City Historian Blog

The Norwich World War I Memorial Committee is sponsoring a series of talks on topics related to the First World War. The first two will be held on March 3 and March 17th, respectively.  Dr. Warshauer is well-known in the state as the co-chair of the commission to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  He will discuss the debate between Isolationism and Intervention during World Wars I and II. Professor Lutris has presented on the Middle East at the Knights of Columbus Museum during their centennial exhibit on World War I. In addition, we have scheduled the following talks:


April 7th, Sikhs in World War I, Swarnjit Singh Khalsa, presenter
TBD, Tirailleurs Senegalese (Senegalese Riflemen) in WWI, Abdoulaye Ngom, presenter 
May 5th, Restoring WWI Trenches in Seicheprey, Christine Pittsley, Connecticut State Library, presenter

All programs will be held in the Parlor at Park Congregational Church at 7 pm. They are open free to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

In April 1918, without her family's approval, Dr. Jessie Weston Fisher left her home, husband and son in Connecticut to do her part for our nation's effort in the First World War.  She traveled to France, where she worked for the American Red Cross in a hospital at Beauvais, in Picardy.


During her time abroad Dr. Fisher kept two diaries, documenting her part in one of the most historically significant events of the 20th century.  "Over There: The World War I Diaries of Dr. Jessie Weston Fisher,” a program that includes narrative commentary, period images and dramatic readings from Dr. Fisher's diaries, will be presented in the Community Room of Otis Library, at 6:00 pm, Monday, September 10th.  Historians Beverly York and Rick Spencer are the presenters. The program is open to the public without charge, and is sponsored by the Norwich City Historian and the Norwich World War I Memorial Committee.

It is the first in a series, which will include a talk on African Americans in World War I , on September 17th, a program on Polish Americans and the war on September 24th, and on October 1st, “Beyond the Lost Generation: Literature and the Great War,”  about the impact of the war on C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and many others, presented by Dr. Faye Ringel. On November 5th, the animated feature film Sergeant Stubby, about the mascot of the 26th Division, the “Yankee Division,” will be shown.  All programs begin at 6 pm.

On Saturday, November 10th, former Connecticut State Troubadour Tom Callinan will give a concert at Otis Library, “Over Here and Over There: Songs From and About the Great War,” at 1:00 pm in the Community Room.

Sunday, November 11th, the Veterans Day observance on Chelsea Parade at 1:00 pm will honor those who served in World War I and other conflicts.

Please join us as Christine Pittsley, Director, Remembering World War One community archiving project leads a discussion on: