NOTE As the regular edition of the report of the State Librarian for the two years ended June 30, 1922, is small, that portion of the report relating to Connecticut Houses, "A List of Manuscript Histories of Early Connecticut Homes Compiled by and Presented to the Connecticut State Library by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames," is here reprinted in bulletin form in order that its contents may be more widely distributed and available. Connecticut State Library, Geo.S. Godard. State Librarian. EARLY CONNECTICUT HOUSES 3 EARLY CONNECTICUT HOUSES Through the Committee on Old Houses of the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames the manuscript histories of about four hundred early Connecticut houses have been compiled and permanently deposited in the Connecticut State Library. These histories, which usually represent the results of much time and research of the compiler, are written upon a special form prepared by the committee having this work in charge. Such questions are asked and such typical floor-plans are given as will enable the compiler to make his or her contribution more complete and uniform. The photographs which accompany these sketches and the family and community traditions often given will make this series relating to the homes of our fathers of increasing value and interest. Two series of histories have thus far been compiled. The first series known as "Colonial Houses of Connecticut " was compiled between the years 1902 and 1912 under the immediate direction of Mrs. Henry F. Ferguson and Miss Mary E. Beach respectively who served as chairmen of the Committee on Old Houses during this period. By vote of the Society these were presented to the State Library in 1912. The second series known as "Old Houses of Connecticut " has been compiled since 1912 under the immediate direction of Mrs. Elford Parry Trowbridge, Chairman of the Committee on Old Houses, and have been presented to the State Library. from time to time as the histories have been approved by the Committee. The sketches have been uniformly bound in " Connecticut blue " imperial morocco cloth, plainly lettered in gold. The back and the front cover of each volume both bear the name of the house, date when built and the town in which it is located. The front cover also bears the name of the series and the seal of the society. The binding has been done by the State Library. The publication of the material found in these unique volumes except that found upon the pages of the certificate, is reserved by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames which has arranged with THE YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS to publish a worthy volume based on a selection from these histories, under the editorship of Mrs. Elford Parry Trowbridge, who has been Chairman of the Committee on Old Houses since 1912. The instructions which accompany each blank questionnaire indicate something of the spirit and thoroughness with which the work of collecting the data for these histories has been undertaken. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMPILER OF THIS RECORD "Your report will be placed in the State Library at Hartford, where it will be bound and carefully preserved, accessible to any terested. one in Facts and anecdotes connected with the lives of early occupants of the House, extracts from old letters, diaries, wills, and land records, and photographs from family portraits or early furnishings, or any details of the building, will add both value and attraction to the Record. 1. Most early Connecticut houses were built on one of two general plans, which are described under heading, Plan I or Plan II - later buildings may come under Plan III. If your house is one of these early ones, choose description No. I - if it has one great central chimney; or No. II, if it has two chimneys in the main building, or No. III if, of an unusual or late type and in this last case describe as far as possible on the same general lines as given for Plans I and II. Then, if you will look first around the outside of the House, and afterwards through the inside, selecting details from pages 6 to 11, as you go, you will find that they supply (with the exception of the locality, points of compass, and some minor details) a fairly complete description, covering what is absolutely neces sary. The value of the paper will, however, be much enhanced if you can add the principal measurements of the house and of the apartments; or indicate them on plans. Also details of the framing, etc., which may be observed in the garret; the use of straw and brick to line the walls; of clay, straw, shell or lime mortar in the masonry (determined by visiting the old cellar). These points are of much architectural value, and go far to prove the date of the building; but where it is impracticable to add them, we will welcome the record for its other and more generally enjoyable data." Please Notice Plans I, II and III are paged with the same number, and only the plan you use will be bound. Do not write or paste photographs on the pages of the other two, which will be removed. Rule out with ink all printed matter which does not apply to the house you are describing. Any person compiling a paper will be given a form to fill out and to place in their town library, and also one for their own use on application to any member of the Old House Committee. The Certificate page is to be filled in by the compiler of the history and signed. In case the compiler is a member of the committee, she should sign as compiler and as member of the Committee. It should also be signed by the Chairman of the Old House Committee and the Librarian of the Connecticut State Library. One copy of the certificate will be on file in the Connecticut State Library with the history and the duplicate copy of the certificate in the archives of the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America. At a meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects on March 29th, 1913, it was voted that their Committee on Public Information be designated as a Committee to which any person, filling out these records, could refer for information and assistance. Names of the Architects on this Committee may be had on application to the Committee on Old Houses. EARLY CONNECTICUT HOUSES BY TOWNS A list containing two hundred seventy-one histories of "Early Connecticut Houses ", arranged alphabetically by Compilers was published by the State Library in 1916 as "Connecticut State Library Bulletin No. 7." It had the following title-page: CONNECTICUT HOUSES A List of Manuscript Histories of Early Connecticut BY THE CONNECTICUT SOCIETY COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA Compiled by MRS. ELFORD PARRY TROWBRIDGE Chairman Committee on Old Houses Hartford CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY The following is a list of the four hundred manuscript histories of "Early Connecticut Houses" presented to the Connecticut State Library by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames, arranged alphabetically by towns in which the houses are located. It is planned to publish this list revised and amended as a separate publication for the convenience of those interested. |