About the Ledger

Litchfield Connecticut holds a position of unique importance in the early history of America, and the Litchfield Historical Society has long held an incomparable collection of biographical information, manuscripts, and artifacts related to the two educational institutions that called Litchfield home. Until now, though, researchers needed to travel to Connecticut to take advantage of this material.

With the advance of online resources and the increased availability of funding to make primary sources available online, the staff of the Historical Society conceived of The Ledger as a way to enhance knowledge about the Female Academy and Law School through encouraging new scholarship focused on these institutions and their students. This virtual collection brings together sources that are held in Litchfield with many others from across the country the country in various repositories and private hands.

Generous Funding for The Ledger is provided by:

The Council on Library and Information Resources. CLIR’s mission is to expand access to information, however recorded and preserved, as a public good. CLIR is an independent, nonprofit organization. Through publications, projects, and programs, CLIR works to maintain and improve access to information for generations to come. In partnership with other institutions, CLIR helps create services that expand the concept of “library” and supports the providers and preservers of information.

The Connecticut Humanities Council. The Council is a public foundation incorporated in 1973 as a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our mission is to provide opportunities for all the people of Connecticut to rediscover the joy of lifelong learning, to see themselves in the full context of their history and heritage, and to explore the infinite varieties of human thought and experience contained in our literature and expressed in our arts that give shape and direction to our lives.

Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

Seherr-Thoss Foundation. The Seherr-Thoss Foundation and Charitable Trust awards grants to various organizations in Litchfield and surrounding towns and supports the Litchfield Community Center, one of Mrs. Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss’ many projects in town.