Telling New Stories: Ties to the Caribbean in the Ancient Burying Ground

Everyone knows Connecticut had ties to the West Indies (we’re the Nutmeg State, after all), but we often don’t know the personal stories of the individuals who straddled both places in the Atlantic World. This program, presented by Dr. Katherine A. Hermes, will feature a variety of diverse stories that illuminate the people who built connections between Connecticut and the Caribbean. This includes Connecticut merchants looking for new markets and products; enslaved people from Antigua serving in households in Hartford; a West Indian enslaved man brought to Guilford who later opened a thriving grocery story in Hartford; and a French woman fleeing the Haitian Revolution. We’ll examine the shipping news from the Hartford Courant, as well as documents from probate records, newspapers, vital records, and account books that hold the keys to uncovering this history.

This program is presented in partnership with the Ancient Burying Ground Association, a non-profit group that oversees the Ancient Burying Ground. Established in 1640, the Ancient Burying Ground is the oldest surviving colonial site in Hartford. It’s located at the corner of Main and Gold Streets, adjacent to Center Church, and is open daily. Find out more on the website at theancientburyingground.org Funding for this project has been provided by CT Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Free for AGBA members and Connecticut Museum members at the Henry Barnard Circle level and above. $5 for regular Connecticut Museum Members; $10 general public.  You can purchase tickets ahead of time here. Note that Connecticut Museum membership discounts apply at checkout!

Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at nbelanger@connecticutmuseum.org.

About Our Speaker

Dr. Katherine A. Hermes earned an A.B. in History from the University of California at Irvine; a J.D. from Duke University School of Law; and a Ph.D. from Yale University. She has taught early American history at the University of Otago in New Zealand (1992-1997) and at Central Connecticut State University (1997-2022), where she also served as Department Chair. She is currently publisher and executive director of Connecticut Explored magazine, a non-profit history publication produced for readers interested in Connecticut’s past. She has created and been involved with a number of digital public history projects. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for American Indian Studies.