RESOURCES
The resources for obtaining any information about Highland Heights are very limited. We were lucky enough to have acquired a rough draft of a dissertation that was written in 1953, although the author is unknown and the discipline for which it was written is also a mystery. The Fitzgerald dissertation was referenced in the 1953 writing, but it is unknown where or how to obtain a copy, if one exists. Fordham University might be the only place, but only if they maintain archives of such.
The booklet, "A Century of Service, 1852 - 1952" was thought to have been published in 1953, although no name is given credit for its writing. There are only a few copies available and they are highly prized by their owners.
Most of the other sources claim to have no information about Highland Heights or its residents. Some people have volunteered to try to help find whatever information might have been salvaged, but they acknowledge that they are unaware of any information or memorabilia that might be stored anywhere; however some will admit they had heard there was a stack of photographs kept in a cardboard box somewhere. However, no one knows what happened to them.
We would offer the New Haven Board of Education as a source of information, since St. Francis School was conducted in compliance with that agency's instructions. However, we have been informed by the Board that school records are disposed of after fifty years.
Another roadblock that kept stonewalling us in our investigation was the Connecticut confidentiality laws. Many agencies were reluctant to provide any information due to privacy issues. Just the same, they also admitted they really didn't have any information to offer anyway.
Nonetheless, we offer the following for anyone's reference efforts. You are welcome to try to contact these offices and organizations, but be prepared to hear claims of confidentiality. You can obtain personal information about yourself, if it exists, with the proper credentials. Even so, if anyone reading this website has information that they would like to share, particularly names and dates of residence, please contact us. We want very much to have those included.
New Haven Register (newspaper)40 Sargent Drive
New Haven, CT 06511-6111
Department of Children and Families (DCF)
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106-7107
Highland Heights (current)
St. Francis Home for Boys
651 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511-2003
Archdiocese of Hartford
Office of Catholic Schools
467 Bloomfield Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002-1999
Dissertation: Title unknown (1953)
Author: Unknown
History of Highland Heights: interviews with nuns and staff
Dissertation: "The Child Helps Himself at Highland Heights"
Author: John Francis Fitzgerald, Jr.
Year: 1940
Institution: Fordham School of Social Service
113 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023
Publication: A Century of Service, 1852 - 1952
Author: Unknown
Year Published: Approximately 1953
Contents: History of Highland Heights; pictures of buildings; staff; children; alumni
Book: Surviving Highland Heights: The Orphanage
Author: George A Roberts
Year Published: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-578-00708-3
Contents: Experiences of one boy at Highland Heights for eight and one-half years
U.S Census of 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.