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Spring 26: Perseverance. The Hat Trimmers Union of Danbury. A Communist’s Arrest in 1950’s McCarthy-era New Haven. Upcoming conferences you won't want to miss!
Sponsored Post
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“Queen Ellen” Foote and the Hat Trimmers Union of Danbury
During the late 1800’s wearing a hat was deemed a necessary part of one’s public appearance. Trimmers were responsible for the finishing touches of production including sewing labels and leather sweatbands inside the crown. Despite these workers being an essential part of the hat making process they were also the lowest-paid branch of the trade.
Delvin writes, “In the large factories that developed after 1850, the trimmers worked in groups that resembled sewing circles, hand-sewing ribbons, linings, and other final additions onto hats that were wheeled in on carts. Over time, rows of sewing machines also appeared in many factories. Trimmers were women over the age of 18—single and married, immigrant and native-born—and their workspace was the cleanest and safest in the steaming-hot hat factories of the period. As The New York Herald reported in 1906, married trimmers sometimes brought their toddlers to work with them until they were old enough for school. This arrangement naturally fostered camaraderie.”
By 1906 The New York Herald had reported on the Danbury’s Hat Trimmers Union calling it the “largest women’s trade union in the world” with Ellen Foote, president of the union, being widely written about nationwide.
Read more about the remarkable Ellen Foote by subscribing below.
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The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
On Trial: Alfred Marder and Catherine Roraback – A Communist’s Arrest in 1950’s McCarthy-era New Haven (10th Anniversary Encore Release)
Grating the Nutmeg is 10 years old! In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we are bringing you a remastered and re-edited edition of an episode we recorded in 2016 at the New Haven Museum with Alfred Marder, Judge Andrew Roraback and his father Charles Roraback.
In 1954, 32-year-old Alfred Marder was arrested in New Haven along with several others under the Smith Act for allegedly working to overthrow the US government. After a lengthy trial, during which he was defended by the celebrated civil rights lawyer Catherine Roraback, he was acquitted. Hear Mr. Marder tell in his own words what he was fighting for and what it feels like when the full power of the state, federal, and local government is aimed at you.
Like Grating the Nutmeg? Want to support it? Make a donation! 100% of the funds from your donation go directly to the production and promotion of the show.
Out and About: Join us for two exciting conferences!
CT Explored will be tabling with goodies ranging from back issues, t-shirts, and other merchandise at two upcoming conferences this month.
Connecticut Digital Humanities endeavors to bring together a network of DH practitioners committed to advancing collaborative scholarship in digital humanities research and pedagogy across the New England region. CTDH will provide individuals across New England who are interested in digital humanities with an opportunity to learn new techniques and skills, hear about their colleagues’ DH projects, and become part of a vibrant and diverse community of scholars and practitioners.
The next CTDH conference will be held March 19-20, 2026. The conference is free for all participants. Register and review the schedule here.
Prepare for the revolution!! Join us at Central Connecticut State University and our many partner organizations for a two-day conference that explores Connecticut’s history as it transitioned from colony to independent state in the midst of the evolving American protest against King George III.
CT 1776: A Revolutionary Event will take place on March 20-21, 2026.
CT 1776 is no ordinary conference! Day 1 includes invited presentations that are carefully choreographed to tell a gripping story of Connecticut’s history, weaving an engaging narrative that includes first-person presentations and stories, explores critical documents, and defines the movement towards independence and ultimately war. Find more information here.
We hope to see you there!
Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Season:
Dorothea Lange: Life Work
The powerful photographs of Dorothea Lange (American, 1895-1965) have become icons of American cultural history, documenting the human toll of the Great Depression and the striking landscapes of the 1930s Dust Bowl era. Her images of suffering farm families reflect the strength and spirit of individuals facing hard times. With 50 photographs on view, this exhibition traces Dorthea Lange’s dynamic career, focusing on her renowned work of the 1930s and exploring later projects, including a fruitful 1953 collaboration with Ansel Adams in Utah. The exhibition is on view February 21 through May 3, 2026.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams Street, New London. Lymanallyn.org; 860-443-2545
Peter Waite: Social Memory, Paintings 1987–2025
Absence is a presence in Peter Waite: Social Memory, Paintings 1987–2025, a career retrospective of large-scale architectural scenes that capture the beauty and poignancy of overlooked corners, faded surfaces, and the traces of life that remain when people are gone. Waite’s paintings, drawn from familiar New England sites and unexpected European locations, explore the transitional nature of public spaces, imbuing liminal environments with stillness and psychological depth. The exhibition marks a homecoming for the artist, who first visited the Wadsworth as a student at Hartford Art School and later worked in its exhibition design department. Including loans and recent work, the museum-wide installation reflects Waite’s long engagement with the region’s contemporary art community. On view through March 15, 2026.
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford. thewadsorth.org; 860-278-2670
230th Birthday of Connecticut’s Old State House
Connecticut’s Old State House kicks off the spring season with Civic Learning Week on March 9. Organized by the Connecticut Democracy Center, a CivxNow State Affiliate, join students, educators, policy makers, and community leaders for in-person and virtual learning opportunities focused on making civic learning a nationwide priority. Now is also a perfect time for educators to book group tours for students K-12+. Choose one of eight programs and let our museum educators lead students through the historic halls of Connecticut’s Old State House as they learn about state history, civic engagement, and government. Transportation reimbursements are available!
Friends will also want to mark May 16 on their calendar for a party celebrating Connecticut’s Old State House’s 230th birthday, featuring cake from Neveah’s Cake Creations, winner of our 2025 Election Cake Bake Off. For more information about these events and our plans for America’s Semiquincentennial, visit www.ctoldstatehouse.org.
Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main Street, Hartford. CTOldStateHouse.org; 860-522-6766
A Season of Creativity, Connection, and Cultural Celebration
Spring at The Amistad Center ushers in a season of creativity, connection, and cultural celebration. In March, we invite visitors to experience programs that highlight Black art, storytelling, and intergenerational learning. Our second year of Divine Design: Ramadan returns on March 12, offering a Hala breakfast celebrating faith and community. On March 19, Dr. Babatunde Lawal delves into the power and beauty of Yoruba visual culture, illuminating the Gẹlẹdẹ tradition and the ways art, ritual, and performance shape meaning across time and space. Later in the month, we honor Women’s History Month with Matriarchs & Menopause on March 26, a joyful conversation centering health, aging, and the fullness of womanhood within the Yoruba world. As we move into May, anticipation builds for our Juneteenth Jubilee and exhibitions, including America 250–aligned projects and the forthcoming Rebel | Revolt | Resist.
The Amistad Center for Art & Culture at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford. AmistadCenter.org; 860-838-4089
Editor’s Picks:
Diane Hassan, “The Danbury Square Box Company” Connecticut Explored, Fall 2010.
Tracey Wilson, “Women in the Workplace: From Steno Pool to Factory Floor” Connecticut Explored, Winter 2013-2014.
Cecilia Bucki, “The Labor Movement in Connecticut” Connecticut Explored, Winter 2013-2014.