The Bridgeport History Center has digitized a portion of its holdings. We are always adding more material, so keep an eye on this page!
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!
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.
Circus – Barnum and London Circus Poster Collection
Posters produced for the Barnum and London Circus by the Strobridge Lithograph Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1882-1885.
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, 1970-1986
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: Department of Youth Services, City of Bridgeport, 1984
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
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
Oral Histories – Puerto Rican Oral Histories-Bridgeport and New Haven, 2023-2024
Fifth year Yale University doctoral candidate Amanda Rivera conducts oral histories to facilitate her research on the bilingual education movement in Bridgeport as led by Puerto Ricans in the 1970s. Rivera interviews community members about this topic in both Bridgeport and New Haven from 2023-2024. The interviews she conducted are now part of the History Center holdings as an oral history collection.
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 – Bridgeport Cultural Arts Center, 1970-1986
Hundreds of images of the Arts Center by BCAC photography instructor Richard Stamats. Students, teachers and Center activities are shown.
Photographs – Bridgeport Public Library: Images Across the Years
A collection of exterior and interior photographs of the various Bridgeport Public Library buildings over the years.
Photographs – Street Scenes
Photographic images taken from the History Center’s general photograph collection. Check back each month for new additions
Postcard Collection: Vintage Views of Bridgeport
Hundreds of postcards from the Bridgeport History Center’s collections
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.