Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word at Palmer-Warner House

The exhibit Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word explores the power of written communication in shaping LGBTQ+ identity, activism, and community. Featuring love letters, zines, personal diaries, protest flyers, and other artifacts, the display tells stories of resilience, connection, and creativity that have sustained LGBTQ+ communities for generations.

Drawing from the Palmer-Warner House’s own collection and loaned items, the exhibition weaves together visitor-submitted stories with those of the house’s former residents, Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a safe haven in East Haddam. The collection highlights not only the role of the written word in building community but also the resilience, love, and solidarity found within the LGBTQ+ experience.

The exhibit is on view during open hours from Saturday, June 7, 2025, through Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT 06432. Admission is included with house tours or can be purchased separately at $7 per person, $5 for seniors and students, and free for Connecticut Landmarks members.

For more information, email palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org.