Repository:

Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library

Creator:

Bridgeport 150th Celebration

Title:

Bridgeport 150th Merchandise Collection

ID:

BHC-MSS 0226

Date [inclusive]:

1985-1986

Physical Description:

3 Linear Feet

Language of the Material:

English .

Abstract:

In 1986, the City of Bridgeport celebrated 150 years of incorporation. This collection features the merchandise that was created by the committee to commemorate the event, along with some event ephemera including advertising supplements that were included in the New York Times and the Bridgeport Post.

In 1986, the City of Bridgeport celebrated 150 years of incorporation. The city saw this celebration as a means to try and change the perceived image of Bridgeport, which during the 1970s and into the 1980s, had become damaged. The loss of manufacturing jobs in the city from the 1960s into the 1970s, white flight into the Fairfield and New Haven county suburbs, and poor economic condition caused extreme hardships for residents and created unsafe and violent situations for the population, but especially within communities of color. Father Panik village had gained it's notorious reputation by this time, and the presence of Mount Trashmore did not help. The year long celebration in 1986 promoted Bridgeport as a city with a bright future and there was an extensive amount of outreach in tourism, as evident in several supplements in this collection that were a part of the Bridgeport Post and the New York Times.

The Bridgeport 150th Celebration group, the corporate body in charge of it all, created a logo and merchandise line as a part of the greater event. The logo itself features scrollwork that reads "BRIDGEPORT" with a sailboat to the immediate right that on the left sail reads "CT" and on the right sail reads "1986." The boat passes by the downtown Bridgeport skyline including (from left to right) the Barnum Museum, the People's Bank building, and other spires. The bottom of the logo reads "150th Annversary." Variations of the logo feature the word "CELEBRATE" above the scrollwork and the phrase "A Proud Past…A Bright Future" at the bottom of the logo.

It is unclear how successful the goals of the 150th celebration truly were, given that the perception of Bridgeport remained unchanged for years to come.

The collection contains samples of merchandise sold as a part of the Bridgeport 150th anniversary celebration. It is likely that the library may have been a vendor, and these materials were in a display case, as well as collected by then-archivist David Palmquist.

According to the gift guide pamphlet, the only item that the collection lacks are the etched tumbler glasses.

Arranged alphabetically by object name/title.