Norwalk Library Honors Longtime City Historian With History Room Dedication

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Public Library honored longtime municipal historian Ralph Bloom with a history room dedication ceremony earlier this month.

Surrounded by city and state officials, library staff and others, the library's Norwalk History Room was dedicated to Bloom on June 9 in recognition of his many years of service preserving and sharing the city's rich historical record.

Mayor Barbara Smyth, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, State Rep. Dominique Johnson, former Norwalk Mayor Alex Knopp and Library Director Sherelle Harris all shared remarks about Bloom and the ways he has worked to preserve the city's history.

"There are so many ways a person can serve their community," Smyth said during the event. "Some build roads, some lead organizations, some hold public office. Ralph Bloom chose to preserve something just as important, our collective memory."

According to additional press materials provided by the library, Bloom founded the Norwalk Public Library History Room in 1972 with the vision of protecting and sharing the documents, photographs and records that tell the city's story for future generations.

Smyth noted Bloom's work preserving Norwalk's history has left an extraordinary mark on the city.

"Ralph, you are a Norwalk treasure," Smyth said. "On behalf of the city of Norwalk thank you for your decades of service, your dedication, your scholarship and your unwavering commitment to our community. Your legacy is woven into the story of the city, and it's fitting that your name will forever be associated with a place that you helped preserve so much of Norwalk's history."

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff noted how much Bloom inspired him and others in Norwalk to really appreciate the city's rich history.

"Ralph, we could never repay your for all the things that you've done for the city...Sherelle, thank you and the board of the library for honoring Ralph this way," Duff said, "because it's a small way, but a significant way, to say thank you for all that you've done for the city of Norwalk over so many decades."

According to the library, Bloom's contributions to local history span more than 45 years.

Bloom began his work as a volunteer coordinator for the Lockwood House Museum from 1968 to 1972.

He later served as curator of the Lockwood House Museum and the Norwalk Museum before continuing his dedication to local history as a volunteer in the Norwalk Public Library History Room from 2012 to 2025, according to the library.

"I look upon Ralph not just as the founder of a history room," Knopp said, "but as one of the great champions of making Norwalk such a wonderful community for all of us to live in, to work in and to get to know each other.

Bloom also shared some remarks and stories during the close of the ceremony.

"At my age, I've decided it's about time I resigned as a historian, because I want to see some new blood," Bloom said, "and I want to see who takes over. I have a few things to tell him or her."

According to the library, the history room remains an important resource for city residents, students and researchers seeking to explore Norwalk's heritage.

"History never stops," Bloom said, "and that's what's important."