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Connecticut History
Connecticut History Sources by Period
Connecticut History Sources by Topic
General Resources |
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& Family Records | Biographical
Information
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Connecticut's Cities and Towns |
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Cultural History |
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Emblems and Symbols |
Genealogy |
General Assembly Records |
Governors |
Historic Preservation |
Historical Documents |
Immigration & Ethnic Groups |
Industrial History |
Judicial and Legal History |
Land Records |
Maps & Geography |
Military Records |
Naturalization Records |
Newspapers |
Nicknames |
Oral History |
Preservation |
Probate Records |
Ships' Passenger Lists |
Slavery and the Road to Freedom |
State Capitol |
Vital Records |
Links to Other Agencies and Institutions
GENERAL HISTORY RESOURCES
Some of these databases are made available through paid subscriptions or
licenses and can be accessed only at the State Library.
About Connecticut: A Brief History of the State.
Ancestry Library Edition. Available at the State Library. Provides access to a wide range of unique resources for genealogical and historical research with more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases. Ancestry Library Edition includes records from the United States Census, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists and more.
A Bibliography of Books on Connecticut's History.
Biography & Genealogy Master Index. Available at the State Library. Indexes nearly 12 million biographical sketches in more than 2700 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.
Britannica. Available at the State Library. Includes Britannica's latest article database, hundreds of articles not found in the print Britannica, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth Edition), the Britannica Book of the Year, and thousands of links to other World Wide Web sites.
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System - A cooperative effort of the National Park Service (NPS) and other public and private organizations, this site includes a database containing basic facts about those who served on both sides during the Civil War, compiled from some 6.3 million service records at the National Archives. Other information includes regimental histories of both the Union and Confederate Armies, links to descriptions of 384 significant battles of the war, and other historical information.
Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.
Connecticut's Historical Firsts.
Connecticut History Online. Contains about 14,000 images of photographs, drawings and prints which may be searched or browsed in a variety of ways, including by keyword, subject, creator, title and date. Online learning tools created especially for middle and high school students provide suggestions for interpreting and exploring the database.
Databases of Individuals listed in State Archives Records. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans, Connecticut World War I veterans, and prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
Ellis Island Records – The Website of the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. Includes a searchable index to passenger arrivals.
First Search. Available at the State Library. More than 50 online databases and more than 1.5 million full-text articles. Includes ECO an extensive OCLC collection of scholarly journals, and PAIS, a database chronicling global public policy and social issues, and other sources useful for public policy research.
HeritageQuest Online. Available at the State Library. Heritage Quest can also be accessed remotely through iCONN, the CT Digital Library, using a current State Library card or a library card from any Connecticut library. Collection of genealogical and historical material including family histories, genealogical serials, local histories, and primary sources (including indexes and images of the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1930).
JSTOR. Available at the State Library. Extensive backfile volumes of journals in History, Political Science and other disciplines. The database is unique because the complete backfiles of core scholarly journals have been digitized, starting with the very first issues, many of which reach back to the 1800s.
Library of Congress – Includes the American Memory collection. Also check the “A-Z Index to the Library of Congress Site” for links to information about Genealogy, Geography, History, and more.
The Literature of Connecticut History. An extensive annotated bibliography arranged chronologically and topically. Categories include culture, government, Indians, industry, transportation, and women. This is an important tool for beginning Connecticut historical research.
National Archives and Records Administration – Includes information on the holdings and services of National Archives branches nationwide and information on genealogical resources, veteran’s service records, and microfilm publications. Searchable databases are included in the “Access to Archival Databases (AAD)” section.
New England Ancestors. Available at the State Library. Includes the full texts of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847-1994, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633; and Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780; vital records of many Massachusetts towns to 1850; and transcriptions of manuscripts and diaries, military records, Bible records, and church records.
CONNECTICUT'S HISTORY BY PERIOD
Connecticut Native American Tribes
Guide to Native American Legal Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Native Americans at the Connecticut State Library. This research guide summarizes some of the Library's most important historical and genealogical holdings relating to Native Americans.
Liberties and Legends: The Charter Oak
The State Tree: The Charter Oak
Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.
Connecticut's Early General Records
Early History. A brief historical overview.
Early Settlers. Who were some early European explorers of what is now Connecticut?
Founders of Hartford. Who were the founders of Hartford? Where is the Founders Monument?
Founders of Windsor. Who were the founders of Windsor?
The French and Indian War (Seven Years' War)
Research Guide to Colonial Wars Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Governor, 1639, 1641, 1643, 1645, 1647, 1649, 1653: John Haynes
Governor, 1640, 1644, 1646, 1648, 1650, 1652, 1654: Edward Hopkins
Governor, 1642: George Wyllys
Governor, 1655, 1658: Thomas Welles
Governor, 1656: John Webster
Governor, 1659-76: John Winthrop
Governor, 1676-83: William Leete
Governor, 1683-98: Robert Treat
Governor, 1698-1707: Fitz-John Winthrop
Governor, 1708-24: Gurdon Saltonstall
Governor, 1724-41: Joseph Talcott
Governor, 1741-50: Jonathan Law
Governor, 1750-54: Roger Wolcott
Governor, 1754-66: Thomas Fitch
Governor, 1766-69: William Pitkin
Governor, 1769-84: Jonathan Trumbull
Witchcraft Trials, Colonial
Connecticut's Early General Records
The Connecticut Western Reserve. What were the Western Lands, also referred to as the Western Reserve?
The Firelands. 500,000 acres in Ohio granted in 1792 to those (and their heirs) who suffered losses during the Revolutionary War.
Governor 1769-84: Jonathan Trumbull
Loyalists. Where can I find information on Connecticut Loyalists during the American Revolution?
Research Guide to Revolutionary War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
The Susquehannah Company. Where can I find information about those from Connecticut who settled in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania?
Federal and Early National Period (1789-1818)
Connecticut's Early General Records
Research Guide to War of 1812 Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Governor 1844-46: Roger S. Baldwin
Governor 1846-47: Isaac Toucey
Office of the Governor, 1820-1858, State Archives Record Group No. 5
Research Guide to Mexican War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Fitch's Home for Soldiers Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
The Life and Times of William Webb: An African-American Civil War Soldier from Connecticut
Noble Pension Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Research Guide to Civil War Materials at the Connecticut State Library
Post-Civil War to World War II
Fitch's Home for Soldiers Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Governor 1889-93: Morgan G. Bulkeley
Governor 1897-99: Lorrin A. Cooke
Governor 1911-15: Simeon E. Baldwin
Governor 1939-41; 43-46: Raymond E. Baldwin
Noble Pension Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Research Guide to Women's History Archival Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to World War II Service Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to the Hartford Circus Fire. This research guide was created to assist researchers in identifying materials held by the State Library relating to the July 6, 1944 Circus Fire catastrophe.
World War I Veterans Database. Records relating to Connecticut World War I veterans.
The Connecticut Floods of 1955: A Fifty-Year Perspective
Governor 1975-80: Ella T. Grasso
Governor 1980-91: William A. O'Neill
William A. O'Neill Gubernatorial Records 1980-1991 Record Group 5
Governor 1995-2004: John G. Rowland
Governor 2004- : M. Jodi Rell
CONNECTICUT'S HISTORY BY TOPIC
Biographical information about Connecticut judges: Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys
Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Available at the State Library. Indexes nearly 12 million biographical sketches in more than 2700 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.
Connecticut General Assembly Members, 1776 - date (database)
History and Genealogy Biography Vertical File
A List of Names included in the State Library Collection of Biographical Sketches, an index to the Library's 79 volume set of biographical pamphlets including sermons, discourses, biographies, memoirs, etc.
Connecticut's Boundaries
The Southwick Jog. Why is there a "jog" in Connecticut's border with Massachusetts?
The Panhandle. Why does Connecticut have a "panhandle" that extends westward toward New York?
Connecticut's "Susquehannah Settlers" and Western Lands
The Connecticut Western Reserve. What were the Western Lands, also referred to as the Western Reserve?
The Firelands. 500,000 acres in Ohio were granted in 1792 to those (and their heirs) who suffered losses during the Revolutionary War.
The Susquehannah Company. Where can I find information about those from Connecticut who settled in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania?
Maps and Geography Materials at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Old House Resources at the Connecticut State Library.
Connecticut law relating to removing headstones from, or defacing headstones in, Connecticut cemeteries.
Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions
Research Guide to Cemetery Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Connecticut Census Index, 1790-1850
Census Sources Pathfinder
Research Guide to Census Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Colonial and State Census Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Special Federal Census Schedules for Connecticut at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to the Connecticut Military Census of 1917
Additional information from the U.S. censuses, including derived and compiled statistical data, is available through the Government Information Services Unit.
Connecticut's Cities and Towns
Connecticut's State Capitals
State Capital (city)
The State Capitol (building)
Connecticut Historical Museums
Connecticut Historical Societies
Connecticut Municipal Historians
Connecticut Town, City, and Borough Officials
A List of Connecticut Towns and Dates of Their Establishment
Wethersfield Prison Records database. Index to records relating to prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
Connecticut Superior Court Docket Books, List of
Connecticut's Early General Records
Guide to the Records of the Judicial Department (772kb)
County Courts Finding Aids
Music
Newspapers
Connecticut Newspaper Pioneers
History of Newspaper Publishing in Connecticut
An Introduction to the Gideon and Thaddeus Welles Collection of American newspapers
State of Connecticut - Sites, Seals and Symbols. The state flower, state bird, state song, etc.
Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.
Connecticut General Assembly Members, 1776 - date (database)
Connecticut's Early General Records
Finding Aid to the General Assembly Papers, 1821-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (264kb)
Finding Aid to the Rejected Bills, 1808-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (196kb)
Connecticut's "Black Governors"
Governors of Connecticut. Online and print resources about Connecticut's Governors, past and present.
A Quiz about Connecticut's Governors!
William A. O'Neill Gubernatorial Records 1980-1991 Record Group 5
Charter of the Colony of Connecticut, 1662
Constitution of the United States & Amendments
The First Constitution of Connecticut: The Fundamental Orders, 1638-9
African-Americans. Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
French Canadians. Research Guide to Canadian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Germans. Research Guide to German Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Irish. Research Guide to Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Italians. Research Guide to Italian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Native Americans
Connecticut Native American Tribes
Guide to Native American Legal Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Native Americans at the Connecticut State Library. This research guide summarizes some of the Library's most important historical and genealogical holdings relating to Native Americans.
Polish. Research Guide to Polish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Scots. Research Guide to Scots and Scots-Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Women. Research Guide to Women's History Archival Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Naturalization Records at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Ships' Passenger Lists at the Connecticut State Library
Connecticut Patents Database, 1800-1890
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in the Connecticut State Library, State Archives, and Museum of Connecticut History.
Research Guide to Materials Relating to the History of Industry and Commerce at the Connecticut State Library
Biographical information about Connecticut judges: Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys
Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries Connecticut Legal History Page
Connecticut Judicial Department, a comprehensive history and bibliography.
Connecticut's Early General Records
Guide to the Records of the Judicial Department (772kb)
Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts
Research Guide to Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library
Wethersfield Prison Records database. Index to records relating to prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
Fitch's Home for Soldiers Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Noble Pension Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.
Research Guide to Colonial Wars Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Civil War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Manuscript Military Records at the State Library
Research Guide to Mexican War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Revolutionary War Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to War of 1812 Sources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to World War II Service Records at the Connecticut State Library
World War I Veterans Database. Records relating to Connecticut World War I veterans.
A Bibliography of Connecticut Newspaper Resources
Connecticut Newspaper Pioneers
Hale Collection of Newspaper Notices of Marriages and Deaths, ca. 1750-1865
History of Newspaper Publishing In Connecticut
An Introduction to the Gideon and Thaddeus Welles Collection of American newspapers
Connecticut's Nicknames. Explanations for "Constitution State", "Nutmeg State", and other nicknames for Connecticut and for its residents.
A Listing Of Some 18th and 19th Century American Nicknames. What were some common personal nicknames in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Historic Places
Research Guide to Old House Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Of Collections
Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts
Research Guide to Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library
Slavery and the Road to Freedom
Connecticut Freedom Trail Quilts
Connecticut's "Black Governors"
Prudence Crandall
The Life and Times of William Webb: An African-American Civil War Soldier from Connecticut
Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Research Guide to Materials Relating to Slavery in Connecticut at the Connecticut State Library
State Capital (city). Has Hartford always been Connecticut's capitol?
The State Capitol (building)
Connecticut Vital Records (How to obtain records of births, marriages, and deaths.)
Connecticut's Vital Records Access Law
LINKS TO OTHER AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film
Connecticut Historical Museums
Connecticut Historical Societies
Connecticut Humanities Council
Prepared by the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library.