Hartford History Center

The Hartford History Center is home to the Hartford Collection, a non-circulating, multi-media collection comprising more than 100,000 books, trade publications, directories, postcards, photographs and memorabilia that convey nearly 300 years of community life in Hartford. Officially named in 1945, the archives and special collections of Hartford Public Library date back to the 18th century, to the library’s own beginning.

Today, the collection includes first edition volumes of Hartford authors Mark Twain, Lydia Huntley Sigourney, Thomas Tryon, Noah Webster, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Chuck Stone and Wallace Stevens as well as material from Dr. Horace Wells’ estate. In addition, the collection holds an inscribed copy of Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the complete 90 volume bound collection of the Noah Webster pamphlets.

Formerly established by Chief Librarian Magnus Kristofferson in 1945, the Hartford Collection is divided into three sections: Hartford subjects, Hartford authors, and Hartford imprints. The archive is housed in the Hartford History Center, located on the third floor of the downtown library at 500 Main Street.

Recent additions to the History Center's collections include the Hartford City and Town Clerk archives, the Hartford Parks Collection, records from Real Art Ways, and the papers and art of sculptor Elbert Weinberg.