Page 36 - North Haven Magazine Issue 25 Autumn 2022

by Marisa Hexter
Remembering Gloria Furnival

Curator of The North Haven Historical Society and Museums

To know Gloria Furnival was a privilege. Gloria was a woman of many talents and passions,
a wealth of knowledge, and a driving force in the North Haven community. It is impossible
to write about Gloria’s life in just one article, and those who knew her can agree she deserves
much more. Furnival was the Curator of the North Haven Historical Society and Museums.
From Native American artifacts to fashion and quilts and everything in between, Gloria
helped display North Haven’s history for public viewing for over 40 years. This article will
show just a small fraction of what she contributed to our town through her passion for local
history and her community.

orn and raised in Georgia, Gloria status of the organization in town after the
Bmoved to Connecticut with her husband Bicentennial saw a surge in donations and
George, later a professor of Forestry at Yale, popularity. Gloria took all of this in stride,
in the 1950s. In the late 1960s, the Furnival continuously working on creating exhibits, A portrait of Gloria
family moved to North Haven into the his- displaying objects for events and talks, and
toric Benjamin Trumbull House; perched on developing school tours for elementary stu- monthly programs, usually in rich colors that
the hill in the center of town. When doing dents to learn about their town. complemented the season.” Iverson also re-
research on Trumbull and the history of her members how Gloria was always busy with a
new home, Gloria crossed paths with the project, whether it was researching local his-
Historical Society in the early 1970s, joining tory, collecting artifacts, or painting. Donna
as a volunteer. At this time, the Historical Dumelin first met Gloria in 1972. “Gloria
Society had no official home base; instead, took me under her wing.” Every Thursday at
meetings and gatherings were held in mem- 4 pm at the Society, Gloria would host a tea
bers’ homes or at the Legion House. At one hour. Dumelin remembers how Gloria and
meeting Gloria, then secretary, suggested the the other volunteers, many of whom were
old library building as the Society’s meeting longtime North Haven residents, would sit
place. Former First Selectman Lester Gott around having tea and discuss all kinds of
approved of this and the NHHSM had a for- North Haven history. One thing that both
mal home at the soon-to-be North Haven Gloria with North Haven students Iverson and Dumelin remember is how Glo-
Cultural Center. Obtaining the new space talking about Native American artifacts ria never lost her southern charm; her accent
gave them the ability to house documents and hospitality never left her.
and artifacts representing North Haven his- In 1978, Gloria was recognized as the Jay-
tory. Gloria and her fellow board members cee Woman of the Year and was given a day
got right to work creating North Haven’s first to honor her dedication to the North Hav-
museum and archive. en community. She was also the Mayflower
Society’s first female toastmaster. When the
North Haven Bicentennial 1986 planning
started, Gloria worked with Lucy Brusic on
an exhibit that showed North Haven histo-
ry through ten-year increments. She also
worked with artist Alfred Talk to prepare
murals. Over the next decade, the Histor-
ical Society began to work on publications
of North Haven history. Gloria collected
materials, spoke with the local community,
and corresponded with publishers to help
with books and leaflets. Gloria herself pub-
lished, researched, and wrote her book, “On
the Green” about North Haven’s Old Center Gloria and George Furnival on their
Gloria in the exhibit room Cemetery in 2000. Gloria also negotiated wedding day
many important deals when it came to larg-
er donations. Whether it was artifacts from
Gloria was not only busy helping create a estates of prominent members of North While this small article on Gloria does not
museum from scratch, but at the same time Haven, town officials’ documents, or Shel- even begin to cover all the amazing achieve-
across the country, the U.S. Bicentennial don Thorpe’s diaries, Gloria was able to help ments of a life dedicated to the North Haven
planning was underway for celebrations in acquire parts of irreplaceable North Haven community, her passion for North Haven
1976. In North Haven, Gloria was invited to history. Retiring in 2014 from her position as history is still felt at the Historical Society
be the Chairman of Heritage in the celebra- curator, Gloria continued to volunteer at the by all of us volunteers. Gloria Furnival was
tory planning. Gloria had many tasks during Historical Society. a leader and played a pivotal role in how we
her time as Chairman. She arranged talks have developed as an organization today.
by speakers ranging in topics, helped write From those who knew Gloria, she was an Gloria passed away in 2018, but her memory
newspaper articles, and prepared house amazingly positive and humble woman. lives on through her legacy found in every
tours of revolutionary-era homes. This was a Susan Iverson remembers Gloria’s love of corner of the North Haven Historical Soci-
pivotal time for the Society as the newfound clothes. “She would get all dressed up for our ety.

36 North Haven Magazine - Autumn Issue 2022