The CT State Library is a gateway to lifelong learning for all residents and visitors, inspiring a shared and informed future through our diverse, historic, and cultural resources.
The Under the Charter Oak Podcast will be a monthly podcast produced and run by Division of Library Development (DLD) staff members highlighting different library projects and initiatives of the CT State Library and partners.
Publisher
CT State Library | Division of Library Development
Giving Kids a Voice: Meet CT’s Kid Governor Tessa Hallinan
In this upbeat episode, Kym is flying solo as she chats with Brian Cofrancesco and Linda Preston from the Connecticut Democracy Center—and Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor, Tessa Hallinan—about how the Kid Governor program turns thousands of fifth graders into real voters and advocates. Together they explore how this statewide election gives kids a genuine civic voice and sparks young leaders to take action on the issues they care about most. What we're reading: The Hero’s Guide to Summer Vaca...
1 Jul 2026
Connecticut's Revolution, Season 1.5 Ep. 6: Portrait of Major General Jabez Huntington
Just when you think the story is about one person, we flip the script. From Major General Jabez Huntington, a successful merchant from Norwich, CT, to his son Jedidiah Huntington, to Jedidiah's wife Faith Trumbull Huntington. This story is a whirlwind of family names, military service, and heartache. Through the lives of the Huntingtons and the Trumbulls, the true affects and personal impacts of the American Revolutionary War on Connecticut's own emerge. Listen to our last episode, this week...
24 Jun 2026
Connecticut's Revolution Season 1.5, Ep. 5: The Putnam Napkin
A napkin might not seem like an item of historical significance at first glance. When you find out it was present at a dinner party hosted by Major General Israel Putnam that was purportedly attended by General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette in 1777 the napkin might be more interesting. When you find out THAT story actually might not be true, this napkin and its history become evermore intriguing. What can you truly learn from a napkin? Find out on this week's episode of Smal...
17 Jun 2026
Connecticut's Revolution, Season 1.5 Ep. 4: A Brick from a Field Oven
This is not your average brick. It's an 18th century brick that is believed to be one of the remnants from the field ovens built in Lebanon, CT during the American Revolution. These field ovens fed a multinational legion of cavalry and infantry led by the Duc de Lauzun when they wintered in Lebanon during 1780-1781. Learn about the brick, the Duc de Lauzun, and Lauzun's Legion on this week's episode of Small but Mighty: Connecticut's Revolution. Credit: "Royal Coupling" Kevin Mac...
10 Jun 2026
Connecticut's Revolution, Season 1.5 Ep. 3: King George III Statue Fragment
In the 1770s, Americans had big feelings about King George III, so much so that a 4,000 pound lead sculpture of him that was installed in 1770 on Bowling Green, New York, was torn down by 1776. Dramatic as that sounds, what happens to 4,000 pounds of anything? And how did a caped shoulder of the statue end up at the Museum of Connecticut History? As usual, every item has a story. Learn about King George III, his statue, and why we have a piece of the sculpture on this week's episode of...
3 Jun 2026
Connecticut's Revolution, Season 1.5 Ep. 2: 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons flag
The 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons was made up on hundred of brave soldiers, one of which was Private Joseph Robins Indigenous man who may have belonged to the Nipmuc, Pequot, Mohegan or Narragansett nations. While we don't know why he enlisted in the military, we're able to follow a bit of his journey through his wife Elizabeth Robins. What we do know is that He was chosen by George Washington as one of 20 soldiers to receive Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown! Learn about 2nd Regiment...
Colonel Elisha Bostwick's pocket watch is more than just a time keeper. It's an object that carries us across the ice-choked Delaware with George Washington to Trenton, New Jersey on a journey to battle German soldiers. Learn about Colonel Elisha Bostwick, his pocket watch, and the journey to battle on this week's episode of Small but Mighty: Connecticut's Revolution. Credit: "Royal Coupling" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Lice...
20 May 2026
Under the Charter Oak, Season 1.5 Trailer
What stories could possibly come from a pocket watch, a flag, a sculpted shoulder, a brick, a portrait, and a napkin? Our colleagues from the Museum will be sharing information, not only about the items, but the people and stories behind them. You can expect mutiny, lies, Trumbulls, Putnams, and word has it, we might not have won the American Revolution without the tiny state of Connecticut. Buckle up as we preserve the past to inform the future in Small but Mighty: Connecticut’s Revolution, ...
1 May 2026
Never More Than 15 Minutes Away!
In this lively episode of Under the Charter Oak, Ashley, Kym, and Matt welcome a special guest from outside the library world, Kristen Bellantuono from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) State Parks. Kristen oversees beloved statewide programs including No Child Left Inside, and the long‑running Sky’s the Limit Hiking and Walking Challenge, which will probably occupy the rest of Kym's year, that leaderboard is everything to her. Together the group discuss...
1 Apr 2026
He's Some Dog: Stg. Stubby a WW1 Hero
Do you have a famous dog on your van? We do. Today Ashley, Matt, and Kym learn all about Sargent Stubby, the most decorated war dog of WWI and the only dog promoted to Sargent. Where was Stubby from you ask? Where else, Connecticut. Christine Pittsley, Museum Curator at the Museum of Connecticut History joins us on the pod to tell us about Sgt. Stubby, his owner, and the impact Stubby had not only in CT, but across the country and even in a few others! He was small, but he was also mighty! Ph...
1 Mar 2026
The Many Layers of CT LAB
CT LAB, also known as the CT Library for Accessible Books, is a FREE service of the CT State Library in partnership with the National Library Service. CT residents who struggle to read a physical book due to visual, physical or reading disabilities can qualify for access to tools such as talking book players, refreshable Braille display machines, a catalog of thousands of books, magazines, and music scores, and so much more. Our guest today is….. Matt Geeza, a host of the show!! He takes Ashl...
1 Feb 2026
Living the Stories
What do William Webb, Jordan Freeman, and James H. Williams have in common? They were all black men who lived in Connecticut before the 1900’s, and they’ve all been portrayed as living history figures by Kevin Johnson an employee of the Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy department. This month Ashley, Kym, and Matt are joined by Kevin to learn about his research and the creative process that went into brining to life three men from CT’s history. Kevin’s passion for history and ...
1 Jan 2026
Building Community with I’m Your Neighbor Books
Ashley, Kym, and Matt are joined by Kirsten Cappy, the Executive Director of I’m Your Neighbor Books, an organization that cultivates a sense of belonging and engagement with immigrants and new Americans. We dive into the power of storytelling, community building, and cultivating meaningful conversation. Prepare to hear about a lot of books, feel big feelings, and learn about an organization working toward literary access. What we’re reading: · The Rose Field by Phi...
1 Dec 2025
Small but Mighty: The people's Collection
Ashley, Kym, and Matt are joined by Jennifer Matos, the Administrator at the Museum of Connecticut History at the Connecticut State Library. We learn about the history and mission of the museum, get highlights about various collections and artifacts, and finally learn the (true?) story of the Charter Oak. There was a heist! Oh and the Nutmeg, the seed that gave our beloved state one of its nicknames, may be based on a lie. Dun dun dun. What we’re reading The Thing of Ours by Frederick JosephL...
1 Nov 2025
Books for you, Connecticut!
We have our first guest! Brad Bullis, the CT State Library Digital Content and Innovation Coordinator joins Ashley, Kym, and Matt as we jump out from behind the curtain and take center stage! Much of how the Division of Library Development contributes to the state is hidden and often unknown, but today we discuss our public facing programs designed with Connecticut residents in mind! Today's Guest Host Brad Bullis is the Digital Content and Innovation Coordinator at the Connecticut State Libr...
1 Oct 2025
Libraries Contain Multitudes
Are libraries quiet study tombs, book repositories, or community spaces? Spoiler alert, they’re all of the above and more. Join Ashley, Kym, and Matt, as they discuss their journeys into the field of librarianship, why none of them planned to apply for jobs at the State Library, crush opinions about what a library should or shouldn’t be, and what they think might be the future of the field. What we’re reading Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno GarciaThe Covenant of Water by Abraham ...
8 Sept 2025
Library Card Sign Up Month
September is Library Card Sign Up Month and here in Connecticut we have more public libraries than towns! How do you get a library card? What do they have there? Why should I bother? Ashley, Kym, and Matt, librarians from the CT State Library, are here to answer the questions you have and the questions you never thought to ask. What we’re reading: · The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker · Evil Eye by Etaf Rum ·  ...
28 Aug 2025
Welcome to Under the Charter Oak
The CT State Library is a gateway to lifelong learning for all residents and visitors, inspiring a shared and informed future through our diverse, historic, and cultural resources. The Under the Charter Oak Podcast will be a monthly podcast produced and run by Division of Library Development (DLD) staff members highlighting different library projects and initiatives of the CT State Library and partners. Take a listen to what's to come! The Connecticut State Library. Preserving the Past to Inf...
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