Archival collections are unique series of historic documents, be they photographs, handwritten letters, diaries, business records, or other material created or curated by a family, an individual, a corporation, or other body. They provide insight and information about the collection’s creator, and are kept for their enduring value. The Bridgeport History Center’s archival collections represent the lives of key individuals in the city of Bridgeport such as P.T. Barnum and Mayor Jasper McLevy, ordinary citizens, major companies like the Locomobile Company of America and Warner Brothers Corsets, and institutions such as churches and community organizations. We presently organize by manuscript collections and unprocessed archival materials. Manuscript collections indicate that the archival collection has been prepared for access in accordance with contemporary archival standards (what is commonly known as processing or arrangement.)
