WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — John J. O’Leary IV of West Hartford has been selected to present his research at the New England Historical Association (NEHA) Fall 2026 Meeting, to be held at Fairfield University on September 26, 2026. O’Leary’s proposal, “‘America’s Favorite Tenor’ and Connecticut’s Automotive Heritage: Rediscovering the Melton Museum Archives,” was recently accepted by the association.
O’Leary’s presentation will explore the history and legacy of the Melton Museum in Norwalk, Connecticut, one of the earliest automobile museums in the United States. Opened in 1948 by celebrated tenor James Melton, known as “America’s Favorite Tenor,” the museum featured more than 100 antique and historic automobiles and quickly became a significant Connecticut tourist attraction.
The presentation will draw upon a remarkable collection of archival materials recently rediscovered after being believed lost for more than 70 years. The materials include previously unpublished photographs, correspondence, museum records and ephemera documenting the museum, its collection and Melton’s connections to Connecticut. Among the discoveries are photographs of Melton with Connecticut Governor Robert Hurley and Governor John Lodge, as well as images documenting his relationship with prominent automotive figures, including legendary Connecticut automobile manufacturer and collector Briggs Cunningham.
The research also highlights the important but largely overlooked contribution of Reuter’s Coach Works, the Bronx- and Ridgefield-based restoration business led by master craftsman Gustav “Gus” Reuter. Reuter and his family played a critical role in restoring and maintaining many of the automobiles in Melton’s celebrated collection. O’Leary has a personal connection to this history through his wife’s family. Her grandfather, Gus Reuter, restored automobiles for Melton and was recognized during his lifetime as one of the leading automobile trimmers and restorers in the United States.
O’Leary’s research places the Melton Museum within the broader history of automobile collecting, celebrity culture, roadside tourism and the early preservation of automotive heritage. It also demonstrates how family collections, private archives and recently discovered materials can help historians reconstruct stories that have largely disappeared from the historical record.
“I am honored that the New England Historical Association has accepted this presentation,” said O’Leary. “The Melton Museum was an important part of Connecticut’s history, yet much of its story has been forgotten. These newly rediscovered materials provide an extraordinary opportunity to bring that history back to life and demonstrate Connecticut’s important role in the development of automobile museums and historic preservation.”
O’Leary is an educator, researcher and automotive historian. He currently serves as an Accounts Receivable Specialist at the University of Connecticut and has taught business, economics, strategy and international business at several universities. His research on automotive history has resulted in publications, conference presentations and museum programs throughout the United States.
His recent work on the Melton Museum has appeared in Connecticut Explored and has been presented at institutions and historical organizations across the region.
The New England Historical Association, founded in 1965, promotes the study and teaching of New England history and provides opportunities for historians, educators, researchers and independent scholars to share their work.
About John J. O’Leary IV
John J. O’Leary IV is a historian, writer, educator, and researcher whose work explores automotive, cultural, and local history. His research and photography have appeared in publications and exhibitions, and he has presented his research at historical and automotive conferences. His ongoing work documenting Reuter’s Coach Works combines family archives, photography, oral history, and historical research to preserve the legacy of a remarkable Bronx institution.