Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: America 250

That the Connecticut Constitution of 1965 was the second constitution in this state’s history. That prior to 1965, Connecticut was governed by “the Fundamental Orders established in 1639, then the Royal Charter of 1662 and the Constitution of 1818 which was in place for 147 years before the drafting of the new Connecticut Constitution of 1965. Eighty-four delegates including former governors, judges, legislators and mayors, were nominated and all were elected in a special election. They convened from July through October 1965 to draft the new constitution. On December 14, 1965 the new constitution was approved in a statewide referendum.

In the very first election under the new system, six African Americans were elected to the House, and Boce W. Barlow, Jr. became the state’s first Black senator.

The office life looked very different than what it looks like today. Before the big transformation of the 1990’s computers office equipment looked very different. Let’s begin with the “Overhead Projector”. The U.S. Army, during World War II, relied heavily on the overhead projectors. A practice that transferred to offices and schools. The projectors relied on a lamp and a flat glass surface which projected charts, diagrams and information on clear transparency sheets onto walls or screens.

In 1960’s slide projectors became more prominent. Using 35 mm slides placed in carousels, later referred to as “The Wheel”. The projectors became obsolete in the 2000’s as they transformed to digital displays and computer software, you may know this to be Microsoft PowerPoint.

Do most of us remember the 1992 movie A League of Their Own, a story about two sisters that joined the first female professional baseball league during World War II. The film’s story although fictionalized, in real life the first female professional baseball team led to the creation of the women’s leagues, known as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, that existed from 1943 – 1954. During the time that the league existed it had a total of 15 teams. But how many knew that the fictionalized film from 1992 had sixty-five original female ball players appear in the film. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was ultimately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

In addition, out of the many men that served during World War II there were 39 baseball players that took time out of playing professional baseball to serve in the war. Did you know that some of the greatest ball players to serve in the military were all-time greats. Out of the 39 baseball players four became the greatest players of all time. They were Yogi Berra who served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner’s mate during World War II where he earned the Purple Heart Medal and the Lone Sailor Award. Ted Williams ranked as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserved and was promoted to Captain in 1951. He also served in the military during the Korean War in 1952. Jackie Robinson ranked as second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Joe DiMaggio served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Did you know the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford is the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States? Daniel Wadsworth an American Art Philanthropist who founded the museum in 1842 but did not open to the public until 1844.

From 2010–2015, the museum underwent a $33 million renovation and added 17 new galleries. When the museum reopened in 2015 it marked the first time in nearly 50 years that all its galleries were open to the public at the same time.

In December 2025, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art became simply The Wadsworth, marking its first full rebranding in 183 years.

Everyone remembers Ms. Gwendolyn B. Clarke, also known as Ms. Reed, who made history as the national face of the Quaker Oats Company brand’s fictional spokesperson, “Aunt Jemima.” In 2020, the company removed the character from its packaging as part of a broader effort to address racial stereotypes.

As a child, Ms. Reed moved with her mother to Hartford, Connecticut, where she worked in tobacco fields and later graduated from Hartford Public High School. She briefly studied law at what is now the University of Hartford before becoming a secretary for the Charles Gilpin Players, launching her acting career in 1937.

Using her national recognition, Ms. Reed dedicated herself to literacy and early childhood education. She read to children at the Hartford Public Library, appeared on local television, supported Head Start and Reading Is Fundamental, and founded the Playtime for Tots program at Bellevue Square. She is honored with a star at the Hartford Public Library for her lasting contributions to the community.