Out of the Attic: A Century of Collecting explores how the Museum’s treasured objects accumulated over time as the result of individuals’ efforts, ideas, and generosity. From furniture to silver to portraits large and small, it showcases a dazzling array of pieces, some of them family heirlooms, that allow us to ask: “What is a collection” and “why is a gathering of objects significant?” How a collection is built over time not only gives us an entrée into specific stories the collectors are trying to tell but also gives us clues about the collectors themselves. Amassed over more than a hundred-year period by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Connecticut (NSCDA-CT), the Webb Deane Stevens Museum collection has been curated to reflect changing ideas and attitudes about American history and decorative arts that demonstrate pride, perseverance, and purpose.

According to curator and Director of Preservation & Collections TR Revella-Hamilton, “These stories carry a vital local impact and also emphasize the important place that the Webb, Deane, and Stevens buildings and objects occupy in national history. This collection is a testament to the impact the NSCDA-CT has had in preserving our cultural past for future generations.”

Some of the exhibition’s furnishings, personal objects, and artworks are on display for the first time in a generation. They help us explore the personal stories and unique perspectives of the women of the NSCDA-CT and Museum staff who have worked to cultivate this unique and important collection.