Connecticut’s Old State House: The 1843 Petition – Gaining Religious Freedom for CT Jews

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For Immediate Release
May 16, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House will host its next installment of Conversations at Noon, The 1843 Petition: Gaining Religious Freedom for Connecticut Jews, on Tuesday, May 24. Keynote speaker Mary M. Donohue, the Assistant Publisher of Connecticut Explored magazine, will discuss the Jewish community’s 1843 petition to the Connecticut General Assembly for full religious equality during a time where Connecticut’s State Constitution deliberately excluded Jewish congregations.

Following her talk, Donohue will join a panel that includes the University of Hartford’s Dr. Bilal Dabir Sekou and Connecticut’s State Historian Dr. Walter Woodward for a discussion on how the state’s residents, both past and present, have used petitions to effect change. The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will moderate the discussion.

This program is co-sponsored by Connecticut Explored magazine. The Conversations at Noon series is supported by Connecticut Humanities. The event, which begins promptly at noon, is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring their lunch and ask questions of the panel.

Future Conversations at Noon include…

Industry, Activism, & Community in 19^th Century Connecticut: June 7 at Noon.  Dr. Jason Mancini, Director of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, will discuss industrialist, political activist and community leader Isaac C. Glasko. Described at having both Native and African American ancestry, Glasko’s success as a black smith highlights the opportunities for and the limitations of people of color in 19^th century Connecticut. Following his talk, Dr. Mancini will be joined by Kathleen Housley, author of The Letter Kills but the Spirit Gives Life, and Bishop John Selders, Co-Founder of Moral Money CT, for a panel discussion on social activism. Free to attend. Co-sponsored with Connecticut Explored magazine.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building and online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.