Stratford Ruby & Calvin Fletcher African American HistoryMuseum

Ruby & Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum and Its Mission
The Ruby & Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum, located in Stratford, Connecticut, is the state’s first and only museum dedicated to African American history. Founded in 2021 by retired police officer Jeffrey A. Fletcher, the museum was inspired by his late parents—Ruby and Calvin Fletcher—who experienced life under segregation and Jim Crow in the American South. The museum’s mission is to teach tolerance, confront stereotypes, and preserve the history and contributions of African Americans through a powerful and personal collection of over 9,800 artifacts.

The museum presents a grassroots approach to history education and community engagement. It seeks to tell the unfiltered truth of American history—often left out of traditional narratives—through graphic, emotional, and thought-provoking exhibits.

Stratford’s Role in Celebrating African American History
Stratford is home to this nationally significant institution, located in a historic home once tied to abolitionist John W. Sterling—namesake of Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library. With the town’s legacy of being part of the Underground Railroad and housing enslaved individuals in the 17th century, the museum deepens Stratford’s ongoing commitment to historical truth and racial justice.

Town leaders, including Mayor Laura Hoydick and state Senator Kevin Kelly, have praised the museum as a community treasure and vital educational space that enriches visitors’ understanding of African American heritage in Connecticut and the United States.

Exhibits at the Museum
The museum’s 4,700-square-foot space features 10 themed rooms that include:

• Slave Hull Ship Simulation with audio recreations of enslaved voices
• Jim Crow-Era Memorabilia, including statues, mechanical objects, and segregation signs
• Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit with authentic artifacts
• The Segregated Movie Theater Room with historical signage
• Bias, Folklore & Stereotype Collection, highlighting the legacy of harmful imagery
• Rotating Tribute Displays honoring individuals of all races and religions who have positively contributed to society

The museum provides a transformative experience that moves beyond traditional exhibits to provide immersive, emotional, and educational encounters with the past.

The Museum’s Founder and Vision
Jeffrey A. Fletcher began collecting these artifacts with his mother, Ruby, who started in childhood. His passion for education and justice led to the establishment of the museum. As he puts it, “This history is important. I wanted to be part of telling the story.”

Fletcher operates the museum nearly seven days a week and leads many of the tours himself. Visitors range from school groups to NBA players to government officials. The museum is deeply rooted in community connection and storytelling.

This site is open to the public.