Courage & Conflict: Women’s Stories from the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, CT

The Ancient Burying Ground Association presents Exploring Freedom, a Virtual Lecture Series to promote education and discussion. This series will illustrate how burying grounds can be a catalyst for social justice and how historians, genealogists, descendants, and volunteers can become empowered to reinterpret and honor the past. 

We often hear about the Founding Fathers in America. In this lecture, learn more about the hidden histories of women and their contributions to American history. Learn how the colonists benefitted from the knowledge and lifeways of indigenous people while simultaneously limiting their freedoms. We’ll learn about the women in the cemetery through stories from their gravestones and epitaphs along with recently uncovered research. This program will discuss stories of hardship and violence as well as their achievements. 

Bio: Christine Jewell is an educator and consultant with over 25 years of experience developing, leading, and promoting educational programs in the arts, history, and the humanities in Connecticut. She worked in museum education and community outreach at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT and the Fairfield Museum in Fairfield, CT. Jewell has worked with teachers to develop curricula, teacher resources, and student activities. She also developed programs for diverse audiences in conjunction with exhibitions on American and Connecticut history and the visual arts. She has a BFA from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase and an MA from SUNY Empire State College. Currently she teaches fiber arts and is the Director of the Ancient Burying Ground Association.