Community Outreach

Several members of CPGC have been longtime volunteers at the Connecticut State Library and Archives. Our most recent endeavor was unfolding New Haven County Court records to prepare them for digitization. These records were a treasure trove of information from New Haven County. These materials encompassed a wide range of document types, including the following:

  • Land records
  • Guardianships
  • Lawsuits (many on roads and bridges)
  • Crimes (murder, burglary)
  • Inquests
  • Divorces
  • Execution of court orders
  • Tavern Keepers licenses

There were records of brutal punishments carried out, everyday arguments and licensing and the occasional celebrity signature like Benedict Arnold and Eli Whitney. To hear more about this project, please visit the RootsTech website to view: Uncovering New Haven: Finding Hidden Treasures in the New Haven County Court Records. CPGC received a lovely note from the staff of the Connecticut State Library:

“The State Library extends its heartfelt appreciation to the volunteers from the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council, whose enthusiasm, expertise, and hands-on support were instrumental to the project’s success. Your careful work of unfolding and flattening fragile records, writing descriptive summaries on paper slips, and flagging cases for further review helped bring to light stories that deepen our understanding of Connecticut’s legal and social history. Your dedication has ensured that these important court records are now more accessible to researchers, educators, and the public for generations to come. Thank you!“