Hiram Percy Maxim Films

Hiram and his wife Josephine were longtime residents of Hartford (both passed away in 1936). Hiram was a scientist and inventor, and among other things, was instrumental in the formation of the Amateur Cinema League. He recorded a number of “home movies” and several of these black and white, silent, 16mm films have been restored and digitized, and are in the collection of the Connecticut Digital Archive of the Hartford Public Library.

Josephine’s talents and activities included being the first Connecticut woman appointed to the Democratic National Convention, a member of the Hartford Board of Education, an executive committee member of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, and founder of the Connecticut League of Women Voters. She was also a member of the Garden Club of Hartford and the two short films here depict GCH meetings circa 1927.

We are indebted to Jennifer Sharp, Archivist at the Hartford History Center of the Hartford Public Library for making us aware of these wonderful pieces of history.

Reel 38 is the first of two reels featuring the Garden Club of Hartford. The reel begins at Mrs. Robert Huntington’s garden, 145 Bloomfield Avenue. Participants include Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Maxim, Mrs. Enders, Mrs. Sumner, Mrs. Sage, Miss Chapman, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Clifford Cheney, Mrs. Will Cheney, Mrs. H.T. Smith, Mrs. Thayer, Miss Foster, Mrs. Huntington, Miss Lorenz, Mrs. E.W. Smith, Miss Taylor, Mrs. Robert Gray, and Mrs. Wilson. The meeting begins at the house (where we also see the kittens Mrs. Huntington is raising) and then the participants walk to the garden. The next garden they visit is Mrs. Sage’s, where Mrs. Robert Gray pretends to dive into the pool. Mrs. Andrew’s garden and Miss Foster’s garden follow. The reel ends at Mrs. Maxim’s garden, 276 Whitney Street.

Reel 40 is the second of two reels featuring the Garden Club of Hartford. The reel begins with Mrs. Lucius Robinson’s Garden Party in June 1927. The Robinsons resided at 45 Forest Street. The footage highlights their conservatory and a small pool. The club eats lunch. There is also footage of a garden wall. The next portion of film is a September Garden Club picnic at the Maxim’s house on Bill Hill in Lyme, Connecticut.