Build Our Collection

General Memorabilia & Documents

• Old Newspapers – From any year to help chronicle Naugatuck’s history.

• Current Newspaper Clippings & Event Flyers – Documenting local events.

• Naugatuck High School Yearbooks – We are specifically looking for 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2009-2023.

• Elementary & Middle School Yearbooks – From any Naugatuck school, any year.

• Family Photos (People Identified) – To help preserve personal histories.

• Family Stories (Written or Typed) – Stories of life in Naugatuck from any era.

• Favorite Outfits & Personal Clothing – Well-loved clothing items that tell a personal story or reflect fashion trends in Naugatuck.

• Old Letters & Postcards – Correspondence offering glimpses into daily life, relationships, and historical events.

• Journals & Diaries – Personal reflections capturing life in Naugatuck across different eras.

• Scrapbooks & Photo Albums – Collections documenting personal, family, or community history in town.

• Neighborhood & Street Photographs – Images capturing residential areas, local landmarks, and community life.

• Maps & Blueprints – Old maps, building plans, and zoning documents that show the growth of Naugatuck over time.

• Personal Keepsakes & Mementos – Everyday objects with sentimental value, like keychains, school notebooks, or trinkets that tell a personal history.

• Handwritten Recipes & Meal Traditions – Passed-down family recipes, including those reflecting cultural heritage in Naugatuck.

• Letters to Santa & Holiday Traditions – Children's letters to Santa or family traditions from different eras.

Industry & Business Artifacts

• Local Industry Memorabilia – Items from Risdon Manufacturing, Peter Paul Manufacturing Company, Uniroyal Rubber Company, and other major Naugatuck industries.

• Smaller Local Businesses – Memorabilia, products, and records from Naugatuck Dairy, Robinson’s, and other locally owned businesses that shaped the town.

• Women’s & Minority-Owned Businesses – Menus, business cards, advertisements, and photos highlighting small businesses owned by women and underrepresented ethnic groups.

• Women & Minority Workers in Industry – Photos, uniforms, and personal stories of workers often overlooked in the history of Uniroyal, Peter Paul, Risdon, and other industries.

• Dog Trading Cards from Peter Paul Manufacturing Company – We currently have only 3 out of 36 (Scottish Terrier, Chihuahua, and Irish Wolfhound).

• Labor Union & Worker Advocacy Materials – Documents and items reflecting the role of diverse workers in labor movements in Naugatuck.

• Advertising & Promotional Materials – Signs, posters, menus, matchbooks, and giveaways from local businesses.

• Employee Badges, Uniforms & Tools – Items used by workers in Naugatuck’s historic industries.

• Store Receipts, Ledgers, Annual Reports & Business Records – Documents providing insight into local commerce.

• Workplace Newsletters & Employee Handbooks – Internal publications from local businesses documenting company culture.

• Personal Work Stories & Interviews – Written accounts or recorded oral histories from factory workers, small business owners, and service industry employees.

• Women & Youth in the Workforce – Materials related to women, teenagers, or apprentices working in local businesses, including summer jobs and internships.

• Union Buttons, Posters & Protest Materials – Items from strikes, worker advocacy campaigns, or historic labor disputes.

• Historic Menus & Grocery Store Price Lists – Capturing the cost of living and how food and dining options have changed over time.

Community & Organizations

• Town Clubs – Memorabilia from civic, fraternal, and social organizations, including photographs, documents, and club-related items.

• School & Community Sports – Memorabilia from all school sports (elementary through high school) and community leagues, such as PJ Foley, Friday Night League, and other recreational programs.

• Naugatuck Football, Cheerleading & Marching Band – Jerseys, photos, programs, trophies, and other related memorabilia.

• Scouting (Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts) – Badges, uniforms, photographs, troop records, and other memorabilia from local scouting organizations.

• Civic & Social Justice Movements – Flyers, newspaper clippings, and materials from local activism, including civil rights efforts, labor movements, and community advocacy.

• School Projects & Reports – Student assignments reflecting past education and community life.

• Classroom & School Supplies – Items used in Naugatuck schools, such as textbooks and classroom tools.

• Church & Religious Group Newsletters – Bulletins, church programs, and community outreach materials.

• Fraternal & Ethnic Organizations – Items from groups like the Masons, Elks, Portuguese Club, Polish Falcons, and other ethnic or fraternal organizations.

• Fire & Police Department Memorabilia – Uniforms, badges, photographs, and stories from Naugatuck’s first responders.

• LGBTQ+ Community History – Flyers, newsletters, and memorabilia from Naugatuck’s LGBTQ+ history and advocacy groups.

• Military Veterans & Homecoming Celebrations – Photos, newspaper articles, and artifacts related to veterans returning home from service.

Arts, Music & Culture

• Music in Naugatuck – Instruments, sheet music, programs, and memorabilia from past performances and musicians, including school bands, choirs, local music groups, and individual singers.

• Music & Performing Arts Contributions – Instruments, recordings, and programs featuring Black, Latino, and other minority musicians, school performers, and cultural dance groups.

• Historical Clothing & Textiles – Garments and textiles reflecting Naugatuck’s industries, fashion trends, and historical eras.

• Traditional Clothing & Textiles – Garments, accessories, or handcrafts from ethnic communities that reflect cultural heritage in Naugatuck.

• Old Toys & Games – Playthings cherished by Naugatuck children over the years.

• Theater, Movie & Concert Tickets – Stubs, posters, and programs from entertainment venues, local productions, and major performances in town.

• Local Artists & Writers – Artwork, poetry, books, or crafts from underrepresented artists with ties to Naugatuck.

• Cookbooks & Recipe Cards – Family recipes and community cookbooks that highlight local traditions and culinary history.

• Home Movies & Audio Recordings – Cassette tapes, VHS, or film reels capturing everyday life, cultural celebrations, and musical performances in Naugatuck.

• DIY Fashion & Handmade Clothing – Self-made or custom-altered clothes reflecting different fashion trends in Naugatuck.

• Street Art & Graffiti Documentation – Photos of Naugatuck murals, street art, or artistic expression in public spaces.

• Local Radio, Podcasts & Public Access Shows – Recordings of Naugatuck-related radio shows, independent podcasts, or community television broadcasts.

• Home Photography & Personal Film – Family-developed film photos, Polaroids, and home movies capturing everyday life.

Religious & Life Celebrations

• Church Ceremonies & Traditions – Photographs, videos, and memorabilia from baptisms, First Holy Communions, confirmations, weddings, and other significant religious events.

• Religious Attire & Accessories – Baptism gowns, First Communion outfits, wedding dresses & veils, suits, and other formal clothing worn for religious milestones.

• Multicultural Holiday Traditions – Decorations, photographs, and oral histories from diverse celebrations like Three Kings’ Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Lunar New Year in Naugatuck.

• Holiday Decorations & Cards – Items reflecting seasonal traditions in Naugatuck homes.

• Wedding, Baptism & Special Occasion Items – Dresses, invitations, programs, or keepsakes from important life events.

• Rites of Passage & Coming-of-Age Traditions – Celebrations such as Quinceañeras, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and Confirmation ceremonies.

• Funeral & Mourning Traditions – Memorial cards, obituary scrapbooks, and objects related to cultural mourning customs.

• Religious Festivals & Processions – Photographs or recordings of religious festivals, parades, or public celebrations of faith.

Personal & Oral Histories

• Oral Histories & Interviews – Recorded stories or written accounts from long-time residents to preserve community memories.

• Stories & Artifacts from Women’s Organizations – Items, meeting minutes, or memorabilia from women-led clubs, suffrage movements, or professional organizations.

• Immigrant & Ethnic Community Narratives – Oral histories, letters, documents, and photos from Black, Puerto Rican, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and other immigrant communities in Naugatuck.

• Military Service & Homefront Contributions – Stories, letters, uniforms, and records of women and minority service members, as well as those who contributed to the war effort at home.

• Stories from First-Generation Immigrants – Audio or written accounts of individuals who came to Naugatuck and built new lives.

• Children’s Perspectives – Drawings, diary entries, and school assignments documenting Naugatuck through the eyes of kids.

• Stories of Daily Life in Different Decades – First-hand experiences describing what life was like in Naugatuck during different eras (1950s, 1980s, etc.).

• Local Urban Legends & Folklore – Tales, myths, and ghost stories that have been passed down in the community.