The archives of the Danbury Museum are a wonderful repository of knowledge. Creating access to that knowledge has, historically, been defined by the size of the research spaces within the museum's Huntington Hall.
In an effort to reimagine our research and archival space, the Danbury Museum has embarked on a journey of digitization to best meet the myriad needs of our elementary, middle school, high school, and adult researchers.
To that end, museum staff and volunteers have been busy creating online research files replicating our archival filing system and making our local history accessible, no matter what your age or area of interest--beginning with Danbury's role in the Revolutionary War.
Though we’ve begun the project in earnest this year, we envision it as a labor of love, with yearly updates as our collection continues to expand and our research community helps us decide the directions in which we grow—together!
Additionally, we have digitized the five pamphlets published by Danbury's Tricentennial Committee in 1984-85, and there are pdfs of both James M Bailey's History of Danbury: 1684-1896 and the Danbury section of History of Fairfield County by Lynn W Wilson. And we've added some great holiday recipe inspiration, too!
These are a kind of "greatest hits" of our vast archival collection, subjects that are often asked about. If you are looking for more detail, context, genealogical records, microfilm or other primary sources please visit our Research page and book a research appointment. Note that onsite, staff-assisted research must be scheduled in advance to give us time to prepare for your visit.
Danbury's role in the Revolutionary War is a fascinating and impactful part of our town's history. We're pleased to start making available some of our subject files for students and researchers. Simply click the linked file below to be taken to Dropbox where you can download these resources for yourself. You do not need a Dropbox account to access or download these files. Happy researching!
2511 Rev War - Letters of Jonathan Crane
2512 - Rev War, Diary Stephen Jarvis
2513 Rev War - Journal Joseph Joslin
2523 Rev War - Hospitals/Doctors
2527 Rev War - Society of the Cincinnati
2528 Rev War - Sons of the American Revolution
2529 Rev War - Siege of Danbury, American Perspective
2529.3 Rev War - Siege of Danbury, Books/Excerpts
2529.4 Rev War - Siege of Danbury, Letters
2529.5 Rev War - Siege of Danbury, Danbury Records
2530 Rev War - Siege of Danbury, British Perspective
2531 Rev War - Tories of Danbury
2534 Rev War - West Point Chain
2535 Rev War - Student Projects
2536 Rev War - Commemorative Events
2536.1 Rev War - Commemorative Souvenirs
2536.2 Rev War - Soldiers, Skeletal Remains
2538.1 Rev War - Soldiers Lost in War
Thanks to the work of museum staff and interns, our #DigitalDanbury initiative continues to make progress digitizing Danbury Museum subject files, making them more readily accessible to students, researchers, and history buffs alike. We know how important access is, and getting to the museum isn't always possible, so we'll be updating with new files as often as we can. Stay tuned!
We are pleased to start off the digitization of our Civil War holdings with the James E Moore Post, Grand Army of the Republic book. This volume is a rich resource and we think it's the perfect book to showcase the breadth and depth of our Civil War collection.
2545 Civil War - General Information
2546 Civil War - Military History
2547 Civil War - Volunteer Enlistment
2548 Civil War - Ist CT Cavalry.
2549 Civil War - African-American Soldiers
2550 Civil War - Battle of Charcoal Run
2551 Civil War - Muster In Roll
2552 Civil War - Pensions
2553 Civil War - Medal of Honor Recipients
2554 Civil War - Wooster Guards
2555 Civil War - Commemorative Events
2556 Civil War - Matthew Brady Prints
2557 Civil War - Letters
2558 Civil War - Crofut Diary.
2559 Civil War - Home Activities in Danbury.
2560 Civil War - 13th Infantry CT Volunteers / E Dunbar
2560.1 Civil War - 11th CT Volunteer Infantry Regiment
2560.2 Civil War - Flag of the 11th CVI
2561 Civil War - Reconstruction Attitudes in Danbury.
2562 Civil War - War of Rebellion
2563 Civil War - James S McCollum Diary
2564 Civil War - James M Bailey Diary Transcript
2565 Civil War - Official Papers, Records
2566 Civil War - Nurses
Danbury Times Civil War Research
Danbury's community response to the First World War was incredibly impressive. Each and every Liberty Loan and fundraising goal was met or exceeded (this would include Danbury's over-production of potatoes on the hat factory war farms) and this in a community where, at that time, roughly 25% of the population had been born in the United States. Thanks to the stalwart work of Frank M Stone the Danbury Museum has an excellent collection of materials related to the Old 8th Company--many of whom served in WWI. And the cornerstone of our WWI collection are the letters from the front in France sent home by Ernest H Patchen.
2570 WWI - General
2571 WWI - Danbury Involvement in WWI
2571.1 WWI - Danbury WWI Committees
2572 WWI - Men & Women Who Served
2573 WWI - Old 8th Company
2574 WWI - Divisions
2575 WWI - Instruction Manuals
2576 WWI - Letters
2577 WWI - Art
2578.1 WWI - Newspaper Articles
2578.2 WWI - Newspaper Articles, continued
2578.4 WWI - 56th Battalion
2580 - World War 2: General Info
2580.1 - World War 2: Holocaust
2581 - World War 2: Publications
2584.1 - World War 2: Donation Drives
2584.2 - World War 2: Homefront Efforts
2585 - World War 2: Newspaper Articles
2587.1 - World War 2: Soldiers, Killed/Missing
2587.2 - World War 2: Soldiers, Wounded
2587.3 - World War 2: Soldiers, Awards
On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, Marian Anderson sang before tens of thousands of people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
As part of the Danbury Museum's #DigitalDanbury initiative and to commemorate Ms Anderson's famous concert, we've scanned and uploaded the museum's subject file holdings that relate to Marian Anderson's life in Danbury and beyond.
The Danbury Museum has a small collection of Hat Life magazines from the late 1930s through the early 1950s. These magazines chronicle emerging trends, famous styles, and have some incredible artwork in as well.
As part of our ongoing effort to digitize the museum's archival holdings, we're pleased to share with you some of the files from our Great Danbury State Fair collection. This way, whether you are in Danbury, Connecticut, or across the pond in Danbury, England, you'll be able to browse through our collection of Danbury Fair subject files. Enjoy!
1401 --- Fairs, Origin of Fair
1402 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair Exhibits
1403 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Advertising
1404 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Articles 1800-1900
1405.1 -- Danbury Fair Articles, 1936-49
1405.2 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair student strike
1406 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles 1950
1406.1 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles 1951-55
1406.2 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles 1956-59
1406.3 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles 1960-75
1406.4 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles, undated
1407 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, articles 1975-2000
1408 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Racearena
1408.1 -- Danbury Fair, boat races
1408.2 -- Danbury Fair, horse races
1408.3 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, horses
1409 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, summer theatre
1410 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, prizes
1412.2 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Uncle Sam
1415 -- Danbury Fair, Miscellaneous
1415.2 -- Danbury Fair, Quotes
1415.3 -- Danbury Fair, Attendance
1416 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair's end and memories
1417.1 Fairs, Danbury Fair, Correspondence
1417.2 Fairs, Danbury Fair, Daniel Nason Locomotive
1418 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Governor's Day
1419 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Grandstand
1419.1 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Grandstand annex
1420 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Grandstand Shows
1421-- Fairs, Danbury Fair, fair rides
1422 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Fair Buildings
1422.1 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Blueprints/Plans
1423 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Properties
1424 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Rentals
1425 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Septic System
1426 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Publicity
1426.5 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Danbury Fair Premium Lists (1905-1939)
1427 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Security
1428 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Contracts
1429 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Complaints
1430 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Letterhead
1440 -- Fairs, Danbury Fair, Financials (1947-1981)
History of Fairfield Co, Danbury segment. (pdf)
DownloadBailey's History of Danbury (pdf)
DownloadThree Hundred Years of Change & Growth (Tricentennial Book 1) (pdf)
DownloadThe Untold Story: Danbury's Unsung Role in the Revolution (Tricentennial Book 2) (pdf)
DownloadNames and Places: How Danbury Got Some Unusual Ones (Tricentennial Book 3) (pdf)
DownloadHow Danbury Got To Be What It Is: Geography and Geology (Tricentennial Book 4) (pdf)
DownloadTwo Centuries of Hat Making: Danbury's Famous Trade (Tricentennial Book 5) (pdf)
DownloadMain Street Historic District National Register Nomination
Download PDFHoliday Recipes & Inspiration!
As a little extra holiday inspiration, we thought we'd share some of the great cookbooks in our collection--we all know the best recipes come from these communal books filled with treats of every description. We'll add more over the course of the holiday season, so check back. Enjoy!
We've started off with a few White Turkey Inn classics--including the famous White Turkey Conserve!
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue to digitize and upload archival materials now and into the future. Please consider a donation of $10 or more to help us to continue to help you!
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