WELCOME TO THE WOOLWORTH LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTER

The Richard W. Woolworth Library of the Stonington Historical Society opened its doors on June 20, 1998. A modern archival facility, it has a large reading room with tables for researchers, computers, copiers, and a microfilm reader printer. The walls of the James Merrill Reading Room have an interesting collection of 19th-century portraits of Stonington people. This library was named for  Stonington resident, Richard W. Woolworth (1935-1989), whose widow's generous donation to the Society made possible the acquisition of the property in 1994 and the construction of this repository.

Manuscripts and Books

The collections of this library include over 60 linear ft. of manuscript files with genealogical and historical material; books on the history and people of the area, including genealogies; local and county histories; ledgers and account books; city directories; minutes of meeting of local organizations; as well as war records from the French and Indian Wars to the present day. In addition we have copies of the land and probate record books. 

Finding aids for select manuscript collections, containing collection inventories, as well as historical and biographical notes are available below:

Captain Joshua Stevens Papers, 1861-1874

Ira Hart Palmer Papers, 1865-1885

American Velvet Company, 1868-1952

Genealogy Titles

Maritime Titles

Photograph collection

The library holds an extensive collection of historical photographs of the area. Rollie McKenna, a celebrated local photographer and former resident of Stonington, donated many of her Stonington photos.  Maurice LaGrua, a local photographer who collected vintage photographs of Stonington in addition to his work chronicling the people of the town, donated much of his collection to the Woolworth Library.  The Maurice LaGrua Darkroom is named in his honor.  Copies may be purchased by contacting the library.

Newspaper collection

We have copies of local newspapers, including the microfilms of the Stonington Mirror and Mystic Pioneer from 1870-1931. We continue to collect issues of local weeklies, such as Mystic River Press, and Stonington Times. In addition we have a collection of obituaries of Stonington people stored in binders for easy access.

Exhibits

As you enter the Woolworth Library and Research Center, be sure to note the contents of the exhibit cases on your right.  Exhibits here change often and are curated by museum staff and volunteers. Examples of current and past exhibits include the works of of the poet, James Merrill, for whom the reading room is named; day books and ledgers from the archives; and examples of rare textiles and fragile ephemera and maps.

Virtual Exhibits are on display here

Historic House Histories

The Stonington Historical Society is accepting applications for historic house histories. Any property within the boundaries of Stonington that is more than 50 years old is eligible. Professional and volunteer researchers will compile an extensive portfolio of your property that includes information from property transactions, land records, probate inventories, historical maps, city directories, oral histories, photo archives, and secondary sources. This information is added to our Heritage Database of Historic Properties in the Woolworth Library.  This program does not imply or impose any restrictions nor does it take the place of property title search for the purposes of a land transaction.

An extensive portfolio of research, records, and images will be compiled and delivered along with a wooden house plaque that identifies the original owner and estimated date of construction.  The cost is $500.  $250 is is due at the time of application and the balance is due upon completion and delivery.  Please contact us at library@stoningtonhistory.org for additional information. 

Pine Point School students Charlie Ritter and Caleb Schafer-Courter have mapped out some of the completed house histories in Stonington Borough below as part of a Service Learning Project.  Completed house histories are available to researchers at the R.W. Woolworth Library at 40 Palmer Street Stonington.  Additional information will be added as research and resources allow.  Thanks to geosystems.com for providing the map. 

Thinglink Map of Stonington Borough