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With our partner, The Connecticut Historical Society, WNPR News presents unique and eclectic view of life in Connecticut throughout its history. The Connecticut Historical Society is a partner in Connecticut History Online (CHO) — a digital collection of over 18,000 digital primary sources, together with associated interpretive and educational material. The CHO partner and contributing organizations represent three major communities — libraries, museums, and historical societies — who preserve and make accessible historical collections within the state of Connecticut.

Bringing up a Star: the Hepburn Family of Hartford

In addition to being a well-known actress and a fashion icon, Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) was also known for being outspoken and fiercely independent. Her outlook on life was influenced by her remarkable parents who valued speaking one’s mind and acting boldly.

Hepburn’s mother, Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn, believed getting a college education was crucial for women seeking independence. Both of her parents died by the time she was sixteen, and she worked hard so that she and two of her sisters could attend Bryn Mawr College and become self sufficient. In 1907, after starting her own family, she worked for women’s right to vote, eventually becoming president of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association. She took her daughter Katharine to rallies where she would hand out Votes for Women flags. Hepburn’s mother later campaigned for women’s access to birth control.

Hepburn’s father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, attended Johns Hopkins University, where he trained as a surgeon, specializing in urology. He worked at Hartford Hospital, had his own practice, and helped establish the New England Social Hygiene Association to educate the public about venereal disease. He also brought his children to work, and allowed them to observe surgeries at a young age.

As a young girl growing up in Hartford and Fenwick, Katharine Hepburn was a tomboy with boundless energy. Her father, an accomplished athlete, encouraged her athletic pursuits and never told her she couldn’t do something just because she was a girl. He built a two-story zip line that ran across the yard of the family’s Hawthorne Street home and at Fenwick he built a diving board and organized track races for the children.  Hepburn took pride in the fact she could run faster and jump higher than anyone.

Hepburn’s parents told their children not to dwell on the past, overcome their fears, and never feel sorry for themselves. They never shielded the children from their public activities and discussed controversial topics openly at family gatherings. All of this undoubtedly contributed to Katharine’s self-assured attitude that was evident throughout her life and career.  To find out more about Katharine Hepburn’s life in Hartford with her family, visit Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen which remains on view at The Connecticut Historical Society through September 13.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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