Kaitlyn Goodwin helps the Branford Historical Society (BHS) develop exciting new educational programs and create social media connections in the 21st century. Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Goodwin
With her family ties to Branford and her love of history and her community, Kaitlyn Goodwin helps the Branford Historical Society (BHS) develop exciting new educational programs and create social media connections in the 21st century.
Kaitlyn is a member of the Goss family, one of the founding families of the Pine Orchard Association in Branford. Kaitlyn is a Branford native and a 2005 graduate of Branford High School. She teaches U.S. and World History at James Hillhouse High School in New Haven.
After graduating from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island with a degree in history, Kaitlyn returned to Branford and became involved with BHS by volunteering as a docent at the historic Harrison House Museum and Barn, owned and operated by the nonprofit BHS. Kaitlyn also briefly served on the BHS board before moving to Stratford.
About three years ago, Kaitlyn and her husband Chris Goodwin moved back to Branford with their now five-year-old daughter Stassia. Chris is the general manager of the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club.
Shortly after returning to town, Kaitlyn contacted BHS to reestablish contact and to brainstorm ways she could help the all-volunteer organization.
“I noticed that they weren’t on social media, so I asked the CEO if he would be interested in building a presence on Facebook and Instagram to make them more visible to a younger audience,” says Kaitlyn.
The answer, of course, was yes. Kaitlyn took on the role of BHS’s social media specialist, a role she continues to support. She redesigned the BHS Facebook page and created the BHS Instagram page, which is full of interesting photos from current BHS events as well as vintage photos and images of Branford people, places and things and other posts of historical interest. Search @branfordhistoricalsociety on both platforms to follow news from BHS and stories from Branford’s past.
Shortly after reconnecting with BHS, Kaitlyn was selected to fill a vacancy as Secretary on the BHS Board of Directors, a volunteer position she continues to hold.
As a high school history teacher, Kaitlyn is excited to lend her skills and knowledge in the field of history education to enrich the BHS Board of Directors and is honored to be a part of its hard-working and talented group of dedicated members.
One of Kaitlin’s current interests is spreading stories about enslavement in Connecticut. Earlier this year, BHS partnered with the Connecticut-based Witness Stones Project in a collaborative effort to erect Branford’s first Witness Stone to honor Cambridge, a man enslaved by the Gould family in Branford around 1757.
The stone was dedicated on May 3 in front of Branford First Congregational Church, with the church hosting a special service and ceremony. Students and teachers from Branford High School (BHS) Social Studies Department worked with the Witness Stones Project to research Cambridge’s history and helped tell its story at the ceremony. Funding for the project was provided by the Branford Historical Society and the Branford Community Foundation.
“The Witness Stones Project looks for an enslaved person in the community and brings that information to students. Students can learn about the enslaved person through original documents and write a narrative about the enslaved person. They can honor the enslaved person by placing a stone in their name where the person lived, worked, or worshiped,” explains Kaitlyn. “I thought the project was so cool that I brought it to Hillhouse. We’ve placed two stones so far and I hope to continue the project.”
She says the project is very useful and necessary.
“I find it really empowering to be able to honor the people who built our communities and really teach students what slavery was like in Connecticut. It’s something I’m very passionate about – not only teaching it, but learning about it myself,” says Kaitlyn.
The Witness Stones Project efforts of Kaitlyn’s students at James Hillhouse High School were recently featured on Connecticut Public’s podcast “Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery,” a series of five reports.
Kaitlyn is honored to help BHS educate her community about Branford’s history and help build and strengthen a sense of community among residents through BHS programs and events.
“I think there are so many organizations and people in Branford that are dedicated to making Branford the special town we live in, and I love being a part of that,” she says. “Since the 1970s, the Branford Historical Society has done such a great job of preserving history and educating.”
Kaitlyn has helped the BHS Board focus on education and consider expanding educational offerings.
“Over the next two months, we’re working with a GPS-based app and will be developing a Branford-wide history hunt aimed at youth, but anyone can join in. We’re really excited about it,” says Kaitlyn.
Using the app, history hunters visiting Branford sites on their hunt can earn badges for reaching the site and open the app to click through historical information and images about the site.
On August 21, BHS hosted a unique community-wide celebration that drew many visitors to the Harrison House Museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of General Marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of the area (see “BHS Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour and Visit to Branford,” p. 1).
BHS recently received a CT Humanities grant to evaluate the museum collection. Next, BHS will work with Branford historian Jane Bouley to develop collection reports.
“We’ll be working a lot with Jane Bouley over the next year to define the stories we want to tell about Branford at the Harrison House and then the story of the Harrisons themselves,” says Kaitlyn. “There are a lot of exciting things the Branford Historical Society will be working on over the next year.”
For more information about the Branford Historical Society, visit branfordhistoricalsociety.org
