July 10, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of The Connecticut State Farm for Women, now known as the York Correctional Institution for Women. Over the past century this institution has had a fascinating and often changing mission and history. The prison has played various roles in the life of East Lyme, from active town partner to essentially invisible entity.  This summer the library will examine this institution from many points of view. This project is sponsored in part by a grant from Connecticut Humanities. 

The book is Couldn't Keep it to Myself: Testimonies from our Imprisoned Sisters  by Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution.

"For several years, Lamb has taught writing to a group of women prisoners at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut. In this unforgettable collection, the women of York describe in their own words how they were imprisoned by abuse, rejection, and their own self-destructive impulses long before they entered the criminal justice system. Yet these are powerful stories of hope and healing, told by writers who have left victimhood behind.

In his moving introduction, Lamb describes the incredible journey of expression and self-awareness the women took through their writing and shares how they challenged him as a teacher and as a fellow author. Couldn't Keep It to Myself is a true testament to the process of finding oneself and working toward a better day."