ROUNDTABLE SPOTLIGHTS WINDHAM COUNTY’S HISTORICAL AND ARCHIVAL TREASURES FOR ‘NATIONAL ARCHIVES MONTH’
Brattleboro, Vermont, September 24, 2018. Unique, rare, important and humorous historical treasures and archival collections reside within Windham County’s numerous historical societies, public libraries and museums. The Brattleboro Words Project’s Thursday, October 18, 2018 Roundtable Discussion will gather representatives who work with these treasures in recognition of National Archives Month in October. The discussion will take place at 6:00 pm at 118 Elliot, 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301. The Roundtable event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.
“Windham County has more than 45 historical societies, libraries and museums, many of which hold local historical photos, artifacts, diaries, personal papers, business documents and much more that tell part of the rich history of Windham County from its earliest years through the twentieth century,” Mary Ide, archivist and member of the Brattleboro Words Project Leadership Team who produced this Roundtable said. Representatives from institutions will speak and show slides and some actual examples of their holdings at the event.
The discussion will include a short talk by Rachel Onuf, Coordinator of the Vermont Historical Records Program at the Vermont State Archives, whose work includes improving the care and preservation of historical records and creating digital and other public access options.
Teachers participating in the Brattleboro Words Project, or those who simply wish to learn more, are invited to come at 5:00 pm, an hour before the public presentation begins, to learn how using primary resources can enrich student work. Professional development hours will be offered for attending.
Several Windham County institutions have created on-line access to a portion of their collections. For instance, the Rockingham Public Library http://rockinghamlibrary.org/history/ has a robust online collection of historic photos and glass plate negatives of Bellows Falls and the surrounding towns. The Windham County Historical Society hosts online access to information about the impact of the Civil War in Southern Vermont, the West River Railroad, and documents relating to Royal Charters and Land Grants in the very early years of Windham County.
The Brattleboro Historical Society has an online collection of photos at https://brattleborohistoricalsociety.org/photos/, and since 2016 has been producing podcasts about local history with the Brattleboro Area Middle School. available at https://brattleborohistoricalsociety.org/category/recordings/.
The Brooks Memorial Library has an extensive local history collection. Access to some material is available at http://brookslibraryvt.org/search/subject-guides2/local-history-and-genealogy. Many more Windham County historical societies, libraries and museums have on-line access to parts of their larger collections.
The Roundtable Discussion Series is presented by the Brattleboro Words Project, a multi-year collaboration between the Brattleboro Historical Society, Brattleboro Literary Festival, Write Action, Brooks Memorial Library, and Marlboro College and backed by a National Endowment for the Humanities matching grant. The Project is creating the Brattleboro Words Trail, an audio mapping of our storied past that will lead listeners on walking, biking, and driving tours beginning in Brattleboro, a book on Brattleboro’s print and publishing history, work with schools and community groups and other events. For more information visit: www.brattleborowords.org
Contact: Mary Ide, Brattleboro Words Project’s Publishing & Print History Book
maryi@myfairpoint.net or 802 254-7755
