RG 024, Historical Commission

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2010 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

The State Historical Commission was established by statute in 1955 to perform a variety of functions having to do with the preservation of historic sites and structures and other historical resources. It administered several historic properties including the Henry Whitfield House in Guilford. This building is said to be the oldest stone house in Connecticut, built in 1639. From 1900, when it was purchased by the State, it was administered (and known as the "State Historical Museum") by an appointed Board of Trustees. In 1973, the General Assembly acted to place it under the jurisdiction of the Historical Commission. The Commission also served as the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut. The Commission also oversaw the State Historic Resources Inventory which begun in Connecticut in 1974. In 2003, the Historical Commission merged into the new Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film.

See also the Historical Commission Agency History.

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Scope and Content

The records of the Connecticut Historical Commission are divided into one subgroup and three series. Subgroup one contains correspondence, reports, and other documentation on the restoration of the Henry Whitfield House, a State Historical Museum in Guilford, together with deeds and other papers on Guilford families. The second series relates to the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut, which lasted from 1974-1978, and documentation includes subject files, clippings, and scrapbooks. The third series contain a small volume of resolutions expressing gratitude, sorrow and respect, or other form of acknowledgement for members and citizens. Finally, there are six boxes of microfiche on the Connecticut Historical Commission’s Statewide Historic Resources Inventory.

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Arrangement

Subgroup 1. Henry Whitfield House, 1768-1957, Accession: 1958-002, 2 cubic feet.

Series 2. The Connecticut American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1973-1978, 10.5 cubic feet
Accession: T000562, 3 cubic feet
Accession: T000549, 7.5 cubic feet

Series 3. Resolutions, 1982-1986, Accession: T000549, 1 large envelope.

Series 4-9. Not used.

Series 10. Statewide Historic Resource Directory, circa 1974-1987, Accession: T000547, 1.25 cubic feet (6 microfiche clamshell boxes).

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

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Related Material

RG 033, Works Progress Administration, HABS Survey

RG 143, Old Houses of Connecticut, collected and compiled by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America.

PG 600, Additional Bicentennial posters.

Donohue, Mary M. and David A. Poirier. "The Connecticut Historic Preservation Collection: An Introduction to the State's Archaeological and Architectural Reocrds." Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut 48 (1985): 13-30.

Poirier, David A. Historic preservation : A User's Guide to the Connecticut Historic Preservation Collection. Hartford, Conn.: Connecticut Historical Commission, 1991. [H65 hpre].

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Index Terms

Organizations:

Subjects:

Document Types:

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Container List