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| Collections |
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| Pillar and scroll
shelf clock, Norris North |
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| The permanent collections at the Torrington
Historical Society document the social, cultural, industrial,
economic, and ethnographic history that have shaped Torrington.
Included are such diverse items as Native American artifacts,
household tools and furnishings, products manufactured in Torrington,
clothing and textiles, trade signs, and objects relating to
Torrington's immigrant population. |
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| Torrington Industrial History Collection
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| Bicycles, Brass, Clocks, Fans, Guitars,
Knives, Melodeons, Machine Tools, Needles, Skates, Wooden Dishes
and Woolens...these and so much more have been manufactured
in Torrington! One of the most important holdings at the Torrington
Historical Society, this collection includes products dating
from the late 18th century to the present. Holdings of particular
interest include a collection of early 19th century shelf clocks
and papier mache items. Other significant collections include
products of Torrington's major manufacturers (i.e., Coe Brass,
Fitzgerald Manufacturing, Hendey Machine, Turner & Seymour,
Torrington Company and Union Hardware). |
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| Romanian Towel,
Maria Neag |
Clothing and Textile Collection
Researchers of this collection will find not only everyday clothing
and accessories from different periods, but also textiles and
military uniforms. In addition to the impressive holdings of
late 19th and early 20th century clothing, this collection also
contains such artifacts as an 18th century man's waistcoat,
quilts, samplers, a Confederate slouch hat, and a Civil War
great coat. Also of interest are items that reflect Torrington's
ethnic history, such as Romanian clothing and textiles brought
by the maker - an immigrant to Torrington. |
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| Fine Art Collection |
The End of John Brown,
Ervin Nussbaum, 1940 |
A small but growing collection at
the Torrington Historical Society, the art collection nonetheless
represents an interesting array of works by various artists.
Portraits by Erastus Salisbury Field, drawings by Arthur Covey,
sculpture by Paolo Abbate and Jerome Stein, and paintings of
brass mill interiors by Whitlock Knaus are among the works of
art included in this collection. "The End of John Brown,"
an oil painting by Ervin Nussbaum, is a recent donation to the
collection.
See also Painting Collection, Hotchkiss-Fyler
House Museum |
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| Can you help us? |
The Torrington Historical Society
is always interested in adding to its collections of local
history. Although holdings in certain areas are quite substantial,
other collections need to be augmented. Please contact us
if you have photographs, artifacts and archival materials
relating to Torrington people and places. Of particular interest
are the following:
Photographs: Images documenting Torrington places,
people and events,
especially mid 20th century to the present
Ethnic Artifacts: Photographs, objects and archival
materials which tell the stories of Torrington's diverse immigrant
populations
Industrial History: Manufactured products,
catalogs, photographs, archival
materials, especially relating to more recent industries (20th
century-present)
18th Century: Artifacts and archival materials which
better document
Torrington's first century after English settlement
Fine Art: Works by Torrington artists, as well as
art work depicting Torrington people, places or events
Trade Signs: Signs from the 18th century to the present,
which illustrate
Torrington businesses |
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Torrington
Historical Society