Remembering World War I – New Britain “Hears the Call”

(Hartford, CT) 2017 year marks the 100th Anniversary of this country’s entry into World War One. In an effort to help preserve this significant part of our history, the New Britain Industrial Museum will be working with the Remembering World War One project at the Connecticut State Library to gather old photos, documents, mementos and other materials from the war to digitize them and preserve them in the Connecticut Digital Archive. 

On Saturday, October 1, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., area residents can bring in their photos, letters, and other keepsakes to have them photographed or scanned by professional staff. Karen Winslow Hudkins, Director of the New Britain Industrial Museum said, “History is hidden away in drawers, attics, and basements and this is a great  opportunity for families to preserve their own histories and stories and connect them to the larger story of WWI. The Industrial Museum is grateful to be working with the CT State Library, CCSU, and ITBD to make this event possible.”

There will also be a Conservation specialist on hand to talk about how to preserve photographs, letters, and other keepsakes. Personal Digital Archiving materials will also be provided for visitors.

This event will be the first Digitization Day held in New Britain and volunteers from CCSU History Department and SCSU Journalism Department will be on hand to help with the day’s events. Area residents are being asked to look around, contact family, friends, and neighbors to find WWI related items and stories that might be tucked away in drawers or trunks. The only prerequisites for inclusion in this project is that participants are Connecticut residents and that items are related to WWI. We welcome photos and keepsakes from men and women from around the world as these help us tell the stories of the men and women of Connecticut today.