Special Collections

• Antiques & Collectibles
• Newtown Historical Images Archive – Reference Prints
• Local Authors
• Genealogy
• Connecticut & Local History

Antiques & Collectibles

The Antiques and Collectibles Collection includes more than 3,000 books donated by R. Scudder Smith, publisher of Antiques and the Arts Weekly and The Newtown Bee, and has added books to the collection regularly.  The collection is located on the third floor of the library in one of the front rooms.

Most of the books in this collection can be checked out.

A sampling of the types of books you will find in this collection:

• Pottery, silver, dolls and other items generally have an mark identifying the manufacturer or artist.  We have books that tell you what these marks mean.
• Price Guides to help you value your antique or collectible.  Current price guides were purchased by The Friends of the Library and are found in the Reference section.
• Books that are highly illustrated will help you identify what exactly it is you have and from what era.  Most of the books in the collection have beautiful color or black-and-white illustrations; often these books will give the histories of the objects and manufacturers, and some idea of  how valuable the piece is.

Newtown Historical Images Archive - Reference Prints

5x7 digital prints of more than 2,000 images of Newtown primarily between 1880 and 1940 are in binders at the Reference Desk on the third floor of the library for the public to use as reference.  These images are all watermarked as the property of the Newtown Historical Images Archive.  The images are digital prints of the majority of the collection owned by the Newtown Historical Society.  As a community resource, these images may be used by students, researchers, or anyone interested in local history. 8x10 digital and some fine art inkjet prints without watermarks may be purchased

The Newtown Historical Images Archive is a project of the Newtown Historical Society.  It was established in 2003 to rescue and preserve photographs that document life in Newtown primarily between 1880 and 1980, make available copies of these images, and educate the public about our local heritage.

• The short-term goal is to unify, catalog, and offer for public use three known and significant collections – images currently held by the Newtown Historical Society,  Mitchell/Goodrich photographic survey of historic homes in Newtown, and pertinent images by The Newtown Bee.  
• The long-term goal is to collect and preserve images that would otherwise be “lost” by way of deterioration or abandonment. Photographs will be solicited from older residents, local collectors, businesses, acquired from estates, and purchased from ephemera dealers. 

Local Authors Collection

The Local Authors Collection is a representation of past and present Newtown authors.  There are a variety of writers and genres represented – first novelists, mystery writers, Pulitzer Prize winners, children’s authors and illustrators, political writers.   Some of the works are set in Newtown (or a “fictionalized” representation of the town).

The collection, which includes 220 titles by 110 authors, was the brainchild of Library Curator Caroline Stokes.   Years ago she established this special collection to honor local writers and celebrate the library’s 50th anniversary.  Reference Librarian Andrea Zimmermann now maintains and adds to the collection.

Newtown resident and author Mary Mitchell has researched 39 local authors represented in the collection and written biographies on each.   This research has been bound in two volumes, Newtown Authors.

The Newtown Authors and Illustrators Collection is a non-circulating collection for in-library use only.

Genealogy

 The Genealogy Room is available during library open hours. It houses the Julia Brush Collection of published genealogies and local histories on Newtown and Danbury area families.  The genealogy room also has an extensive collection of Connecticut and New England resource material.  The room’s aesthetic beauty makes it the perfect place to research.  Please sign-in and then “dig-in.”  We hope you find exactly what you are looking for.

Genealogist Harlan Jessup is available Monday afternoons between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for genealogical research assistance. We suggest you call the library at (203) 426-4533 before arriving to make sure Mr. Jessup is available. Genealogy Room Computer - The first page of the instruction binder lists useful Web sites, as well as library subscription sites with sign-on information.  Our databases include Heritage Quest, New York Times online, Ancestry.com, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, British Origins, Ellis Island, and Family Tree Legends. The third floor of the library has circulating how-to books in genealogy as well as a fine collection of New England and Connecticut histories. Newtown Remembered: An Oral History of the 20th Century is a three volume collection of oral histories of long-time Newtown residents. An easy to read narrative format, Newtown Remembered can be borrowed from the library for reading and research on local families.

Click here to link to the Genealogy page of our website.

Connecticut & Local History Collection

In addition to material in our genealogy room, we have both circulating material (books and clippings in our vertical file) and reference books on Connecticut histiory, and individual town histories with an emphasis on Newtown and other communities in Fairfield County. This material includes books on geography, place names, general and photographic histories, and biographical resources.