New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Vermont Historical Society

Trailblazing Women: Emma Willard

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portrait of Emma WillardEmma Hart Willard (1787 – 1870) was a women’s rights activist who dedicated her life to education. Preceptress at Vermont’s Middlebury Female Academy as a teenager, she founded Troy Female Seminary in 1814, the first school for women’s higher education (renamed Emma Willard School in 1895).

Willard produced bestselling textbooks from the 1820s to the 1850s and remains one of the best-known and most influential educators of the nineteenth century. [Read more…] about Trailblazing Women: Emma Willard

Buffalo Soldiers in Vermont, 1909-1913

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10th Cavalry coat of armsThe Tenth United States Cavalry Regiment, one of four regular army black regiments collectively known as the Buffalo Soldiers, arrived in Burlington, Vermont in June of 1909 to begin a four-year tour of duty at Fort Ethan Allen.

Their arrival alarmed the almost exclusively white population. Many people feared the presence of sizable numbers of African American soldiers in their community and a bitter debate ensued over whether the city should adopt Jim Crow facilities. [Read more…] about Buffalo Soldiers in Vermont, 1909-1913

New Book Challanges Vermont’s Abolitionist Reputation

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Vermont slaveryVermonters have always been proud that their state was the first to outlaw slavery in its constitution—but is that what really happened?

In a new book, The Problem of Slavery in Early Vermont, 1777-1810 (Vermont Historical Society, 2014), historian Harvey Amani Whitfield challenges this myth by showing that the enslavement of African Americans continued in Vermont for another 30 years, even as anti-slavery sentiment continued to swell.

The Problem of Slavery in Early Vermont, 1777-1810 will be enlightening to Vermont teachers and students, scholars of the early national and antebellum periods of U.S. history, and anyone interested in the history of Vermont.  The book can be purchased at the website of the Vermont Historical Society. [Read more…] about New Book Challanges Vermont’s Abolitionist Reputation

VT Historical Society Saving VT’s Treasures

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On March 4th, the Vermont Historical Society (VHS) announced the final stage of its Saving Vermont’s Treasures campaign.

In her remarks at the event celebrating the launch, VHS President Sarah Dopp noted that March 4th, in addition to being the 220th anniversary of Vermont’s becoming the 14th U.S. state, was also a “punny” call to action for VHS to “march forth,” in the final leg of our $900,000 capital campaign. [Read more…] about VT Historical Society Saving VT’s Treasures

Vermont Plans For Civil War Sesquicentennial

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April 2011 will mark the 150th Anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter and the start of the American Civil War and the Vermont Historical Society has laid out some preliminary plans for the multi-year observance include several large statewide events, as well as coordination of community-based activities. The planning team has drafted annual themes for each year of the commemoration that they hope will resonate with contemporary issues. [Read more…] about Vermont Plans For Civil War Sesquicentennial

Vermont Already Planning Civil War Sesquicentennial

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April 12, 2011 will mark the 150th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and the Vermont Historical Society (VHS) has already begun leading the statewide planning effort for the Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration. With educational institutions, state agencies and other nonprofit organizations, VHS will be developing plans for programs that will explore and celebrate the role of the Green Mountain State in this bloody conflict. [Read more…] about Vermont Already Planning Civil War Sesquicentennial

Vermont Historical Society Seeks Your Input

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The Vermont Historical Society is asking for participation in a survey to help them determine which aspects of the organization are most important. The survey allows plenty of opportunity to comment and they would appreciate hearing from you folks interested in Vermont history by June 23rd if possible. You can find the survey here.