It’s a Best Kept Secret…But Shouldn’t Be

Cloud icon with "Click Here for Info on Using the EHC Archives"

New Haven’s Ethnic Heritage Center

Founded in 1988, the Ethnic Heritage Center (EHC) is a stellar example of working together. It is a non-profit ethnic archives, museum, and research center based on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. The EHC is the result of a two-decade-long association of five Connecticut-based ethnic historical societies with a wide range of partners in the community and among Southern faculty and students. The following organizations comprise the EHC:

  • The Greater New Haven African-American Historical Society
  • The CT Irish-American Historical Society
  • The Italian-American Historical Society of CT
  • The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven
  • The CT Ukrainian-American Historical Society
8 Members of the Ethnic Heritage Center
Three covers of the Ethnic Heritage Center's Walk New Haven Cultural Heritage Tour Books. Purple, turquoise, and green

Follow the Ethnic Heritage Center and Walk New Haven on FaceBook and Instagram for information about our events!

Black and white stylized bird in a circle. Logo of the Greater New Haven African American Historical Society

Founded in 1971, the Greater New Haven African American Historical Society promotes understanding of African American heritage and culture through the collection, preservation, display, and presentation of historical and cultural materials relating to peoples of African descent.

The words Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society on a background of green white and red stripes superimposed on a map of the state of Connecticut

Founded and incorporated in 1988, the Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society has more than 300 members. Through a varied program of activities, we seek to collect, share and pass along to others the rich, 350 year history and heritage of the Irish people of Connecticut.

The words Italian-American Historical Society of Connecticut on a blue background with a red image of Italy on the left and a green image of Connecticut on the right.

Founded in 1979, the Italian-American Historical Society of Greater New Haven’s — now the Italian-American Historical Society of Connecticut — purpose has been to cel­ebrate and perpetuate the concept of the Italian heritage in America through the preservation of documents, artifacts, photographs, and videotaped oral histories.

A blue circle with the letters JHSGNH and the words Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven

The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven began humbly in Harvey N. Laden’s Central Avenue home. . Since its origin in 1976, the society has been collecting and cataloguing the greater New Haven Jewish community’s eventful past, publicizing its history and preserving its heritage for future generations.

Background of the Ukrainian flag colors -- blue and yellow -- and the words The Ukrainian-American Historical Society

The CT Ukrainian-American Historical Society does not yet have a website. However, its archives at the EHC are rich in papers, photos, artifacts, and recordings and serve as a witness to the lives and contributions of Ukrainian immigrants and citizens in Connecticut.