October is American Archives Month!
Farmington and Unionville have incredibly strong traditions in producing history. We have museums, special libraries, schools, and an active historical society, and for that we are lucky. To me, history production is a fascinating conversation: we add to and update existing stories, discover and share new ones, ask questions and engage in debates.
Original documents and records—or archives—help us to interpret the past and create narratives. Archival records allow us to learn more about the history of our families, our homes, and our communities. We can get a snapshot of what a place was like through government, school, library, church, hospital, and business records, as well as items like photographs, letters, and diaries (just ask any Farmington student about their Paideia project).
The archives in the Farmington Libraries’ local history room are full of treasures. Internally, we use them to research the history of our buildings, document the careers of our retiring colleagues, and connect with our community by sharing old photos on social media. Community members share what they’ve learned in the Farmington Room by giving talks, presentations, and tours to the general public.
As a recent graduate of a master’s program in Archives Management and History, I am over the moon to have stepped into the role of Local History Librarian. I am still a member of the Information Services department, though much of what I do is focused on the care and feeding of archives and special collections housed in the Farmington Room. I have enormous respect for those who have stewarded and grown this collection from its inception in 1967. I am honored and excited to bring my own curiosity, passion, and knowledge to the Farmington Room, and to the people who come to do research here.
In getting to know the collection, my favorite finds so far have to do with the library’s history:
- Accession books from the inception of the Village Library (1890)
- Photographs from the construction (and expansion) of 6 Monteith Drive
- Eye-catching flyers from past town and library celebrations
- Children’s Department photo albums going back to the 1960s
I hope to share updates, finds, and news regularly. One piece of news I will share is that we have new hours! Starting mid-September, we are open for walk-in research on Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We can still make appointments for folks who need to come outside of these hours. If you have a local history/genealogy question, contact me (contact information below) or the Information Services desk. Please watch this space for updates on the Farmington Room, there will be many. Happy American Archives Month everyone!
Jerusha Neely (she/her)
Information Services and Local History Librarian
Email: jneely@farmingtonlibraries.org
Phone: (860) 673-6791 x5213