Grating the Nutmeg

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71 Eleazar Wheelock, The Great Awakening, Samson Occom & the Indian School May 15, 2019

Show notes

Recently, alumni of Dartmouth College, members of the Mohegan nation, the Columbia Historical Society and state and local officials gathered in the quiet corner town of Columbia to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of that Ivy League Institution.

Why Columbia? That is where the Great Awakening minister Eleazar Wheelock, inspired by the educational achievements of Mohegan student Samson Occom, founded Moor's Indian Charity School, the training school for indigenous missionaries that led directly to Wheelock's founding of Dartmouth in 1769.

In this episode, following Elder Beth Regan's Mohegan-language conference invocation, state historian Walt Woodward describes Eleazar Wheelock's life as a local minister and Great Awakening evangelist, his relationship with Samson Occom, and life at Moor's Indian Charity School.

"Eleazar Wheelock, the Great Awakening, Samson Occom, and the Indian School - This episode of Grating the Nutmeg."

71 Eleazar Wheelock, The Great Awakening, Samson Occom & the Indian School May 07, 2019

Show notes

"Eleazar Wheelock, the Great Awakening, Samson Occom, and the Indian School - This episode of Grating the Nutmeg."

70. Anni and Josef Albers in Connecticut May 01, 2019

Show notes

This episode celebrates the 100th anniversary of the most influential design school of the twentieth century, the Bauhaus, and Connecticut's connection to it. Connecticut Explored's Assistant Publisher Mary Donohue and conceptual artist, photographer and frequent Connecticut Explored contributor Bob Gregson talk about pioneering Modern artists Anni and Josef Albers, who escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s and made New Haven their home in 1950. It's a remarkable story. Josef was associated with the Bauhaus longer than any other artist and Anni was the last surviving teacher from the Bauhaus. Both had independent careers as world famous, influential teachers and artists.

For more information about the Albers, read Bob's feature story in the Winter 2018-2019 issue of Connecticut Explored at ctexplored.org and for more about the Albers, go to the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation's website at albersfoundation.org. For more about our guest, go to BobGregson.com

This episode was hosted and produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan.

And for more great Connecticut history stories, subscribe to Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history, at ctexplored.org.

Through May 31, 2019, for just $20, Grating the Nutmeg listeners receive 6 issues for the price of 4 with coupon code GTNSpring19. That's 2 free issues added to a one-year subscription with coupon code GTNSpring19 when you subscribe by May 31, 2019 at ctexplored.org/shop

To hear more episodes of Grating the Nutmeg subscribe on iTunes, iHeartRadio, GooglePlay, Spotify or at gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com.

69. The Breach: Voices Haunting a New England Mill Town Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

It's not very often that a historian interviews a poet for a history podcast, but in this episode state historian Walt Woodward interviews award-winning poet, novelist, essayist, environmentalist, and former Deputy Commission of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection David K. Leff about his new verse novel, The Breach: Voices Haunting a New England Mill Town (Homebound Books, 2019). The Breach is a fascinating study of decline in a New England factory village caught in the throes of both an economic and an environmental crisis. And - plus, plus, plus - it's a story told mostly by historical objects. Leff talks about his book, the reasons he lets objects tell the story, and reads some of the entries, too. Warning: Leff's readings contain a bit of profanity, one violent episode, and a hint of sex.

68. Fort Trumbull's Three Lives Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

In this podcast cross-over episode, Johnna Kaplan, author of Connecticut Explored's spring 2019 story about Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut is joined by her Going/Steadypodcast co-host Kerri Provost. Listen as they dive into the history of Fort Trumbull, a Connecticut state park that's seen a devastating Revolutionary War battle, witnessed Prohibition-era high-speed boat chases, and housed a top-secret military research facility. Today Fort Trumbull is one of New London's must-visit attractions, part of the new Thames River Heritage Park.

Thanks to the co-hosts of Going/Steady, Kerri Provost of Real Hartford and Johnna Kaplan of The Size of Connecticut. Listen to Going/Steady podcast at goingsteadyct.com and on iTunes. For more information about the fort, visit ct.gov/deep and fortfriends.org. For more about the summer water taxi and historic attractions go to thamesriverheritagepark.org

This episode produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan.

To hear more episodes of Grating the Nutmeg subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, GooglePlay, Soundcloud or at gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com. And to read Johnna's story, subscribe to Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history,at ctexplored.org.

67. Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

The story behind this episode started with the high-profile heist in 1991 of a stained-glass window from the nineteenth century mausoleum of a New London industrialist. The window was designed by world-famous artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. But the thieves hadn't counted on a persistent detective. Tiffany, best known for his brilliant innovations in glass, had deep Connecticut roots. A new permanent exhibition about his work, including 100 fine- and decorative-arts objects, is now on view at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. Join host Mary Donohue and curator Tanya Pohrt and museum director Sam Quigley to discover more about Tiffany's career, his family ties to New London, and his life-long pursuit of beauty.

Read our story about Louis Comfort Tiffany in the Winter 2018-2019 issue online at ctexplored.org. For more information about the Lyman Allyn's exhibition "Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London" and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum visit lymanallyn.org. To see a fantastic interior designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his firm Associated Artists, visit the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford.

This episode was hosted and produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan with music by Miles Elliot.

To hear more episodes of Grating the Nutmeg subscribe on itunes, iHeartRadio, GooglePlay,, Sound Cloud or at gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com. And for more great Connecticut history stories, subscribe to Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history, at ctexplored.org. Through May 31, 2019, we've got a special offer for Grating the Nutmeg listeners. For just $20, you'll receive 6 issues for the price of 4 with coupon code GTNSpring19. That's 2 free issues added to a one-year subscription with coupon code GTNSpring19 when you subscribe by May 31, 2019.

66. Sharon Cures: One Small Town of Medical Marvels Feb 15, 2019

Show notes

Recently, US News and World Report ranked Connecticut 4th best among the 50 states in the quality of our healthcare. We have great research universities and teaching hospitals, and pharma, biotech, and medical engineering companies most states envy. That's what makes this podcast so surprising. This is the story of how the little Litchfield County hill town of Sharon – with a population of 2700 people – has produced some of our state's leading medical innovators. And it's been doing so for centuries.

Join State Historian Walt Woodward on a visit to the Sharon Historical Society where co-curators Susan Shepard and Marge Smith tell us about the breakthroughs in innoculation, immunotherapy, and gender equity in the medical field pioneered by Sharon residents. It's part of their exhibit "Sharon Cures: Centuries of Medicine in One Small Town". It's three stories in one, that will surprise, inform, and make you want to learn more about this town of medical marvels.

While you're listening, view an album of photos from the exhibit on the Connecticut State Historian's Facebook Page

65. Norwalk's Village Creek Ahead of Its Time Feb 01, 2019

Show notes

After World War II, one Connecticut community made a conscious effort to reject racial segregation. The founders of Village Creek in Norwalk created a cooperative neighborhood which promised not to discriminate based on "race, color, creed or politics."

Over the next decades, the Villagers faced criticism from many quarters, but the community survived and thrives today. In this episode, Natalie Belanger and Melica Bloom of the Connecticut Historical Society take a look at the founding of Village Creek, and some of the challenges it faced over the decades.

If you'd like to learn more about the Village Creek Association, visit the Connecticut Historical Society's Research Center. And visit their special exhibition, "Patios, Pools and the Invention of the American Backyard," a travelling exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution, on view through February 23, 2019. Find out more at chs.org.

And for more great Connecticut stories, subscribe to Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history. The current issue is about our creative history and the upcoming spring issue explores in a surprising variety of stories how important water is to Connecticut's story. Find out more at ctexplored.org.

We wish to thank Natalie Belanger, CHS Adult Programs Manager, and CHS Exhibit Developer Melica Bloom. This episode was produced by Natalie Belanger and Patrick O'Sullivan. Music on this episode by Miles Elliot @miles_aheadmusic.

64. Best Winter History Reads Jan 13, 2019

Show notes

State Historian Walt Woodward asked five of Connecticut's leading voices for the history community, what their favorite winter history reads are this year. Briann Greenfield of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, State Librarian Ken Wiggin, Sally Whipple of the Old State House, Jason Mancini of CTHumanities, and Christina Volpe of the Connecticut League of History Organizations, each shared the books that are providing them a fascinating escape from bleak midwinter, the 2019 edition.

63. Why the Constitution of 1818 Matters Today Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

This is the fifth in our series of talks presented by Connecticut's Old State House commemorating the 300th anniversary of Connecticut's first state constitution.

In this episode judges Henry Cohn and Jon Blue wrap up our discussion of the state's first constitution in "Why the Constitution of 1818 Matters Today."

This has been a great series pairing historians and legal scholars. In the first in the series, episode 45, state historian Walt Woodward provides the historian's view of the broader cultural context that brought us to a state constitutional convention. In this episode, Judge Blue gives us the legal perspective. And in episode 55, Wesleyan University professor emeritus Richard Buel does a deep dive into the political history that led to the constitution.

Also in this episode, Judge Cohn gives a judge's perspective on the constitution's Declaration of Rights-- in particular what it has to say about our right to a jury trial, freedom of religion, and right to an education. For the historian's perspective on religion and the constitution, listen to Professor Robert Imholt in episode 59. Finally, legal scholar Wesley Horton describes the constitutional debates in episode 56.

For the whole series, listen to episodes 45, 55, 56, 59, and 63. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Normen and Patrick O'Sullivan.

This episode is sponsored by Attorney Peter Bowman. Find out more at bowman.legal.

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