Special Collections & Research
Special Collections
Pequot Library’s Special Collections are accessible, searchable, and open to the public for discovery and research. Visitors can explore rare books and manuscripts through the shared library catalog, search archival materials using detailed finding aids, or browse digitized historical photographs of Southport via the Connecticut Digital Archive. Whether you’re a casual visitor or a serious scholar, these tools make it easy to engage with the library’s treasured holdings.
Dillon Fellowship
Spring-Summer 2025
Pequot Library in Southport, Connecticut, is pleased to invite applications for its Dillon Fellowship for Spring and Summer 2025. This two to four-week fellowship carries a stipend of up to $3,000 to support a scholar interested in working with Pequot Library’s Special Collections. Applications are welcome from graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, faculty, and independent scholars and researchers.
About the Collection
Rare books and manuscripts have been an important part of Pequot Library’s collections since the library’s opening in 1894, and these collections have continued to grow over the past 130 years, thanks in large part to a number of significant donations. Strengths include:
Early American sermons from throughout New England, including election sermons, fast sermons, and thanksgiving sermons, as well as a number of manuscript sermons.
An Anti-Slavery Pamphlet collection, including 18th and 19th century anti-slavery and abolitionist publications, as well as Civil War-era and Reconstruction pamphlets.
Children’s Historical Collection, containing early American primers as well as extensive collections by Connecticut authors including Samuel Goodrich and Lydia Sigourney, as well as local imprints.
A partial First Folio (containing King Lear and Othello) and complete Second, Third, and Fourth Folios of William Shakespeare Revolutionary War-era pamphlets and publications, as well as manuscript letters and receipts documenting local activity during the war.
Fellowship Requirements
The award may be spent at the discretion of the Fellow. Fellows are expected to be onsite at least three days per week during the fellowship, and must make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. Fellows will be asked to speak about their ongoing research at an informal work-in-progress presentation or program during their visit to the library. Fellows will be asked to provide a 250 to 500 word blog post about their research experience within one month of the completion of their visit. Each fellow’s name, affiliation, research project title, and blog posting may be used in future reports and publicity about the fellowship program. Fellowship recipients will be asked to cite the Pequot Library Dillon Fellowship in presentations and publications originating from their research visits.
How to Apply
The application should contain the following:
- A cover letter including title of project, dates, and contact information
- CV of no more than three pages
- A 2 – 3 page proposal describing the project to be pursued, its significance for scholarship, the proposed end result (publication, dissertation, etc) materials you plan to consult (1,500 word maximum).
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Online Collections
Southport Picture File
Compiled by Southport historian V. Louise Higgins, the Southport Picture File contains nearly 800 photographs of historic buildings and homes in Southport.
To view the photograph collection online, visit the link below and either click ‘Browse’ to view the collection or type a search term in the search box in the upper left corner. Print out a picture from your home or office! This digital collection does not replace the photograph collection. Pequot Library maintains and will continue to maintain this photograph collection.
Genealogy
An Outstanding Collection
Pequot Library is known for its outstanding collection of materials on genealogy and local history. Researchers are provided with a broad choice of printed materials relating to New England, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other Mid-Atlantic states, and Southeastern states. In addition, the collection offers published family histories, lineage society resources, military histories, ethnic genealogy, and a good selection of genealogy finding aids.
Genealogy Roundtables
Monthly Genealogy Roundtables are held year-round at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Genealogists Bill Stansfield, Beth Northrop, and Bob Grilley help answer your questions and suggest new sources and strategies for research. Participants are encouraged to share their research experiences and findings. On occasion the Roundtable will begin with a short talk by one of the Genealogists. Free.
Genealogy Research
Free Websites:
Family Search: familysearch.org
Heritage Quest: heritagequestonline.com
CT State Library: ctstatelibrary.org
Websites that Charge Fees:
New England Historic Genealogical Society: americanancestors.org
Genealogy.com: genealogy.com
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society: newyorkfamilyhistory.org