I
Hundreds of postcards from the Bridgeport History Center’s collections
Postcard Collection: Vintage Views of Bridgeport, Part II
Hundreds of postcards from the Bridgeport History Center’s collections
Postcard Collection: Vintage Views of Bridgeport, Part III
Hundreds of postcards from the Bridgeport History Center’s collections