{
  "slug": "litchfield-law-school-and-village",
  "title": "Litchfield: a small school, a far-reaching town",
  "towns": [
    "Litchfield"
  ],
  "counties": [
    "Litchfield"
  ],
  "dateRange": "1760–1940",
  "topic": "Places & community",
  "summary": "Step from the law school on South Street to a meetinghouse balcony and the doorways of village homes, through twelve federal survey photographs.",
  "history": [
    {
      "heading": "Learning law in a country town",
      "text": "Between 1774 and 1833, Tapping Reeve and James Gould taught more than a thousand young men in Litchfield. Their pupils carried their training into legal practice, politics, business and education. The modest law-school building in William Rainey’s photograph makes a useful starting point: this nationally influential institution operated within the daily life of a Connecticut town. The photograph records the building long after the school’s teaching years; its exposure date is not stated in the catalog caption.",
      "source_ids": [
        "law-school",
        "ct0360"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "A village seen from the inside",
      "text": "Stanley P. Mixon photographed the First Congregational Church on September 6, 1940. His sequence moves beyond the portico to the pulpit, balcony, organ and columns. These interior views let us follow the arrangement of seats and the relationship between speaker and congregation. The Library of Congress dates the church building to 1829. Those are two different moments: the making of the meetinghouse and a twentieth-century effort to record it.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0257"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "The doors along the street",
      "text": "The same September assignment included the Elisha Sheldon House, cataloged with a 1760 construction date. Mixon framed both the street front and the central doorway and pediment. A separate Rainey view records the Ozias Seymour Homestead. Read together, the images show the range of domestic and public buildings preserved by the survey. They do not document every household or everyone who lived and worked behind these doors.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0163",
        "ct0363"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "Follow the students as well as the buildings",
      "text": "The Litchfield Historical Society’s Ledger connects students and instructors from the law school and the Litchfield Female Academy to biographical evidence. It is a valuable companion to the architectural photographs: a doorway can establish a place, while letters, notebooks and student records can recover the people who used it. The society’s museum explores travel, communication, education and community through individual students’ experiences.",
      "source_ids": [
        "law-school"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "1760",
      "event": "The federal catalog dates the Elisha Sheldon House to this year.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0163"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "1774–1833",
      "event": "Reeve and Gould’s instruction draws students to Litchfield.",
      "source_ids": [
        "law-school"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "1829",
      "event": "Construction date recorded for First Congregational Church.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0257"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "September 6, 1940",
      "event": "Mixon photographs the church and Sheldon House.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0257",
        "ct0163"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "ct0360",
      "title": "Library of Congress: Law School, South Street, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0360/"
    },
    {
      "id": "ct0257",
      "title": "Library of Congress: First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0257/"
    },
    {
      "id": "ct0163",
      "title": "Library of Congress: Elisha Sheldon House, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0163/"
    },
    {
      "id": "ct0363",
      "title": "Library of Congress: Ozias Seymour Homestead, South Street, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0363/"
    },
    {
      "id": "law-school",
      "title": "Litchfield Historical Society: Tapping Reeve House and Law School",
      "url": "https://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/museums/tapping-reeve-house-and-law-school/"
    }
  ],
  "images": [
    {
      "id": "51f336c7ea56305ada",
      "image": "/county-images/d67b77247a3ee746e3cdc0b8ab9d1598fd9a9424d3abf8af33343de41d040dde.jpg",
      "title": "Front",
      "alt": "Front. Photograph date not stated.",
      "date": "Photograph date not stated",
      "creator": "William Rainey",
      "credit": "William Rainey / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0360.photos.023541p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "1.  Historic American Buildings Survey William Rainey, Photographer FRONT - Law School, South Street, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0360/photos/023541pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "444930ba812f08e854",
      "image": "/county-images/90a4fded34e1de7c5c01bc804e9575fcecde241d26a423c2916f49bbc9b9fecd.jpg",
      "title": "Exterior, general view from south east",
      "alt": "Exterior, general view from south east. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023531p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "1.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (A) EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTH EAST - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023531pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "755916cb89884c0070",
      "image": "/county-images/1aecc3d54c37110ae0e763bef2051ddf59a0fca0901e03d424d20aba90b44a16.jpg",
      "title": "Exterior, detail of entrance portico, from south west",
      "alt": "Exterior, detail of entrance portico, from south west. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023532p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "2.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (B) EXTERIOR, DETAIL OF ENTRANCE PORTICO, FROM SOUTH WEST - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023532pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "082102116fc9376529",
      "image": "/county-images/b318b6306dbecbb17c2e224860daa2102a2f5a26019f456792df2b14a262ae02.jpg",
      "title": "Interior, general view from north east corner, toward rear of auditorium",
      "alt": "Interior, general view from north east corner, toward rear of auditorium. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023533p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "3.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (D) INTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW FROM NROTH EAST CORNER, TOWARD REAR OF AUDITORIUM - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023533pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "03a7be525331c00bee",
      "image": "/county-images/0f2cb9716cdf4d4303075a9de1ca188b248ef4f474d2e6a6a13d0af1f7d0e893.jpg",
      "title": "Interior, general view, looking toward pulpit from south east",
      "alt": "Interior, general view, looking toward pulpit from south east. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023534p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "4.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (C) INTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW, LOOKING TOWARD PULPIT FROM SOUTH EAST - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023534pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "41759b15f6abddbc03",
      "image": "/county-images/8ac9d28d8ada20b5e41a06eb169d91352aa988a06174dedd67bb93d711687387.jpg",
      "title": "Interior detail of pulpit, from south west",
      "alt": "Interior detail of pulpit, from south west. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023535p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "5.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (G) INTERIOR DETAIL OF PULPIT, FROM SOUTH WEST - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023535pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "ad4b0a83a1258b8ec4",
      "image": "/county-images/6ec2a1e8bc5826637d044ccb186ff71840aea3d263e358f20e03af5080a3c175.jpg",
      "title": "Int., detail of door and balcony column, north west corner, pulpit end",
      "alt": "Int., detail of door and balcony column, north west corner, pulpit end. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023536p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "6.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (H) INT., DETAIL OF DOOR AND BALCONY COLUMN, NORTH WEST CORNER, PULPIT END - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023536pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "03720f53a68c4776d3",
      "image": "/county-images/e750c6b870187d3a00ec578825365e93f79fbae43e6365f45c086612a9434b1f.jpg",
      "title": "Interior, general view from south east corner of balcony looking toward pulpit end",
      "alt": "Interior, general view from south east corner of balcony looking toward pulpit end. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023537p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "7.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (E) INTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTH EAST CORNER OF BALCONY LOOKING TOWARD PULPIT END - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023537pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "5f1aea72669d402791",
      "image": "/county-images/69458b1ec8dc16ad3ec40ba5705b07ea248c92d28017681c2b7553719621a66c.jpg",
      "title": "Interior, east end of balcony, showing columns and organ",
      "alt": "Interior, east end of balcony, showing columns and organ. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0257.photos.023538p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "8.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (F) INTERIOR, EAST END OF BALCONY, SHOWING COLUMNS AND ORGAN - First Congregational Church, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0200/ct0257/photos/023538pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "8ef8e5558d549bc497",
      "image": "/county-images/383b06bfe8d148040db6b67ef4d403e942c318fc4dcea112cb7bf86c4c6e039a.jpg",
      "title": "Exterior, general view of house from south east. showing street front",
      "alt": "Exterior, general view of house from south east. showing street front. Sept 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0163.photos.304841p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "5.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept 6, 1940 (A) EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW OF HOUSE FROM SOUTH EAST. SHOWING STREET FRONT. - Elisha Sheldon House, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0100/ct0163/photos/304841pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "2c28b463112324da02",
      "image": "/county-images/e27d10a5f526eaac1b1cd381870d83d417b5e754568b686cb35666204c4a2442.jpg",
      "title": "Exterior, detail of doorway & central pediment, from north east",
      "alt": "Exterior, detail of doorway & central pediment, from north east. Sept. 6, 1940.",
      "date": "Sept. 6, 1940",
      "creator": "Stanley P. Mixon",
      "credit": "Stanley P. Mixon / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0163.photos.304842p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "6.  Historic American Buildings Survey (Fed.) Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer Sept. 6, 1940 (B) EXTERIOR, DETAIL OF DOORWAY & CENTRAL PEDIMENT, FROM NORTH EAST. - Elisha Sheldon House, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0100/ct0163/photos/304842pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "09b2498f551c366adf",
      "image": "/county-images/7d0334b0add56f958acd307b6d09314eb5861a5f395c5e109d3108ad59d298d4.jpg",
      "title": "General view showing front and side",
      "alt": "General view showing front and side. Photograph date not stated.",
      "date": "Photograph date not stated",
      "creator": "William Rainey",
      "credit": "William Rainey / Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0363.photos.023542p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": false,
      "originalCaption": "1.  Historic American Buildings Survey William Rainey, Photographer GENERAL VIEW SHOWING FRONT AND SIDE - Ozias Seymour Homestead, South Street, Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0363/photos/023542pv.jpg"
    }
  ]
}