Westport Library Receives Grant From CT Humanities

From the Westport Library:

January 28 2020

Westport, CT – The Westport Library is pleased to announce it was awarded a $4,999 grant from Connecticut Humanities to support the 2019-2020 WestportREADS “Westport Suffragists – Our Neighbors, Our Crusaders” Exhibit. The exhibit highlights the names and contributions of Westport women central to the “Votes for Women” campaign and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, many of whom remain nearly forgotten. The exhibit is part of “Our Vote, Our Future,” the Library’s WestportREADS 2020 centennial celebration.

“We are so gratified to receive this funding from Connecticut Humanities,” said Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “This exhibit rightly highlights the important work done in the struggle for equality and the Library is proud to provide a space where the community can learn from these impressive local leaders of a truly powerful movement.”

Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, supports cultural and historic organizations that tell the state’s stories, build community and enrich lives.

“Connecticut Humanities is happy to support the Westport Library Association’s 2020 WestportREADS exhibition and programming for ‘Westport’s Suffragists—Our Neighbors, Our Crusaders,” said Dr. Jason R. Mancini, Executive Director of Connecticut Humanities. “On this, the 100thanniversary of ratification of the 19th amendment which guaranteed women the right to vote, Connecticut Humanities encourages communities to explore and highlight their own suffrage stories in collaborative ways like are happening in Westport at the library.”

The exhibit is on display in the Sheffer Room of the Library starting on February 26 through May 13. There will be an opening reception Friday, March 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. There will also be a talk with Exhibit Curator Kathie Bennewitz on Tuesday April 14 at 7 p.m.

The exhibit also received funding in part from the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center. The annual WestportREADS program is funded by estate of Jerry A. Tishman. For more information on WestportREADS, please visit Westportlibrary.org.

This press release was produced by the Westport Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.