Mattatuck Historical Society

THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM IS A CENTER OF ART AND HISTORY, A GATHERING PLACE THAT NURTURES CREATIVITY AND LEARNING THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES TO ENCOURAGE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND OUR HERITAGE.

EDUCATION IS AT THE VERY CENTER OF THE MATTATUCK MUSEUMS MISSION AND ALLOWS THE MUSEUM TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF ITS COMMUNITY. THE FOCUS OF THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN TO CRAFT A SUITE OF PUBLIC AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE COMMUNITYS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM, CREATING A TOUCHPOINT AT EACH STEP OF A VISITORS LIFE, FROM BIRTH TO RETIREMENT. THE MUSEUM REACHES YOUTH AND FAMILIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, AND ADULTS THROUGH A DIVERSE SUITE OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE MUSEUMS PRIMARY CONSTITUENCIES IS THE RESIDENTS OF THE GREATER WATERBURY AREA, BUT IT STRIVES TO REACH AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT WESTERN CONNECTICUT. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, THE MUSEUM ENDEAVORS TO BE AN INNOVATIVE AND ENGAGING CENTER FOR LEARNING THROUGH ART AND HISTORY-BASED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. AS A PREMIERE CULTURAL INSTITUTION IN THE GREATER WATERBURY AREA, THE MUSEUM RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS NOT ONLY A REPOSITORY FOR ART AND HISTORY BUT ALSO A LEADING COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH PROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DIVERSE INTERESTS AND LEARNING STYLES OUR VISITORS BRING TO THE MUSEUM. THE MATTATUCK CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO BE A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ENJOYABLE OPTION FOR FAMILIES WISHING TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER IN AN ENRICHING SETTING. FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE LITTLE TO NO ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXPOSURE TO FINE ARTS. REGULARLY OFFERED PROGRAMS INCLUDE VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON K-12 SCHOOL TOURS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SELF-EXPLORATION GALLERY ACTIVITIES, SCHOOLS OUT PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL VACATION DAYS AND HOLIDAYS, ART AND HISTORY FOR HOMESCHOOLERS, CHILDRENS AND COMMUNITY ART EXHIBITIONS, ACCESS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, COMMUNITY FREE DAYS, AND HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE INITIAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE MUSEUM HAS REBUILT ITS IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ADAPTING TO THE NEW NEEDS, EXPECTATIONS, AND PREFERENCES OF THE COMMUNITY. THE MATTATUCK PRIDES ITSELF FOR ITS LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH WATERBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NAUGATUCK, ANSONIA, DERBY, AND THOMASTON. FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 APPROXIMATELY 11,000 STUDENTS AND YOUTH WERE SERVED BY THESE PROGRAMS.

2021-2022 WAS A YEAR OF CHANGE AND TRANSITION AT THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM. AFTER MOVING INTO A NEWLY RENOVATED BUILDING IN JANUARY 2021, A NEW ASSISTANT CURATOR WAS HIRED OVER THE SUMMER AND LONGTIME CURATOR, CYNTHIA ROZNOY, RETIRED IN OCTOBER 2021. WITH A NEW CHIEF CURATOR AND NEW ENERGY IN THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT, THE MATTATUCK IS BUILDING ON ITS PAST SUCCESSES AND LOOKING TOWARDS AN INNOVATIVE FUTURE. IN PREPARATION FOR THE AAM REACCREDITATION SITE VISIT, A COMPLETE COLLECTIONS INVENTORY AND ORGANIZATION WAS CARRIED OUT. AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, 50 PAINTINGS WERE TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE AND HUNG THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUMS WORKING SPACES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WORKS ON VIEW AND ENLIVENING THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF SUCH EXHIBITIONS AS A FACE LIKE MINE IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, THE MATT CONTINUES TO PRESENT EXHIBITIONS THAT ENGAGE AND REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE THE PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE ART BRIDGES COLLECTION LOAN PARTNERSHIP (CLP), WHICH PAIRS SMALL AND LARGE MUSEUMS IN AN EFFORT TO BRING ART OUT OF STORAGE AND INTO NEW COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM HAS 20 WORKS ON LOAN FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) UNTIL JULY 2023. THE EXHIBITION, WORK IT WOMEN ARTISTS ON WOMENS LABOR (SEPTEMBER 11 DECEMBER 31, 2022) FEATURES 6 OF THESE LACMA WORKS AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A VARIETY OF ISSUES RELATING TO WOMENS WORK IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE CLP HAS ALSO PROVIDED THE IMPETUS FOR CREATIVE METHODS OF ENGAGING AUDIENCES, INCLUDING PHOTOBOOTH WHERE VISITORS CAN CAPTURE THEMSELVES RECREATING LIZ CRAFTS SCULPTURE, DEATH OF A CLOWN. IN TOTAL, THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM PRESENTED 19 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN 2021- 2022, INCLUDING: COLLECTING PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY: SIGNATURES AND EPHEMERA, FEBRUARY 2021 MAY 8, 2022, FEATURED A SIGNIFICANT GIFT TO THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM OF PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURES COLLECTED BY FRANCIS T. FAY VINCENT JR., AUGMENTED WITH EPHEMERA FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM. DISCOVERING NEW YORKS WRAPPER: THE ART OF FRANCIS HINES, SEPTEMBER 26 NOVEMBER 21, 2021 AND APRIL 22 JUNE 15, 2022, DISPLAYED THE WORK OF FRANCIS HINES, WHO WAS BEST KNOWN FOR WRAPPING THE WASHINGTON SQUARE ARCH IN 1980, BUT WHO LATER FELL INTO OBSCURITY. MICHELLE TRAGAKISS: GEOMETRY AND GESTURE, SEPTEMBER 16 NOVEMBER 21, 2021, WAS THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF THE MIXMASTER 2021 WINNER. NORMAN ROCKWELL: BEHIND THE CAMERA, OCTOBER 1, 2021 JANUARY 17, 2022, ORGANIZED BY THE NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM IN STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, IN COLLABORATION WITH GUEST CURATOR RON SCHICK, THIS EXHIBITION EXPLORED ROCKWELLS USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN HIS CREATION OF HIS CANONIC COMPOSITIONS. FOCUS ON THE MAKERS: SAMPLERS, NEEDLEWORK, AND QUILTS, DECEMBER 5, 2021 FEBRUARY 28, 2022,DISPLAYED OVER 50 HAND-SEWN OBJECTS DRAWN FROM THE MATTATUCKS COLLECTION TO BRING TO LIGHT THE SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL PRACTICES OF OUR 19TH C. NAUGATUCK VALLEY REGION. JANET MAYA: WOMEN/STRENGTH/BEAUTY, DECEMBER 5, 2021 FEBRUARY 28, 2022, FEATURED THE ARTWORK OFCONNECTICUT-BASED ARTIST JANET MAYA. MIXMASTER ANNUAL JURIED MEMBERS EXHIBITION, JANUARY 30 MARCH 6, 2022, THE MATTATUCKS ANNUAL JURIED MEMBERS EXHIBITION FEATURING THE WORK OF 34 ARTISTS FROM NEW ENGLAND, NEW YORK, AND NEW JERSEY. THE VILLAGE PROJECT, MARCH 13 MAY 8, 2022, A COMMUNITY-BASED INSTALLATION INCLUDING SEVERAL THOUSAND TINY HOUSES INSTALLED UNDER A COLLABORATIVELY- CONSTRUCTED VINE STRUCTURE. TWO FOR THE ROAD: ERNEST ROTH AND ANDRE SMITH IN EUROPE, MARCH 20 MAY 15, 2022. GUEST CURATOR ERIC DENKER, SENIOR LECTURER AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART IN WASHINGTON, DC, TOLD THE STORY OF TWO AMERICAN PRINTMAKERS WHO WERE FRIENDS FOR FIFTY YEARS. SHIPWRECKS: DUTY OF MEMORY, MAY 11 AUGUST 28, 2022, INCLUDED 60 HAUNTING PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOTOGRAPHER STEFANO BENAZZO OF SHIPWRECKS FROM LOCATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE. THE GARDEN, MAY 19 AUGUST 28, 2022, CURATED BY WILEY CONTEMPORARY, FEATURED THE WORK OF 8 ARTISTS WHO ADDRESS THE SENSORY ASPECTS OF NATURE. MYSTERY & BENEVOLENCE: MASONIC AND ODD FELLOWS FOLK ART, MAY 29 SEPTEMBER 4, 2022, INCLUDED OVER 100 CARVINGS, SCULPTURES, TEXTILES, AND REGALIA REVEALING THE HIDDEN HISTORIES OF THE FREEMASONS AND THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF THE ODD FELLOWS. BEYOND FRATERNITY: CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN WATERBURY, MAY 29 AUGUST 21, 2022, AS A COMPANION TO MYSTERY & BENEVOLENCE,THIS EXHIBITIONEXPLORED THE HISTORY OF FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS IN WATERBURY THROUGH OBJECTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND BOOKS DRAWN FROM THE MUSEUM&39;S PERMANENT COLLECTION AND LOANED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. LOCAL LEGACY: CHASE COLLEGIATE ARCHIVES 1865-2020, AUGUST 28 OCTOBER 2, 2022, CELEBRATING THE TRANSFER OF THE CHASE COLLEGIATE ARCHIVES TO THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM, THIS EXHIBITION DREW FROM 155 YEARS OF MATERIALS FROM THE CHASE ARCHIVE CHRONICLING THE SCHOOL&39;S HISTORY AND IMPACT ON THE GREATER WATERBURY AREA. SCHANDRA SINGH: FRACTURED FACADES, SEPTEMBER 11 NOVEMBER 27, 2022, WAS THE SOLO EXHIBITION OF THE MIXMASTER 2022 WINNER. ELEMENTAL: ART AS ADVOCACY, SEPTEMBER 11 DECEMBER 31, 2022, FEATURED THE WORK OF THE FOUR ARTISTS IN THE ELEMENTAL ARTISTS COLLECTIVE, WHO USE THEIR ARTWORK AS A PLATFORM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY. WALKER EVANS: AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHS, SEPTEMBER 18 DECEMBER 31, 2022, CURATED BY MOMA, THIS WAS AN EXHIBITION OF 59 PRINTS OF GREAT DEPRESSION- ERA PHOTOGRAPHS BY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER WALKER EVANS. WORKING WITH OUR COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE AND BOARD, WE CONTINUE TO ADD TO OUR HOLDINGS IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS. WE CONTINUE TO STRATEGICALLY ADD TO OUR ART, HISTORY, AND ARCHIVES COLLECTIONS, WITH SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION TO RECOGNIZING AND REPRESENTING CONTRIBUTIONS BY UNDERRECOGNIZED CREATORS, WHILE ALSO KEEPING PACE WITH NEW DIRECTIONS IN CONTEMPORARY ART. DURING THE PAST YEAR WE ADDED 35 THROUGH GIFTS AND ACQUISITIONS, FILLING GAPS IN THE CONNECTICUT COLLECTION AND INCREASING ITS DEPTH AND DIVERSITY.

THE MUSEUM HAS A VARIETY OF ADULT FOCUSED PROGRAMS AND TOURS SUCH AS LECTURES, ART WORKSHOPS, PAINT NIGHTS, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, MUSIC AND VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAVELLING ADULT OUTREACH PROGRAM CALLED MATT ON THE GO. MEMORIES @ THE MATT, A COLLABORATION WITH THE ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION OF CT FEATURES ENGAGING VIRTUAL GALLERY TOURS DEVELOPED FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS WELLNESS PROGRAMS INCLUDING WEEKLY YOGA TAI CHI AND MINDFULNESS. THE MUSEUM REACHES AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES, ETHNICITIES, AND INTERESTS THROUGH ITS CREATIVE, AGE-APPROPRIATE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 APPROXIMATELY 2,000 ADULTS WERE SERVED BY THESE PROGRAMS.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES OCTOBER 2021-SEPTEMBER 2022: THIS PAST YEAR THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS TO THE ARCHIVAL AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS. WE ADDED 7 NEW FINDING AIDS TO THE CONNECTICUT ARCHIVES ONLINE AND WE ADDED 50 COLLECTIONS TO COLLECTIVEACCESS IN ORDER TO GROUP DIGITIZED OBJECTS ACCORDING TO THEIR COLLECTION. THE ARCHIVIST UPLOADED 198 ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS INTO COLLECTIVEACCESS WITH 56 NOW AVAILABLE ON THE PUBLIC PORTAL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MATTATUCK MUSEUMS ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN DIGITALLY ACCESSIBLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LIBRARY PURCHASED A SUBSCRIPTION TO TINYCAT AND A VOLUNTEER IS WORKING ON COPY CATALOGING OUR BOOK COLLECTIONS. CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER 500 BOOKS SEARCHABLE THROUGH TINYCAT AND OUR WEBSITE. IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE REACCREDITATION VISIT IN THE SPRING OF 2022, THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMPLETED SEVERAL BIG PROJECTS. AN EXCEL DOCUMENT WITH LOCATIONS FOR THE COLLECTIONS WAS COMPLETED. IN CASE OF A DISASTER, SALVAGE ITEMS WERE IDENTIFIED AND TAGGED. LARGE FOLDERS WERE CUT FOR HOUSING ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS IN THE OVERSIZED MAP DRAWERS. A SUMMARY OF UNPROCESSED MIXED BOXES WAS CONDUCTED. SOME OF THE NEWSPAPER COLLECTION WAS REHOUSED INTO ARCHIVAL BOXES. ALMOST ALL THE UNPROCESSED BOXES WERE LABELED WITH TEMPORARY LABELS AND COLLECTIONS IN THE ATTIC WERE REHOUSED INTO ARCHIVAL BOXES WHEN POSSIBLE. OUR LARGEST COLLECTION TO DATE WAS DONATED IN NOVEMBER OF 2021. CHASE COLLEGIATE EDUCATION THROUGH FREDERICK WAID DONATED THE RECORDS OF THE CHASE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL (M-98). IN ADDITION TO THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTION, FURNITURE, ART, AND OBJECTS WERE ALSO DONATED. THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTION IS ROUGHLY 75 LINEAR FEET OF MATERIAL. THERE WERE TWO ACCRUALS OF MATERIAL JULY OF 2021 AND AUGUST OF 2022. THE ARCHIVAL MATERIAL IN THE 2021 DONATION WAS PROCESSED AND A FINDING AID IS AVAILABLE ONLINE. SELECT ITEMS WERE DIGITIZED AND AVAILABLE THROUGH COLLECTIVEACCESS. THE ACCRUAL OF 2022 WILL HAVE TO BE PROCESSED AND ADDED TO THE FINDING AID, INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE COLLECTION TO ROUGHLY 110 LINEAR FEET. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE SHELVING UNITS THE COLLECTION WAS ON INCREASING OUR STORAGE CAPACITY SIGNIFICANTLY. THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE IS USED BY BOTH AMATEURS AND SCHOLARS ALIKE IN AREAS OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH, ART HISTORY INVESTIGATION AND GENEALOGY. LAST YEAR, THE MUSEUM ASSISTED WITH APPROXIMATELY 165 REGIONAL AND NATIONAL INDEPENDENT RESEARCH REQUESTS THROUGH PHONE, EMAIL, AND IN PERSON RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS. THE NUMBER OF IN PERSON RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS INCREASED FROM 12 THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO 23. WITHIN THE MUSEUM THE ARCHIVIST PROVIDED IMAGES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER DEPARTMENT REQUESTS TOTALING 30 SEPARATE COLLABORATIONS. THE ARCHIVIST COLLABORATED WITH CURATORIAL AND EDUCATION IN CREATING MUSEUM CONTENT: OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2021 PROVIDED RESEARCH AND SUPPORT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE INTERACTIVES IN THE HISTORY GALLERY. CURATED AND INSTALLED THE BRASS CASE. NOVEMBER 2021 PROVIDED RESEARCH SUPPORT AND DIGITAL IMAGES FROM THE COLLECTION FOR FOCUS ON THE MAKERS EXHIBITION. GAVE A MATT ON THE GO PRESENTATION TO THE GUNN LIBRARY. MARCH 2022 RESEARCHED AND GAVE A TALK ON WATERBURY RADIUM GIRLS FOR THE LOCAL SEXTA FRIA GROUP. ADDED TO MATT ON THE GO PROGRAMMING. MAY 2022 RESEARCHED AND GAVE A TALK ABOUT ELIZABETH KIRK TO THE WATERBURY WOMENS CLUB. AUGUST 2022 RESEARCHED AND CURATED THE EXHIBIT LOCAL LEGACY ABOUT THE CHASE COLLEGIATE RECORDS. THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE EXPANDED ITS COLLECTION IN THE LAST YEAR. THROUGH SMALL PURCHASES WE ADDED 6 BOOKS TO THE REFERENCE COLLECTION, 3 PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE WATERBURY PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTIONS, 2 DOCUMENTS TO WATERBURY ORGANIZATIONS, AND 4 DOCUMENTS TO THE WATERBURY BROADSIDE COLLECTION. THERE WERE 23 UNIQUE DONORS TO THE ARCHIVE THIS PAST YEAR. DONATION RANGED FROM SMALL DONATIONS OF 1 MAP TO ENTIRE COLLECTIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE CHASE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL RECORDS, WE ALSO RECEIVED A COLLECTION OF JOSEPH STEIN PHOTOGRAPHS AND SLIDES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ADDED DONATIONS TO THE WATERBURY REGIONALMAP COLLECTION, THE WATERBURY PAMPHLET COLLECTION, THE WATERBURY ORGANIZATIONS COLLECTION, THE ERNEST ROTH PAPERS, THE WATERBURY REGIONAL POSTCARD COLLECTION, AND THE RECORDS OF THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM. ALL OF THIS WORK COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT OUR WONDERFUL INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS. LAUREN PALEN, A FRESHMAN AT NVCC INTERNED IN THE SPRING OF 2022. SHE HELPED PROCESS THE WATERBURY SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES COLLECTION (M- 17) AND THE RECORDS OF THE CHASE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL (M-98). SHE ALSO ASSISTED IN REACCREDITATION PROJECTS. FRANCINE ACCUOSTI WAS OUR BENEVENTO PUBLIC HISTORY INTERN FOR THE SUMMER OF 2022. SHE RESEARCHED AND CURATED THE EXHIBIT CASE ON THE FOUNDING OF THE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG LADIES THAT IS FEATURED IN THE LOCAL LEGACY EXHIBIT. SHE ALSO WROTE A GREAT BLOG POST ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL WHICH IS AVAILABLE VIA STORYMAPS. PAM CALDWELL IS A WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER WHO IS COPY CATALOGING OUR BOOK COLLECTION. THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON PROVIDING OPEN AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ALL BY ARRANGING, DESCRIBING, AND DIGITIZING ARCHIVAL MATERIAL. ADDITIONALLY, THE ARCHIVE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLECT ITEMS AND COLLECTIONS RELATED TO LOCAL HISTORY WITH A FUTURE EMPHASIS ON ARTISTS, WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY.