A Connecticut legend from Granby

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Cossitt Library

What do the Connecticut State Library and Cossitt Library have in common? George Seymour Godard of North Granby.

George Seymour Godard

Godard was responsible for the construction of both buildings as well as finding hundreds of books to fill the Cossitt shelves. From 1889 to 1891, with money bequeathed from Fredrick Cossitt, he oversaw the construction of the Cossitt Library and became its first librarian at the age of 24. He was also its president from 1918 to 1936.

In 1900, Godard was appointed as the third librarian in the Connecticut State Library. At that time, the state library had four rooms in the State Capitol, one of which is where the State Senate presides today. As the state library and the state government grew, there was no more room in the State Capitol. Godard was able to persuade the governor and the State Legislature to build a new building to house the  state library and the Supreme Court across the street. Construction began in 1908 and was completed two years later. Godard organized the state library as well as the law library of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He also collected and organized Connecticut church records, probate records, and Connecticut military records.

 If you want to know more about George Seymour Godard and his contributions to Granby and the state of Connecticut, become a member of the Salmon Brook Historical Society. Learn more by visiting salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com, or leave a message at 860-653-9713.