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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

New Britain Public Library

New Britain, Connecticut

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of New Britain.

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26Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1841 to 1946Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

33,672Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of New Britain, Connecticut.

Get to know New Britain, Connecticut in earlier years through newspapers as well as scrapbooks, clippings, and articles shared in the New Britain Public Library's digital archive. Its twenty-six titles include material from 1841 to 1946. The collection also includes personal writings.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected titles

    In the collection shared by New Britain Public Library, you will find “Elihu Burritt Journal April 1848” and “Symonds Scrapbook Collection”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • Different views of the past

    Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day. Personal writing offers an individual perspective. Keep the writer’s words and circumstances distinct from the wider story you are trying to understand.

Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse twenty-six titles and 33,672 digitized pages, with material from 1841 to 1946. A partnership between New Britain Public Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

If you are tracing a family connection or exploring local history, the titles below offer a place to begin and a thread to follow.

Elihu Burritt Journal April 1848

582 pages in 1848

Elihu Burritt Journal April 1851

1,683 pages in 1851

Elihu Burritt Journal August 1841

441 pages in 1841

Elihu Burritt Journal August 1849

1,905 pages in 1849

Elihu Burritt Journal December 1843

405 pages in 1843

Elihu Burritt Journal February 1842

492 pages in 1842

Elihu Burritt Journal January 1853

1,719 pages in 1853

Elihu Burritt Journal January 1854

1,488 pages in 1854

Elihu Burritt Journal January 1855

1,923 pages in 1855

Elihu Burritt Journal July 1847

504 pages in 1847

Elihu Burritt Journal July 1848

1,008 pages in 1848

Elihu Burritt Journal June 1864

708 pages in 1864

Elihu Burritt Journal March 1843

579 pages in 1843

Elihu Burritt Journal March 1849

1,392 pages in 1849

Elihu Burritt Journal March 1852

1,644 pages in 1852

Elihu Burritt Journal May 1847

345 pages in 1847

Elihu Burritt Journal May 1864

375 pages in 1864

Elihu Burritt Journal November 1846

306 pages in 1846

Elihu Burritt Journal November 1847

780 pages in 1847

Elihu Burritt Journal November 1856

1,857 pages in 1856

Elihu Burritt Journal October 1842

501 pages in 1842

Elihu Burritt Journal September 1846

345 pages in 1846

Elihu Burritt Journal September 1850

2,268 pages in 1850

Hanna Scrapbook Collection

1,314 pages from 1901 to 1937

Klingberg Scrapbook Collection

450 pages from 1897 to 1905

Symonds Scrapbook Collection

8,658 pages from 1901 to 1946

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About the Library

About The New Britain Public Library

The New Britain Public Library stands as a cornerstone for educational and cultural enrichment within the community. It offers an array of resources, including books, digital media, and public programs aimed at fostering learning and engagement. The library's commitment to accessibility ensures that every member of the community can benefit from its services without any cost. With dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults, it serves as an inclusive environment for exploration and discovery.

New Britain Public Library photo 1

Library History

The History Of The New Britain Public Library

The New Britain Public Library has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1853. Initially formed by a group of local citizens as a reading room and lecture hall, the library became officially incorporated in 1858. Over the years, it has expanded its offerings and facilities, moving into a purpose-built building in 1901. The library has continuously adapted to meet the needs of its patrons, enhancing its collections and embracing technological advancements to provide practical online access to its resources.

About the Community

About The City of New Britain, Connecticut

New Britain, known as the "Hardware City," has a storied past marked by its industrial roots and vibrant immigrant communities. Established in the early 1700s, it became a hub for manufacturing and commerce, particularly in the production of tools and hardware. The city's history reflects a blend of cultures, contributing to its diverse heritage and community. Today, New Britain continues to celebrate its historical significance while promoting community engagement through various cultural institutions.

Local History

Did You Know?

The New Britain Public Library not only provides access to books and resources but also serves as a venue for community events, workshops, and classes. It has hosted numerous notable figures throughout its history, including authors and social activists, contributing to its role as a vital community hub. The library also offers programs that focus on local history, allowing residents to connect with their roots and engage with the rich tapestry of New Britain's past.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Look for the story behind a result

Begin with a person, neighborhood, business, or event you want to understand in New Britain. The newspaper titles in the newspaper titles shared by the New Britain Public Library can connect that question with reports from earlier years; leave a possible match open until its date and details fit. Search a person, place, or event with a second term, then compare the date and context of each result. A repeated name needs more evidence before it identifies the same person or connects two parts of a story.

After recording the issue and page, search a second term tied to the result and compare the surrounding dates and accounts. Keep matching names provisional until the place and context fit. This can turn one result into a better question without turning a repeated name into a confirmed story.

Capture the title, date, and page or item location for a detail you may want to revisit. Label your interpretation as your reading, not the source's own words. Keep enough context with the note that another reader can retrace it.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the New Britain Public Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.

Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.

Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.

Learn about partnerships
Read All About It

Stories, research tips, and archive news

Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.

Newest published articles

March 18, 2025

It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?

We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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