The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County

"A Slice of American Jewish Life, Fairfield County 1654-1986"

JHSFC's Traveling Exhibit -- Available for Travel and Display

Set in the context of a timeline of national events, this exhibit reflecting Jewish life in America tells the story of a proud community that grew from a scattered few to a thriving many. More than 200 years after the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam the Jewish community finally formed a congregation in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Yet, the transient presence of the first Jews slowly changed to set roots and grow strong in Fairfield County, Meet some early Jewish settlers, community founders and some Fairfield County’s "firsts" illustrated in the exhibit.

The sample panels pictured below represent just a few of the many pieces of this traveling exhibit, all of which are arranged in chronological order and provide factual historical content suitable for a wide variety of educational and informative purposes.

Exhibit themes include:

Setting the Path 1654 to 1776
A Scattered Presence 1776 to 1876
Planting the Seeds 1876 to 1900
Establishing the Roots 1900 to 1924

A Period of Adjustment 1924 to 1940
Expanding Horizons 1940 to 1950
Established 1950 to 1965
Flourishing 1965 to 1965

The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County continues its promise — to benefit the Jewish community now and assure future generations will not forget our past. This exhibit was gleaned from the Society’s photo archive collection and supplemented with personal collections. It has already reached a variety of venues in the region such as schools, universities, government buildings, synagogues, community centers, and the Greenwich Historical Society’s Education Center.

For information regarding rental of these exhibits, please contact the JHSFC at info@jhsfc-ct.org or contact the historical society staff for additional assistance.