Welcome to the Norwalk History Room!
About the History Room:
The Norwalk Public Library History Room contains archival material relating to the history of Norwalk, Connecticut. The History Room was formed in 2013 by combining the archives of the then recently closed Norwalk Museum with the Local History Collection of the Norwalk Public Library. The History Room’s mission is to preserve this archive, to make the materials available to the public, and to promote knowledge and appreciation of the long history and rich cultural heritage of the Town of Norwalk.
The collection contains books, manuscripts, photographs, city directories, yearbooks, newspapers and other documentary material relating to Norwalk’s history from its settlement in 1651 until the present day.
Norwalk Public Library Materials and Gifts Policy
Using the History Room
The History Room is in the Lower Level of the Norwalk Public Library at 1 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT.
Phone: (203) 899-2780 x 15125; email: norwalkhistoryroom@norwalkpl.org
The History Room Staff will assist with information requests can be made by telephone, email, mail, or fill out our
research request form.
The Staff can photocopy archival materials for patrons. Digital cameras may also be used to copy materials.
Copy Fees:
A microfilm reader is available for use with the History Room’s collection of microfilmed Norwalk newspapers.
- Black and white – 10 cents a page.
- Color – 50 cents a page.
| What's New The Norwalk Story Map: Click the points on the map for historical photos |
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Norwalk History Room Materials Available Online
This state-wide archive contains digitized materials uploaded from the History Room’s collection. Most notable is the complete digitized Norwalk Gazette, Norwalk’s 19th-century Norwalk Gazette from 5/6/1818-4/24/1883, and the Map of the Town of Norwalk 1851. All digital items are available for download. A TIFF format of the Norwalk map is available through the Norwalk History Room. We have plans for the eventual uploading of the South Norwalk Sentinel, two other maps from our collection (1858 and 1880s), and the South Norwalk Sentinel. Please visit our collection and all of the other wonderful collections from our state. The CTDA is now a part of the Digital Public Library of America, a consortium of libraries archives, and museums which allows archives from all its members to be available to the public.
NewsBank - Historical Norwalk Hour
NewsBank is in the process of adding the earliest years of the Norwalk Hour, in searchable form, to their collection of newspaper databases. The Weekly Hour from 1874 to 1921 and the Daily Hour from 1895 to 1955 are now online, and later decades will soon be added.
Norwalk Library History Room Online Database
This is the History Room’s database of its photographs and documents. So far the database contains hundreds of postcard images of early Norwalk, but that is only a fraction of the History Room’s collection. The History Room will continue to add its materials to this online database over time.
Norwalk History Room Book Collection
The History Room’s books are cataloged in the Norwalk Public Library’s online catalog.
Other Online Resources
Links to Norwalk histories, genealogies, maps, and bibliographies that may be found online, as well as other online resources. Many items are located in the Norwalk History Room book collection.