Connecticut Furniture and the Origins of American Art

William Hosley, former curator and exhibition developer at the Wadsworth Atheneum, will present the innovation and history of design of Connecticut furniture in an illustrated lecture at the Essex Library on Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Hosley will explore various traditions of style as he describes the evolution of furniture making from its beginnings to a modern industry while also offering up a look into the tastes and cultural history of Connecticut residents. His talk will trace the story of Connecticut furniture from the earliest work of joiners Aaron Cooke of Windsor and Henry Treat of Wethersfield, to the rise of elegance and refinement in the baroque forms of Timothy Loomis and William Manley, to the innovators of the industrial age, including Lemuel Hitchcock and Ebenezer Tracy.

William Hosley is a historian, writer, and photographer. He was formerly Director of the New Haven Museum and Connecticut Landmarks, where he cared for a chain of historic attractions. Prior to that, he was a curator and exhibition developer at Wadsworth Atheneum. As an expert in heritage tourism, Bill has studied, lectured and advised museums and heritage destinations around the country. Bill has also served as a content specialist for PBS, BBC and CPTV film documentaries.

This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, or to register, please call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560. The Essex Library is located at 33 West Ave. in Essex.