Prudence Crandall Museum
National Historic Landmark and State Archaeological Preserve
1st academy for African-American women, 1833-4
Home/school of Connecticut's State Heroine
OPEN HOURS FOR 2010 TO BE ANNOUNCED
During November, December, January, February & March tours can be arranged by appointment only. Regular admission fees apply and no coupons or library passes will be honored. Group tours may be entitled to discount admission rate.
For more information or to make a reservation, please contact:
The Prudence Crandall Museum at 860-546-7800 or by email at crandall.museum@ct.gov
or contact Karin Peterson, Museum Director, at 860-256-2760 or by email at Karin.Peterson@ct.gov
{100_1325.jpg} Prudence Crandall (1803-1890) opened an academy on the Canterbury Green in 1831 to educate daughters of wealthy local families. The school was extremely successful until the following fall when she admitted Sarah Harris, a 20 year old black woman. Sarah had hoped to become a teacher with the help of the education the academy could provide. Reflecting the attitudes of the times, Sarah's admittance to the academy led parents to withdraw their daughters.
Miss Crandall made contacts throughout New England's free black communities to attract young black women students. They came from as far away as Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. {Portrait of Prudence Crandall} {Portrait of Prudence Crandall} appointment for in-house study) and a gift shop. The museum's first floor is fully accessible.
On-going Exhibits: "A Bold Front", "Preserving The Past", and "To Get A Little More Learning"
Additional Resources
Period Newspaper Sources at the Museum
www.theliberatorfiles.com, Indexed excerpts from the abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator
Sources of Crandall documents in CT libraries and museums
Prudence Crandall Annotated Bibliography
Students from 1831 to 1833
Students from 1833 to 1834
Prudence Crandall's Supporters
Andrew Thompson Judson
First Trial Summary
Second Trial Summary
Third Trial Summary
See also “A Canterbury Tale: A Document Package for Connecticut’s Prudence Crandall Affair” created by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance & Abolition at http://www.yale.edu/glc/index.htm(follow the Classroom link.)
Now available!
Purchase your very own "To All On Equal Terms" Book and/or DVD.
To All On Equal Terms Book To All On Equal Terms DVD
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{Crandall DVD}
The DVD and Book are available for loan to schools, please click the link below to learn more.
(To All on Equal Terms Loan Form)
Admission Rates
$6 adults
$4 seniors (60 years +) and college students with ID
$4 youth (6-17)
5 and under free
Discounted admission for schools and groups by appointment.
Contact Information
Prudence Crandall Museum
1 South Canterbury Road (Junctions of Routes 14 & 169)
Canterbury, CT 06331
860-546-7800
crandall.museum@ct.gov
Kazimiera Kozlowski, Curator, Kaz.Kozlowski@ct.gov
Karin Peterson, Museum Director, 860-256-2760 or karin.peterson@ct.gov
Directions
The Prudence Crandall Museum is located in the northeast corner of the state at the junction of Routes 169 & 14 in Canterbury, Connecticut - approximately 1 hour east of Hartford, 20 minutes east of Willimantic, 20 minutes north of Norwich.
From the Hartford area: Route 84 East to Route 384 East. Route 6 East into Willimantic. Pick up Route 66 East - through Willimantic - to Route 14 East. Remain on Route 14 East into the center of Canterbury. The Museum will be on your right, parking lot located behind building.
Directions from Norwich and the Groton/New London area: Route 395 North to exit 89. Follow Route 14 West to the junction of Route 169 in the center of Canterbury. The museum parking lot entrance is on Route 14, the second left after the intersection.
Directions from Worcester and points North: Route 395 South to Exit 88 in Plainfield. Right off exit to the intersection. At intersection turn left onto Route 12, and at the first set of lights turn right onto Route 14A West. Stay on Route 14A (which will run parallel with Route 14West) into the center of Canterbury. The Museum is located at the Junction of Routes 14 & 169. Museum building will be on your left, parking lot entrance second left after the intersection.
Directions from the Providence area: Take Route 6 West going through Scituate and Foster, RI. At the Connecticut border follow signs for Route 395 South. Take Exit 88 off of Route 395 South in Plainfield, CT. From this point on follow the same directions as for "directions from Worcester and points north."
