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Floods and Hurricanes in Connecticut collection

 Collection
Identifier: PG160

Scope and Content

Consists of aerial photographs and b&w prints depicting scenes from a number of Connecticut towns.

Aerial photographs make up the bulk of the collection and include mosaic, vertical and oblique views. There are 524 views of the 1936 flood photographed by the 8th Photographic Section, US Air Corps for the US Engineer Office in Providence, RI and 132 views of the September 1938 flood and hurricane in Connecticut and Rhode Island, photographed by the 118th Photographic Section of the US Air Corps. Noteworthy are the numerous shoreline views.

Also includes 58 photographs of Naugatuck in the Flood of 1955 collectively titled "Black Friday", compiled by the Naugatuck Daily News, as well as several smaller collections.

Photocopies of photographs in the Prescott Bush papers transfered to Archives & Special Collections at The Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut in August 1991.

Also includes approximately 444 digital photographs which document damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene on August 27-28, 2011.

Dates

  • 1936-2011
  • Majority of material found within 1936-1955

Language of Materials

The records are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Series 4. Tropical Storm Irene, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Photographs, 2011, Accession: 2012-018, 2 compact discs, is restricted. Contact State Archives staff for assistance.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply to all credited photographs unless otherwise noted. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted materials.

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

Historical Note

Hurricanes and Nor'easters can cause major flooding of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Three of the more impressive include floods in March 1936, September, 1938 and August 1955.

Extent

10 cubic feet

Abstract

Hurricanes and Nor'easters can cause major flooding of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Three of the more impressive include floods in March 1936, September, 1938 and August 1955.

Arrangement

Series 1. Flood of 1936

Oblique and Vertical Views, Accession: T001765

Mosaic Views, Accession: T001862

William Hankard Collection, Accession: T001765

A.B. Grasso Collection, Accession: T001765

Hartford Public Library Collection, Accession: T001765

Harriet U. Fish Collection, Accession: T001765

Mildred Davieau Collection, Accession: T001765



Series 2. Flood of 1938

Oblique Views, Accession: T001765

Myron Johnson Collection, Accession: T001765

Midred Davieau Collection, Accession: T001765

Series 3. Flood of 1955

Towns, Accession: T001765

Black Friday, Accession: T001765

Barbara Lee Collection, Accession: T001765

Prescott Bush Papers, Accession: T001862

Anita Olson Scrapbook, Accession 2010-013

Seymour, Accession 2010-035

Ansonia, Accession 2010-040

Norwalk, Accession 2012-048

Series 4. Tropical Storm Irene, 2011

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Photographs, Accession: 2012-018

Provenance

The State Library purchased the 1936 photographs from the Providence Engineer Office. They were taken by the Eighth Photographic Section, U.S. Air Corps. The 43d Division of the Connecticut National Guard donated the 1938 photographs. They were taken by the 118th Photographic Section, U.S. Air Corps, Connecticut National Guard. The Naugatuck Daily News donated their photographs of the Flood of 1955, collectively titled "Black Friday", in July 1956. Janice Matthews from the Hartford Room at the Hartford Public Library donated photographs in October 1997. Other private donors of Flood of 1936 photographs include William Hankard, A.B. Grasso, Harriet U. Fish, and Mildred Davieau. Myron Johnson donated a small collection of 1938 photographs. Barbara Lee, a former Connecticut State Library employee, donated photographs of the 1955 flood showing Collinsville. Accession 2012-018 was transferred by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to the State Library in 2012. Accession 2012-048 was donated by Henry J. Deysenroth to the State Library in 2012.

Related Material

PG 440: Collins collection, album 3, contains views of the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. in Hartford During the flood.

RG 005: Governor John Dempsey, Box A-497B, 131 b&w photographs of Putnam during the 1955 flood.

RG 033: Works Progress Administration, interviews conducted following the 1938 floods.

RG 089: Miscellaneous Aerial Photographs, several images of rivers after the 1955 flood.

Processing Information

Library staff indexed the 1936 and 1938 collections shortly after they were added to the collection. In 2006 Library staff incorporated the smaller accessions into the collection. A single accession number, T001765, covers most of the collection except for the oversize boxes that are T001862.

Title
PG 160, Floods and Hurricanes in Connecticut
Subtitle
Inventory of Photographs
Author
Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.
Date
2012
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Revision Statements

  • February 16, 2012: This electronic finding aid was updated by Allen Ramsey. Updates included overview of the collection, scope and content note, arrangement, controlled access terms, and added accession 2012-018.
  • June 20, 2012: This electronic finding aid was updated by Allen Ramsey. Updates included arrangement, provenance, and added accession 2012-048.

Repository Details

Part of the Connecticut State Library Repository

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