Thank you for your interest in the Ethnic Heritage Center (EHC), a unique consortium of five local historical societies based on the campus on Southern Connecticut State University. For more than 35 years, we have celebrated New Haven’s rich and diverse history through our programs and publications. Please consider joining or contributing to sustain our work.
[Meeting of EHC Board with Dr. Dwayne Smith, President of SCSU. Our award-winning exhibition “An Ethnic History of New Haven: Pre-1638 to 2000 and Beyond” can be seen in the background.]
Since 2016 we have published four guide-books on different historic New Haven neighborhoods as part of our award-winning Walk New Haven Cultural Heritage Tours series. Each guide has a book-length version available for purchase as well as an abbreviated free brochure version, which can be found at local libraries and visitor centers, or picked up at the Center. And please be sure to check the Walk New Haven upcoming events page to see if there are any in-person tours happening with our expert guides!
To All EHC Friends and Supporters:
As you are probably aware, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s “Great Give” is underway — this fund-raising campaign takes place from Wednesday, May 7, 2025 to Thursday, May 8, 2025. We need your support now to continue our work of preserving and sharing the ethnic history and diverse cultural heritage of our community.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED DURING THE GREAT GIVE 2025!
We exceeded our fundraising goal of $1000.
WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE EHC:
West Haven Student Group Visits the Center
Thanks to Notre Dame High School students for visiting the Center in March 2025 to see our permanent exhibition and to learn about archival and primary source research! Do you have a student or youth group that would like to learn more about local history and the practice of historical research? Contact us to schedule your visit.
Founded in 1988, the Ethnic Heritage Center celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023! Thanks to everyone who attended our 35th anniversary celebration on May 21, 2023 — particular thanks to all our speakers, special guests, Alder Tom Ficklin and Senator Richard Blumenthal for the citations and proclamations, and to our founders and past presidents who are no longer with us. It was a memorable and special occasion that we are grateful so many of you were able to share with us.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at the New Haven Museum to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of our co-founder Judith Ann Schiff (1937-2022).
In Memoriam: Judy Schiff (1937-2022)
Judy’s extraordinary accomplishments as a historian, archivist, co-founder of the Ethnic Heritage Center and active member of the Jewish community will never be forgotten. See tributes to Judy here, here and here.
We had a great time celebrating the 20th anniversary of Connecticut Explored in Hartford with so many other leaders and innovators in public history! Thanks to CT Explored for recognizing us as a “Game Changer” and congratulations on your anniversary.
Learn more about CT Explored 20×20 Game Changers.
NEW: Our latest Walk New Haven publication has been published. It represents nearly five years worth of research, writing, and compilation of archival images. We hope you will check it out!
Our new book on Grand Avenue, along with all our previous Walk New Haven books, are available for purchase on Amazon. Get your copy now! Discounts are available if you would like to place a bulk order for your school, church, synagogue, or community organization. Just contact us!
NEW HAVEN PRESERVATION TRUST HONORS THE ETHNIC HERITAGE CENTER
We were honored to be among the recipients of a preservation award from the New Haven Preservation Trust at their 60th Annual Meeting! Thank you NHPT and congratulations on your “diamond jubilee” anniversary.
Did you see us in the news? Recently the New Haven Independent gave a marvelous preview of our forthcoming Grand Avenue tour, which explores the history of the vibrant neighborhood that once included the New Haven Clock Factory, St. Patrick’s Church, Dreamland Theater, and Marzullo Bakery, and tells the stories of vaudeville performers, jazz musicians, opera divas, butchers, hatters, and so much more. Read more.
Beginning in Fall 2019, three Southern Connecticut State University Journalism students, Hunter Lyle, Alfredo Rivera and Faith Williams have helped the Ethnic Heritage Center on the upcoming tour focusing on the history of “Inner Grand Avenue” (i.e. between East and State Street) from the 1700s to the 1960s. The group of Southern Connecticut State University Journalism students conducted interviews with former business owners and residents of the Inner Grand Avenue neighborhood to help create the content for our next Walk New Haven publication. Most pictures and resources were found in the archives of EHC member societies. Anyone with historic pictures or stories of this neighborhood is invited, and encouraged, to share them with us.
SCSU Capstone students Faith Williams, Alfredo Rivera and Hunter Lyle with EHC members Pat Heslin, Rhoda Zahler Samuel, and Harold Miller at SCSU Adanti Center, December 2019.
For two decades we have been graciously hosted on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University — thank you to past SCSU presidents and current president Dr. Dwayne Smith, as well as the entire SCSU administration, for their generous support of our organization over many years. We are grateful to be part of the Owl family!
