KO Partners with the Noah Webster House

In a landmark collaboration that deepens its commitment to place-based learning and community engagement, KO has entered into a new institutional partnership with the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, the historic home and museum dedicated to famed lexicographer Noah Webster. This marks the first institutional membership partnership with a school ever established by the Noah Webster House.

The initiative was conceived and developed by History Department Chair David Baker, who designed the proposal, curriculum integration, and partnership framework after more than a year of discussion and collaborative planning. Baker describes the partnership as “a way to enrich our students, enrich the Noah Webster House, and really build a relationship that supports both institutions.”

Noah Webster, best known for writing A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language (1806) and the widely used Blue-Backed Speller, sought to standardize American education and literacy, making him an enduring figure in the nation’s intellectual heritage. The collaboration allows KO students to engage directly with the legacy of a scholar, primary sources dating back to the 17th century, and the history of West Hartford. The partnership strategically aligns with KO’s vision of expanding community-based learning opportunities and forging meaningful local partnerships.

The new membership model eliminates per-visit costs. The agreement is based on an annual fee of $2 per student, modeled after comparable regional institutions, which grants KO a wide array of exclusive benefits and learning experiences. According to Baker’s proposal, the membership provides: unlimited admission for all KO students, families, faculty, and staff; an annual archival research experience; and programming.

KO ninth graders will participate in an “Explore Your Local Archives” program designed jointly with museum staff. Students will analyze curated boxes of primary sources on themes such as immigration, voting, women in sports, and more. They will then produce encyclopedic-style entries interpreting the materials, an exercise in research, critical thinking, and historical storytelling. The faculty will pilot the experience themselves during a department meeting before students take part. Seventh graders will engage in a Town Meeting simulation exploring early American life. At the same time, a Middle School Skills Incubator class will examine maps and land history as part of their study of KO’s own past.

The partnership also provides KO students the opportunity to apply for positions as volunteer docents or assist in the archives, opportunities that Baker believes help students build confidence, communication skills, and strong ties to the West Hartford community. According to the proposal, KO students may also support pilot exhibits, provide feedback for museum initiatives, and collaborate on research projects exploring topics such as immigration and commercial development in West Hartford. Already, KO students have expressed interest in volunteering, including one who hopes to work weekend shifts at the museum.

Baker says the partnership embodies KO’s commitment to place-based learning, a curricular approach that situates academic inquiry within the real communities and landscapes students inhabit.“It makes the learning tangible and realistic and not just theoretical,” Baker explained. “Students realize they’re not just studying far-off history; they’re uncovering the stories of people who lived right where they live now.” 

“We hope this becomes a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship,” Baker wrote in the formal proposal. “One that integrates local history and primary sources into KO’s curriculum while supporting the educational goals of the Noah Webster House.”