Litchfield Historical Society’s New Season in Full Swing
The Litchfield Historical Society reopened for its new season April 26 with the launch of the new exhibit With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them.
It showcases works from the sampler collection of Alexandra Peters, displayed alongside Litchfield examples from the historical society’s textile collection.
Peters, a sampler historian and collector, serves as guest curator of the exhibit and will present a lecture entitled“Know My Name: How Schoolgirl Samplers Created a Remarkable History” on Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. at the Litchfield History Museum.
Peters will discuss samplers from her collection, how she became a collector, and why schoolgirl needleworks are so important in our understanding of women in American history.
Registration is requested for in-person attendees and those unable to attend in person can watch on Zoom. Click here to register.
The suggested donation for the lecture is $10
Samplers are more than thread stitched through cloth, the historical society explains in detailing the new exhibit. As objects of art, samplers tell stories of creativity, instruction, and skilled work. As historical records, they document the lives and experiences of thousands of young women, histories that might otherwise remain unknown.
With Their Busy Needles: Samplers and the Girls Who Made Them will remain display at the Litchfield History Museum through Dec. 1. Admission is free.
Meanwhile, the historical society’s popular weekly walking tours have resumed, and its benefit silent auction is coming up.
The focus of the May 11 Walking Tour is Artists of Litchfield. The approximately one-hour tour begins at 10 a.m. at the Litchfield History Museum. The cost for non-members is $10 and registration can be done online.
The historical society invites guests to explore Litchfield’s town center through the words, sketches, paintings, and photographs of artists and see how they saw Litchfield and expressed it through their artistic work.
Creativity Blooms, a silent auction art show benefiting the historical society, takes place Saturday, May 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Litchfield History Museum.
The evening features hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and works from more than 40 local artists. Artwork in all media has been donated: Paintings, photography, woodcarving, and more. All proceeds from the auction to support the Litchfield Historical Society’s mission and community-focused operations.
Advance tickets are $35 and available online. Tickets will also be available at the door for $45.
The Litchfield Historical Society’s museums, the Litchfield History Museum (7 South St.) and the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School (82 South St.), reopened to the public April 27 with free admission courtesy of Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services LLC. They are open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Learn more about the historical society and its museums at www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org.
