Vermont Humanities

Autumn 2018

Inside•���Welcome�to�VHC’s��New�Executive�Director�page�2����

•��Vermont�Reads�2019�Announced�/�page�3

•��Calendar�of�Events�� pages�6�–10

•��First�Wednesdays�Preview�/�page�9

•��Humanities�Camps�� page�11

Fall Conference: The�Ebb�and�Flow�of�Optimism�through�American�Historypages�12–15

VERMONT READS 2019

MARch by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell See page 3

Cover: March art by Nate Powell. © John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Vermont Humanities CouncilBecause Ideas Matter11 Loomis StreetMontpelier, Vermont 05602Phone: 802.262.2626 • Fax: 802.262.2620 E-mail: info@vermonthumanities.orgWeb: vermonthumanities.org

StaffJoan M. Black, Administrative Assistant

802.262.1358, jblack@vermonthumanities.org

Jeff Euber, Program and Communications Coordinator 802.262.1353, jeuber@vermonthumanities.org

Richelle Franzoni, Community Programs Assistant 802.262.1355, rfranzoni@vermonthumanities.org

Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, Executive Director 802.262.1351, christopher@vermonthumanities.org

Ryan Newswanger, Director of Communications 802.262.1354, rnewswanger@vermonthumanities.org

Ali Palmer, Director of Literacy Programs 802.262.1352, apalmer@vermonthumanities.org

Tess Taylor, Director of Community Programs 802.262.1356, ttaylor@vermonthumanities.org

Ali White, First Wednesdays Director, Consultant awhite@vermonthumanities.org

Linda Winter, Chief Financial Officer 802.262.1359, lwinter@vermonthumanities.org

Linda Wrazen, Development Officer 802.262.1357, lwrazen@vermonthumanities.org

BoardKaty Smith Abbott, MiddleburyJim Alic, Ludlow, TreasurerRandall Balmer, NorwichJane Beck, MiddleburyTodd Daloz, Middlesex Rolf Diamant, Woodstock, Chair Sarah Dopp, South Burlington, SecretaryBen Doyle, Montpelier Joy Facos, MontpelierElizabeth Fenton, Essex JunctionCarole Gaddis, PutneyHuck Gutman, Burlington Christine Hadsel, BurlingtonDavid Moats, SalisburyDavid Nichols, ManchesterMary Otto, Norwich, Vice ChairGeoffrey Sewake, PeachamRobert F. Wells, South LondonderryJessamyn West, Randolph

Vermont HumanitiesNewsletter of the Vermont Humanities CouncilEditor: Ryan Newswanger

Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup joined the Vermont Humanities Council as its new

Executive Director on August 27. He worked most recently as the Chief Operating Officer at VTDigger, and was a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation for ten years.

Christopher grew up in Vergennes and earned a BA from Kenyon College and a Master of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He recently sat down with Ryan Newswanger, Director of Communications, to talk about his new position.

Do you see a common thread in the positions you’ve held?My work has always been about building communities and helping people talk to one another across differences. Healthy and vital Vermont communities was our goal at the Community Foundation and I think that’s been a goal for me in all my work.What drew you to the Council and its mission?One of the things that has really impressed me about the Council is the way that it truly believes in and supports humanities work in the smallest of the small towns. It’s not just something that is for the bigger towns, or the towns with universities or colleges. It is work that needs to happen all over.What do you look forward to the most in starting this job?Getting to know new people is always a real joy for me. I’m looking forward to meeting and talking with the passionate people who have supported this organization for 40 years, and hearing what they’re interested in for our next iteration. There have only been two directors of the Vermont Humanities Council. And they’ve both been amazing. To see what comes next will be really exciting.Can you provide any hints of the direction VHC may take?We have strong programs that we want to continue, and that we want to make sure are being nurtured and supported. But we will see how we can be present in even more communities, whether they’re the Old North End of Burlington, or Island Pond in the Northeast Kingdom.

We do a lot of great work using diverse literature in our programming. The last several Vermont Reads books have focused on diverse communities and people whose stories aren’t normally told. It’d be great if we were also engaging more directly with diverse communities in Vermont—with Abenaki leaders, new Americans, and the migrant farm worker community, for example.

On a practical level, I would like us to focus on raising more money for grant-making. We’ve funded a lot of great grassroots projects around the state, but we often fund them at relatively small amounts. I would love to see us support these projects in a stronger and more sustainable way.

I’m just excited to get started. It’s certainly one of my dream jobs in Vermont. I’m really jazzed about the group of people who are here right now, and what we can achieve together.

Welcome to Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup

Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018��•��Page 3

VERMONT�READS�2019�

Nashville as a means of undermining segregation. The narrative continues in subsequent books to tell of the 1963 March on Washington (Book Two) and the march across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965 (Book Three). All three

VHC�is pleased to announce that we have chosen the graphic novel

March: Book One for Vermont Reads 2019. It is the first of a trilogy written by civil rights icon John Lewis, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and award-winning graphic artist Nate Powell.

Lewis was chairman of the Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was considered one of the “Big Six” leaders of the civil rights movement. He has served in the US Congress since 1987 and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2011.

Book One tells of Lewis’s childhood in rural Alabama, his desire as a young man to be a preacher, his life-changing interactions with Martin Luther King, Jr., and the nonviolent sit-ins he joined at lunch counters in

March: Book Oneby John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

volumes illustrate the story of Lewis’s commitment to nonviolent protest in the pursuit of social justice.

For the first time in the 17-year history of the Vermont Reads program, we have chosen a graphic novel, a format that combines prose with narrative drawing. We think that March: Book One will engage many current fans of Vermont Reads, and also attract a new audience who have not yet participated in the program.

Through Vermont Reads, we invite all Vermonters — students and adults alike — to read the same book and participate in a wide variety of community activities related to its themes. A brief application from a community-based organization — school, library, or other entity — is all it takes to get started.

Our hope is that after reading March: Book One, readers will be inspired to keep learning about, exploring, reading, and discussing this seminal time in our country’s history.

Over 200 Vermont communities have participated in Vermont Reads to date, and 101 towns and cities have hosted, or will host, programs and events related to our Vermont Reads 2018 choice, Katherine Paterson’s Bread and Roses, Too.

Visit vtreads.org for more information.

Take Part in Vermont Reads!oin Vermonters statewide by reading and exploring

March: Book One. With a brief application, schools, libraries, historical societies, service groups, businesses, churches, local governments, and others can partner in activities that promote literacy, encourage lifelong learning, and strengthen community.

J Application deadlines: December 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019Applications: vtreads.org or call 802.262.1355

UnderwriterJan Blomstrann

Media Sponsor

Page 4��•��Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018

Support the Peter Gilbert Endowment Fund

Board and Staff

Welcomes and Farewells to Staff and Boardas Chair of the Curriculum Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences. She also served as director of Graduate Studies for UVM’s English Department, as well as on the Editorial Advisory Board for J19: The Journal of Nineteenth-Century Americanists. She is a recipient of UVM’s Glen Elder Faculty Leadership Award.

Jessamyn West of Randolph is a consultant, researcher and international public speaker on library science and digital divide issues. She is the author of Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide, which explores the challenges of a society becoming stratified by computer skills as well as race and income inequality. Jessamyn speaks to local, regional, and national

libraries and library associations and is a regular columnist writing on the status and roles of libraries today. For thirteen years she has taught basic technology classes at the Randolph Technical Career Center’s adult education program. She also teaches Community Engagement at University of Hawai’i at Manoa’s Library and Information Science Program and is the technology coordinator for the Vermont Library Association (VLA). She is a recipient of VLA’s Library Advocate of the Year Award and was recently a Fellow at Harvard’s Library Innovation Lab. Jessamyn earned a BA from Hampshire College and an MLib. from the University of Washington.

VHC�thanks�departing�board�members�for�their�service.Kathleen Kelleher of South Burlington served on the

board from July 2016 to April 2018, during which she worked on the Development and Finance Committees.

Joyce Yoo Babbitt of Underhill served on the board from January 2017 to March 2018. She was a member of the Swenson Award and Program committees.

Jessamyn West

In his 16 years as the Executive Director of the Vermont Humanities Council, Peter Gilbert often said, “The humanities enrich our lives and strengthen our communities.”Peter made extraordinary contributions to the breadth, depth, and excellence of

the Council’s work. The programs he founded or brought to VHC include First Wednesdays, Vermont Reads, Veterans Book Groups, and Voices.

A new endowment in Peter’s honor will help VHC continue the important programming that he advanced so well, and assist the organization in planning its future.

We’re seeking gifts and pledges to the Peter Gilbert Endowment Fund payable over the next three years (2018 to 2020).

Contact Linda Wrazen at (802) 262-1357 to make your pledge today.

VHC welcomes Tess Taylor as its new Director of Community Programs. A graduate of Saint Michael’s College, Tess has worked in many roles in Vermont. A three-term state representative from Barre City, she was also, for six years, the Director of Education and Public Programming at the Vermont Historical Society (VHS). Through that position and other relations, she knows the work of VHC

and the many town historical societies that often utilize VHC’s Speakers Bureau. Tess brings extensive experience organizing programs and events, nurturing existing relationships among organizations, and forming new collaborations across the state.

Before working at VHS, Tess served as executive director of the South End Arts and Business Association in Burlington and of Studio Place Arts (SPA) in Barre, and as general manager of the Vermont Granite Museum of Barre.

VHC�welcomes�two�new�members�to�its�board�of�directors.

Elizabeth Fenton of Essex Junction is Associate Professor of English at the University of Vermont, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses on novels in early America, the literature of colonial encounter, Mark Twain’s America, and other topics. She worked previously as Assistant Professor of English at UVM and at Loyola University. She is a graduate of UVM

and earned an MA and PhD in English from Rice University. Elizabeth has served on numerous committees at UVM, including the Graduate and Executive committees in the English Department, on the Honors College Council, and

Tess Taylor

Elizabeth Fenton

Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018��•��Page 5

News andNotes

Call for BoardNominations

The Vermont Humanities Council invites nominations

for its board of directors. If you know someone who would like to be considered for the board, contact Development Officer Linda Wrazen at 802.262.1357 or lwrazen@vermonthumanities.org.

Next Board Meeting:

December 5, 11:00 am Vermont Law School, South Royaltonvermonthumanities.org/board

Participants in the Reading Frederick Douglass event hosted by the Peace & Justice Center at Burlington City Hall on July 2 follow along with the public reading of Douglass’ fiery Independence Day speech. Thirty Vermont communities took part in the program this year, which started with only four venues in 2014.

• And Justice for All Exhibit and We the People Lectures, Friends of the Morrill Homestead, $1,000—to support a lecture and an exhibit commemorating the sesquicentennial of the ratification of the 14th Amendment.

• 2018 Bookstock Literary Festival, Woodstock, $2,000—to support the tenth annual festival.

• 2018 Brattleboro Literary Festival, Brattleboro, $2,000—to support the 17th annual festival.

• 2018 Burlington Book Festival, Burlington, $2,000—to support the 14th annual festival.

• Common Things Lecture Series, Clemmons Family Farm, $2,850—to support a series featuring teen scholars who share their process in developing creative works.

• History Camp 2018, Swanton Public Library, $1,500—to support a free annual summer camp for kids exploring American and world history and archaeology.

• Justice — and Poetry — for All, Sundog Poetry Center, Inc., $1,500—to support a celebration of African American poetry in a series of readings held at Clemmons Family Farm.

• PlayTalks 2018: Women’s Voices, Dorset Theatre Festival, $1,000—to support humanities-based panels and discussions on women to accompany the theatre’s 2018 season.

• Stage 33 Live Presentations, Stage 33 Live LTD, $500—to support a humanities-based TV, radio, and web series.

• Time Travelers Camp 2018, Orleans County istorical Society, $2,000—to support a history camp for kids 8–12 using art and the humanities.

• Traveling Exhibits for Inter-library Loans, Vermont Folklife Center, $1,500—to support the creation of three portable exhibits on the cultural heritage of Vermont.

• “The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur,” Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, $1,500—to support two programs by author Scott S. Greenberger presented at presidential state historic sites.

• The Vermont International Festival Abenaki Culture Lectures and Demonstration, Vermont Performing Arts League, $1,000—to support Abenaki community presentations at the Vermont International Festival.

• Vermont Music History Exhibit, Big Heavy World, $1,000—to support an exhibit on music in Vermont at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier.

VHC Awards $21,350 in Humanities Grants in Spring 2018

Humanities Spring Grant Deadlines: • Accepting letters of intent: Jan. 7–Feb. 8, 2019 • Accepting proposals: Feb. 18–March 22 • Decision announcements: May 15

Reading Frederick Douglass

N.�C.�(1882–1945),�Andrew�(1917–2009),�and�Jamie�(b.�1946)�—�and�offers�new�perspectives�on�these�painters.�Middlebury,�Ilsley�Public�Library,�7:00�pm.�Chris�Kirby,�802.388.4095.

THROuGH OCTOBER�~ Manchester Historical Society Artifact Display.�Vermont Reads Event.�This�exhibit�relates�to�the�period�during�which�Bread and Roses, Too takes�place.�Manchester Community Library.�Information,�802.362.2607.

OCTOBER 3�~ When Journalism Becomes Advocacy.�First Wednesdays talk.�Journalist�Carroll�Bogert,�president�of�the�Marshall�Project,�examines�the�line�separating�the�media�from�activists,�and�considers�what�we�gain,�and�what�we�lose,�when�journalism�takes�an�obvious�stand.�Manchester,�First�Congregational�Church,�7:00�pm.�Cindy�Waters,�802.362.2607.

OCTOBER 6 ~ Book Discussion: Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry by Billy Collins, Editor. Part�of�the�Vermont�Reads�Past�Picks�series.�Led�by�Charles�Rossiter.�Bennington,�The�Green�at�Harwood�Hill�Motel,�1:00�pm.�Bennington�Area�Arts�Council,�708.606.4673.

OCTOBER 14 ~ Bread and Roses, Too Book Discussion.�Vermont Reads Event.�We�will�discuss�how�the�book’s�characters�deal�with�labor�strikes,�the�roles�of�women,�and�other�issues.�Led�by�Arlington�High�School�teacher�Carol�Farley.�Arlington,�Martha�Canfield�Library,�2:00�pm.�Information,�802.375.6153.

OCTOBER 18 ~ The Western Abenaki: History and Culture. Jeanne�Brink�examines�the�importance�in�Abenaki�society�of�elders�and�children,�the�environment,�and�the�continuance�of�lifeways�and�traditions.�Rupert United Methodist Church,��7:00�pm.�Gene�Higgins,�802.394.7738.

NOvEMBER 7 ~ Celebrating E. B. White. First Wednesdays talk.�From�Charlotte’s Web�to�his�essays�in�The New Yorker, �E.�B.�White�remains�the�master’s�master�of�elegant�prose,�sophisticated�wit,�and�graceful�irreverence.�Drawing�on�his�various�writings,�Dartmouth�professor�Nancy�Jay�Crumbine�

OCTOBER 3 ~ Creativity and Historical Truths. First Wednesdays talk.�Despite�journalism’s�essential�role�in�informing�the�public�about�significant�events,�Dartmouth�professor�Irene�Kacandes�argues�that�it’s�memoir,�fiction,�music,�and�art�that�often�best�convey�truth�and�leave�lasting�impressions.�Middlebury,�Ilsley�Public�Library,�7:00�pm.�Chris�Kirby,�802.388.4095.

OCTOBER 10 ~ Soup to Nuts: An Eccentric History of Food. Writer�Rebecca�Rupp�explains�the�rocky�evolution�of�table�manners,�the�not-so-welcome�invention�of�the�fork,�the�surprising�benefits�of�family�dinners,�and�more.�Vergennes,�Bixby�Library,�10:30�am.�Addison�County�Retired�Teachers�Association,�802.759.7777.

OCTOBER 14 ~ Colonial Meetinghouses of New England. New�England’s�colonial�meetinghouses�embody�an�important�yet�little-known�chapter�in�American�history.�Paul�Wainwright�tells�the�story�of�their�construction,�use,�and�lasting�impact�on�American�culture.�Ferrisburg,�Union�Meeting�House,�2:00�pm.�Gail�Blasius,�802.425.4505.

NOvEMBER 7 ~ Political Activism and the Case for Hope. First Wednesdays talk.�Join�Black�Lives�Matter�advocate�DeRay�McKesson�for�an�interactive�program�about�political�activism,�as�McKesson�shares�how�his�liberal�arts�education�gives�perspective�and�informs�his�approach�to�advocacy.�Wilson Hall, Middlebury College,�7:00�pm.�Chris�Kirby,�802.388.4095.

DECEMBER 5 ~ The Wyeths: First Family of American Art. First Wednesdays talk.�Shelburne�Museum�director�Thomas�Denenberg�discusses�the�Wyeths�—��

celebrates�White’s�versatility�and�legacy.�Manchester,�First�Congregational�Church,�7:00�pm.�Cindy�Waters,�802.362.2607.

NOvEMBER 10�~ Restorative Justice: How vermont, Argentina, and Rwanda Wrestle with Crime, the Past, and Rebuilding Community. In�response�to�atrocities�and�crimes�against�humanity,�truth�commissions�have�attempted�to�bring�justice�and�healing�to�communities.�Norwich�University�Professor�Rowly�Brucken�explains�these�initiatives.�North Bennington,�The�Left�Bank,�2:00�pm.�Jennie�Rozycki,�802.447.7121.

DECEMBER 5�~ Robert Penn Warren’s Timeless All the King’s Men. First Wednesdays talk.�Warren’s�1947�Pulitzer-winning�novel�chronicles�the�rise�and�reign�of�politician�Willie�Stark�—�based�on�Louisiana’s�Huey�Long�—�who�stirs�class�resentments�and�mesmerizes�crowds.�Middlebury�professor�Deborah�Evans�examines�how�it�addresses�the�moral�challenges�of�balancing�populist�desires�with�the�lure�of�personal�power.�Books available to read in advance or afterwards (not required).�Manchester,�First�Congregational�Church,�7:00�pm.�Cindy�Waters,�802.362.2607.

SEPTEMBER 26 ~ Hardwick During the Era of the “Bread and Roses” Strike.�Vermont Reads Event.�Elizabeth�Dow,�PhD�discusses�the�granite�industry�in�Hardwick�in�1912.�Hardwick Historical Society,�7:00�pm.�Jeudevine�Memorial�Library,�802.472.5948.

OCTOBER 3�~ Bread and Roses, Too. First Wednesdays talk.�Acclaimed�children’s�book�author�Katherine�Paterson�discusses�her�novel�of�historical�fiction�that�tells�the�story�of�the�1912�“Bread�and�Roses”�strike�in�the�Lawrence,�Massachusetts�textile�mills�through�the�eyes�of�an�Italian-American�girl�and�a�runaway�boy.�St. Johnsbury Athenaeum,�7:00�pm.�Robert�Joly,�802.748.8291.�

OCTOBER 3 ~ Bread and Roses, Too Book Discussion.�Vermont Reads Event.��Led�by�library�director�Lisa�Sammet.�Hardwick,�Jeudevine�Memorial�Library,��7:00�pm.�Information,�802.472.5948.

Addison County

CAledoniA County

Bennington County

C • a • l • e • n • d • a • rAutumn�and�Early�Winter�2018

Page 6��•��Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018

Above: Lake Willoughby in Westmore with Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor in the background. Historian Jill Mudgett discusses the origins of Vermonters’ pride in their landscape on October 20 at Weathersfield Meeting House. Image from vintage postcard, Boston Public Library Tichnor Brothers collection.

Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018��•��Page 7

Calendar

OCTOBER 6 ~ Make a Printers Hat like Granite Workers Wore.�Vermont Reads Event.�Come�make�a�hat�and�learn�about�the�granite�industry�in�Hardwick�and�Barre.�Hardwick,�Jeudevine�Memorial�Library,��11:00�am.�Information,�802.472.5948.

NOvEMBER 7 ~ The Fate of Western Democracy. First Wednesdays talk.�Liberal�democracy�—�the�system�of�representative�democracy,�individual�liberty,�and�the�rule��of�law�on�which�America�was�founded�—��is�being�challenged�by�both�foreign�powers�and�domestic�politicians�who�favor�more�autocratic�governance.�Visiting�scholar�at�Middlebury�College�Stan�Sloan�discusses��these�threats.�St. Johnsbury Athenaeum,�7:00�pm.�Robert�Joly,�802.748.8291.

DECEMBER 6�(Note date) ~ Charles Dickens and the Writing of A Christmas Carol. First Wednesdays talk.�Dickens�scholar�Barry�Deitz�considers�Dickens’s�career�up�to�the�publication�of�A Christmas Carol�in�1843,�what�the�novella’s�success�meant�to�Dickens’s�life�and�work,�and�how�the�story�has�resonated�since,�including�in�films.�St. Johnsbury Athenaeum,�7:00�pm.�Robert�Joly,�802.748.8291.

OCTOBER 12–14 ~ 2018 Burlington Book Festival.�Grant Event.�The�city’s�14th�annual�celebration�of�the�written�word�offers�readings,�signings,�panels,�workshops,�film�screenings,�musical�performances,�

self-awareness,�and�atomized�German�society.�Essex Junction,�Brownell�Library,�7:00�pm.�Wendy�Hysko,�802.878.6954.

Book Discussion: Experience My World. These�books�take�the�reader�inside�the�world�of�those�experiencing�bipolar�disorder,�physical�disability,�and�Alzheimer’s�disease.�Led�by�Merilyn�Burrington.�Shelburne,�Wake�Robin�Community�Center,�Mondays,�7:30�pm.�Pat�Dart,�248.470.2614.�October 8,�Kay�Redfield�Jamison’s�An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness.�November 5,�Robert�Murphy’s�The Body Silent: The Different World of the Disabled.�December 10,�Harriet�Chessman’s�Someone Not Really Her Mother.

Book Discussion: The African American Experience: South to North. This�series�pairs�Isabel�Wilkerson’s�masterful�history�of�the�African-American�Great�Migration�with�fiction�and�memoir.�Led�by�Merrilyn�Burrington.�South Burlington Public Library,�Wednesdays,�6:30�pm.�For�information,�802.846.4140.�October 10,�Jean�Toomer’s�Cane.�November 14,�Ernest�J.�Gaines’s�In My Father’s House.�December 12,�Isabel�Wilkerson’s�The Warmth of Other Suns.

Women veterans Book Group 2018. Veterans�Book�Groups�explore�books,��poetry,�articles,�and�short�stories,�with�the�goal�of�fostering�camaraderie�and�a�safe�space�to�reflect�and�share�ideas�and�questions.�Free�copies�of�all�readings�provided.�Open�to�all�US�military�women�veterans.�Led�by�Merilyn�Burrington.�Free.�Pre-registration�required.�Burlington Lakeside Veterans Clinic,�Fridays,�12:30�pm.�Ellen�Duval,�802.657.7092.�October 19�and�November 30.

original�theater,�and�more.�Free�and�open�to�the�public.�Burlington,�UVM�Alumni�House�Silver�Pavilion�and�downtown�venues.�For�information,�802.658.3328�or�visit�burlingtonbookfestival.com.

OCTOBER 13�~ America: The Movie.�Grant Event.�This�ticketed�event�features�award-winning�director�Eugene�Jarecki�in�conversation�with�the�audience�on�the�subjects�addressed�in�his�work.�Includes�film�excerpts,�audience�Q&A,�reception,�and�book�signing.�Burlington,�UVM�Alumni�House�and�Silver�Pavilion,�7:00�pm.�For�ticket�info,�contact�Burlington�Book�Festival,�802.658.3328.

OCTOBER 17�~�(Note date and time) The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age. First Wednesdays talk.�New York Times national�security�correspondent�David�Sanger�describes�America’s�use�of�cyber�warfare�in�its�arsenal.�Examining�its�impact�on�both�defense�strategy�and�civil�liberties,�he�argues�that�overclassification�is�not�only�impeding�our�understanding�of�government�actions�but�also�hurting�national�security.��Ira Allen Chapel, Burlington,�5:00�pm.

OCTOBER 17 ~ Catching People’s Stories. Using�recorded�interviews,�Jane�Beck�shares�the�experiences,�values,�and�attitudes�of�ordinary�people�—�often�doing�extraordinary�things�—�and�reflects�on�why�people�tell�stories.�South Burlington Public Library,�6:30�pm.�Verity�Burnor,�802.846.4140.

NOvEMBER 7�~ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” First Wednesdays talk.�Producer�Nicholas�Ma�discusses�and�shows�clips�from�his�recent�film�“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,”�a�documentary�about�Mister�Rogers,�a�leader�in�TV�programming�related�to�kindness,�racial�harmony,�civility,�and�hope.�Essex Junction,�Brownell�Library,�7:00�pm.�Wendy�Hysko,�802.878.6954.

NOvEMBER 15 ~ “I Wrote and Waited”: Aleksandr Solzhentsyn’s Life in Cavendish, vermont.�Grant Event.�Author�Margo�Caulfield�shares�insights�into�the�life�of�Solzhenitsyn,�a�Nobel�Prize-winning�Soviet�dissident�author�who�moved�to�Cavendish�after�his�exile�from�the�Soviet�Union.�Burlington,�UVM,�University�Heights�South�Room�133,�12:00�pm.��Amanda�Gustin,�802.479.4264.

NOvEMBER 16–17 ~ vHC 2018 Fall Conference: The Ebb and Flow of Optimism through American History. See�page�12.

DECEMBER 5 ~ Daily Life in Prewar Nazi Germany. First Wednesdays talk.��Focusing�on�the�prewar�experience�of��non-Jewish�citizens,�Keene�State�professor�Paul�Vincent�examines�how�ideology�and�terror�undermined�human�dignity,�numbed�

Chittenden County

Children on steps of Barre’s Labor Hall, 1912. Numerous Vermont Reads 2018 events take place this fall around the state, including a special event at Springfield High School on September 26 with author Katherine Paterson, who will also discuss Bread and Roses, Too as part of First Wednesdays in St. Johnsbury (October 3) and Rutland (November 7). Image courtesy Vermont Historical Society Collections

Calendar

New York Times national security correspondent David Sanger discusses cyber warfare and the press at UVM’s Ira Allen Chapel on October 17 as part of First Wednesdays. DoD photo by Joseph Eddins.

Page 8��•��Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018

Calendar

SEPTEMBER 29�~ vermont’s Historic Theater Curtains. Christine�Hadsel�discusses�some�of�Vermont’s�177�curtains�that�graced�stages�in�town�and�grange�halls,�opera�houses,�and�community�theaters.�Jeffersonville,�Varnum�Memorial�Library,�3:00�pm.�Christy�Liddy,�802.644.2117.

OCTOBER 13�~ From Skiffs to Sail Ferries: The Story of vermont’s Small Boat Traditions.�Douglas�Brooks�shares�his�research�on�Vermont’s�boat-building�traditions�and�his�work�recreating�some�of�these�historic�vessels.�Jeffersonville,�Varnum�Memorial�Library,��3:00�pm.�Monica�Hawkes,�802.644.1418.

Book Discussion: Booker Prize Winners. The�Booker�Prize�has�achieved�respect�that�rivals�the�Pulitzer.�This�series�explores�some��of�the�winning�works.�Led�by�Francette�Cerulli.�Jeffersonville,�Varnum�Memorial�Library,�Saturdays,�3:00�pm.�Jan�Schilling,�802.644.2025.�November 10,�Margaret�Atwood’s�The Blind Assassin.�December 8,�J.�M.�Coetzee’s�The Life and Times of Michael K.

THROuGH OCTOBER 14 ~ And Justice for All Exhibit: Justin Morrill and the 14th Amendment of the uS Constitution. Grant Event.�This�groundbreaking�exhibit�highlights�the�critical�aspects�of�the�14th�Amendment�and�Vermonter�Justin�Morrill’s�role�in�its�drafting.�Admission�$6.�Strafford,�Justin�Morrill�Homestead,�10:00�am–5:00�pm�Wednesdays�through�Sundays.�Michael�Caduto,�802.765.4288.

OCTOBER 16 ~ The Old Country Fiddler: Charles Ross Taggart, vermont’s Traveling Entertainer. Fiddler�Adam�Boyce�portrays�Charles�Ross�Taggart�near�the�end�of�his�career,�circa�1936,�sharing�recollections�of�his�life�and�career�with�live�fiddling.�East Topsham Town Hall,�7:00�pm.�Topsham�Historical�Society,�802.439.6339.�

OCTOBER 23 ~ The First Arsenal of Democracy: “High-Tech” in the Connecticut valley, 1795–1900. Historian�Carrie�Brown�explores�the�role�of�the�Connecticut�Valley,�with�an�emphasis�on�Vermont,�in�developing�technology�that�changed�American�life.�Bradford,�United�Church�of�Christ,�7:00�pm.�Larry�Coffin,�802.222.4423.

OCTOBER 28 ~ Wolf Peaches, Poisoned Peas, and Madame Pompadour’s underwear: The Surprising History of Common Garden vegetables. Science�and�history�writer�Rebecca�Rupp�discusses�the�stories�behind�many�of�our�favorite�garden�vegetables.�Randolph,�St.�John’s�Episcopal�Church,��2:30�pm.�Marilyn�Polson,�802.685.7725.

OCTOBER 3�~ After Fifty Years of Teaching, a Teacher’s Favorite Poems. First Wednesdays talk.�UVM�professor�emeritus�Huck�Gutman�reflects�on�some�of�his�favorite�poets,�both�American�and�European,�whom�he�explored��in�his�fifty�years�of�teaching�at�UVM.�Newport,�Goodrich�Memorial�Library,��7:00�pm.�Katherine�Langlands,�802.334.7902.�

NOvEMBER 7�~ The Roots of Fascism.��First Wednesdays talk.�Dartmouth�professor�Graziella�Parati�tells�the�history�of�fascism�and�its�roots�in�Italy�in�1919,�and�explores�similarities�and�differences�in�the�fascist�regimes�of�Adolf�Hitler�and�Francisco�Franco.�Newport,�Goodrich�Memorial�Library,�7:00�pm.�Katherine�Langlands,�802.334.7902.�

DECEMBER 5 ~ Making Sense of the News, Local to Global.�First Wednesdays talk.�Pulitzer-Prize�winning�journalist�David�Moats�leads�a�panel�discussion�with�some�of�the�region’s�best�journalists,�including�VTDigger�founder�and�editor�Anne�Galloway�and�Chronicle�founder�and�publisher�Chris�Braithwaite.�Newport,�Goodrich�Memorial�Library,��7:00�pm.�Katherine�Langlands,�802.334.7902.�

Book Discussion: Fear No Labor: Novels about union Organizing. This�series�examines�the�formation�of�unions�in�different�industries�and�the�people�who�suffered,�fought,�and�died�as�part�of�the�labor�battle.�Led�by�Rachael�Cohen.�Derby,�Dailey�Memorial�Library,�Sundays,��

1:30�pm.�Maureen�Badger,�802.766.5063.�September 30,�Dennis�Lehane’s�The Given Day.�October 21,�Denise�Giardina’s�Storming Heaven.�November 11,�Jon�Hassler’s�Rookery Blues.

SEPTEMBER 27 ~ Song of the vikings: The Making of Norse Myths. Award-winning�author�Nancy�Marie�Brown�illuminates�the�folklore�and�pagan�legends�of�medieval�Scandinavia.�Castleton Free Library,�7:00�pm.�Mary�Kearns,�802.468.5574.

OCTOBER 3 ~ The British Monarchy: Politics, Money, and Public Image.�First Wednesdays talk.�Americans�were�fascinated�by�the�British�royal�family�long�before�Meghan�Markle,�but�few�have�understood�its�history.�What�role�has�the�monarchy�played�in�the�British�constitution?�How�is�it�financed,�and�how�important�is�its�public�image?�Middlebury�professor�Paul�Monod�addresses�these�questions.�Rutland Free Library,�7:00�pm.�Randal�Smathers,�802.773.1860.

OCTOBER 16 ~ Levi Allen: Ethan Allen’s Black Sheep Brother. Vincent�Feeney�discusses��how�Levi�Allen�was�an�outsider�in�his�own�family�and�presents�a�vivid�picture�of�the�Allens’�turmoil�during�the�formative�years��of�Vermont�and�the�American�Republic.��Fair Haven Free Library,�7:00�pm.�Cecelia�Hunt,�802.265.7913.

OCTOBER 18 ~ vermont vs. Hollywood: 100 Years of vermont in Film. Amanda�Kay�Gustin�of�the�Vermont�Historical�Society�provides�background�and�shares�clips�from�Hollywood�films�based�in�Vermont.�Pawlet Town Hall,�7:00�pm.�Stephen�Williams,�802.645.9529.

NOvEMBER 3 ~ King Arthur Flour Motorcoach Tour. Vermont Reads Event.�Delve�into�bread�and�culture�with�a�motor�coach�tour�to�King�Arthur�Flour,�watching�en�route�a�documentary�about�the�historic�“Bread�and�Roses”�textile�strike�in�Lawrence,�Massachusetts.�Copies�of�Katherine�Paterson’s�Bread and Roses, Too�available�on�the�coach.�Advanced�registration�and�payment�required.�Meet�at�Pawlet Public Library,�9:00�am.��For�information,�802.325.3123.

NOvEMBER 7 ~ Bread and Roses, Too.�First Wednesdays talk.�Acclaimed�children’s��book�author�Katherine�Paterson�discusses��her�novel�of�historical�fiction�that�tells�the�story�of�the�1912�“Bread�and�Roses”�strike�in�the�Lawrence,�Massachusetts�textile�mills�through�the�eyes�of�an�Italian-American�girl�and�a�runaway�boy.�Rutland Free Library,�7:00�pm.�Randal�Smathers,�802.773.1860.

Making sense of the news (and “fake news”) is the focus of First Wednesdays and Speakers Bureau talks this fall in Newport, Montpelier, Rutland, Manchester, and Bellows Falls.

lAmoille County

orAnge County

rutlAnd County

orleAns County

State�Humanities�Councils.�Montpelier,�Vermont�State�House,�8:30�am.�vtstatehouse.org/symposium.

OCTOBER 25 ~ Of Wheelmen, the New Woman, and Good Roads: Bicycling in vermont, 1880–1920. UVM�professor�Luis�Vivanco�explores�the�fascinating�early�history�of�the�bicycle�in�Vermont,�a�new�invention��that�generated�widespread�curiosity�when��it�arrived�here�in�the�1880s.�Montpelier, Onion�River�Outdoors,�6:30�pm.�Rachel�Senechal,�802.223.3338�x311.�

NOvEMBER 7 ~ News, “Fake News,” and Democracy in America.�First Wednesdays talk.�“Fake�news”�has�now�entered�America’s�lexicon�and�political�life.�How�is�the�explosion�of�misinformation�changing�the�nation?�How�can�journalists�fight�back?�Mark�Potok,�former�editor�of�the�Southern�Poverty�Law�Center’s Intelligence Report,�considers�the�role�of�a�serious�free�press�in�a�post-industrial�democracy.�Montpelier,�Unitarian�Church,�7:00�pm. Rachel�Senechal,�802.223.3338�x311.

NOvEMBER 14 ~ vermont vs. Hollywood: 100 Years of vermont in Film.�Amanda�Kay�Gustin�of�the�Vermont�Historical�Society�provides�background�and�shares�clips�from�Hollywood�films�based�in�Vermont.�Montpelier Senior Activity Center,��1:30�pm.�Grace�Greene,�802.479.2602.

DECEMBER 5�~ The Legacy of Rachel Carson.�First Wednesdays talk.�Silent Spring�not�only�launched�the�environmental�movement�but�also�laid�out�the�fundamental�problems�with�our�relationship�to�nature.�Dartmouth�professor�Nancy�Jay�Crumbine�celebrates�scientist�and�poet�Rachel�Carson’s�clarity,�courage,�and�brilliance.�Montpelier,�Kellogg-Hubbard�Library,�7:00�pm.�Rachel�Senechal,�802.223.3338�x311.

SEPTEMBER 29�~ vermont History through Song. Singer�and�researcher�Linda�Radtke,�with�pianist�Arthur�Zorn,�brings�Vermont�history�to�life�with�engaging�commentary.�Bellows Falls,�Immanuel�Episcopal�Church,�7:30�pm.�Stone�Church�Center,�802.460.0110.

OCTOBER 3�~ Hamilton: The Man and the Musical.�First Wednesdays talk.�From�his�birth�in�the�Caribbean�to�death�in�a�duel,�Alexander�Hamilton’s�life�was�part�romance,�part�tragedy.�Hamilton�biographer�Willard�Sterne�Randall�discusses�the�man�and�the�blockbuster�Broadway�musical,�with�excerpts�from�its�score.�Brattleboro,�Brooks��Memorial�Library,�7:00�pm.�Starr�LaTronica,�802.254.5290.

Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018��•� Page 9

Calendar

First Wednesdays returns October 3

Since 2002 VHC’s First Wednesdays lecture series

has brought enriching programs to thousands of people annually throughout the state. The 2018-19 season includes talks by New York Times national security correspondent David Sanger on cyber warfare and the press; historian Harold Holzer on Lincoln’s second inaugural address; author Susan Clark on the Slow Democracy movement; Smithsonian senior curator Eleanor Jones Harvey on the paintings of Frederic Church and Albert Bierstadt; Black Lives Matter advocate DeRay McKesson on education and activism; film producer Nicholas Ma on his Mister Rogers documentary; Positive Shift author Catherine Sanderson on how thinking influences us; Yale Law School lecturer Emily Bazelon on mass incarceration; journalist Mark Potok and VPR host Jane Lindholm on the fake news era; and much more.

Visit vermonthumanities.org/ first-wednesdays to see the full 2018-2019 schedule. And join us on October 3 for the beginning of a new season of informative and enriching free lectures.

NOvEMBER 13�~ Bread and Roses, Too Book Discussion. Vermont Reads Event.�Adults�are�invited�to�join�the�library’s�Tea�Read�Book�Club�to�discuss�Katherine�Paterson’s�Bread and Roses, Too.�Books�available�at�the�Library��in�advance.�Pawlet Public Library,�1:00�pm.�For�information,�802.325.3123.

NOvEMBER 17 ~ Immigration Experience in the Slate valley of New York and vermont. Vermont Reads Event.�View�exhibits�at�the�Slate�Valley�Museum�in�Granville,�NY�that�interpret�the�immigration�experience�of�many�families�who�moved�to�the�slate�region�of�Vermont�and�New�York�to�work�in�the�slate�industry.�$5�museum�admission.�Hosted�by�Pawlet�Public�Library.�Meet�at�Granville Slate Valley Museum,�1:00�pm.�For�information,�802.325.3123.

DECEMBER 5 ~ Objectivity in the Fake News Era.�First Wednesdays talk.�VPR�host�Jane�Lindholm�offers�ways�for�listeners�to�ensure�that�the�news�they�get�is�accurate,�and�for�news�organizations�to�safeguard�their�reporting�as�fair�and�correct.�Rutland Free Library,�7:00�pm.�Randal�Smathers,�802.773.1860.

OCTOBER 3�~ How the South Won the Civil War and Why It Matters.�First Wednesdays talk.�Most�Americans�were�taught�that�the�North�won�and�the�South�lost�the�Civil�War.�But�what�if�its�underlying�issues�were�never�resolved?�Harvard�professor�John�Stauffer�connects�the�Civil�War�era�with�current�events,�highlighting�how�the�South�effectively�won�the�war�and�why�it�matters.�Montpelier,�Unitarian�Church,�7:00�pm. Rachel�Senechal,�802.223.3338�x311.

OCTOBER 24 ~ Journalism Symposium. The�Friends�of�the�Vermont�State�House�present�a�day�of�discussion�about�the�challenges�facing�American�citizens�today�who�depend�on�journalists�for�information.�Panelists�include�David�Mindich,�Chair�of�the�Journalism�Department�at�the�Klein�College��of�Media�and�Communication,�Temple�University;�Jane�Mayer,�New Yorker�staff�writer;�David�Moats,�Pulitzer�Prize-winning�journalist;�Allen�Gilbert,�former�Executive�Director�of�ACLU-VT;�Anne�Galloway,�founder�and�editor�of�VTDigger�and�Executive�Director�of�the�Vermont�Journalism�Trust;�Candace�Page,�editor�at�Seven Days�and�inductee�in�the��New�England�Newspaper�Hall�of�Fame;��and�many�more!�$15,�includes�lunch.�Part�of�the�Democracy�of�the�Informed�Citizen�Initiative�funded�by�the�Mellon�Foundation��and�administered�by�the�Federation�of��

WAshington County

WindhAm County

Page 10��•��Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018

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Advertisement for Columbia Bicycles, 1895. UVM professor Luis Vivanco shares the early history of the bicycle in Vermont on October 25 in Montpelier and November 4 in Woodstock.

OCTOBER 11–14 ~ Brattleboro Literary Festival 2018.�Grant Event.�This�year’s�festival�showcases�more�than�50�writers,�poets,�and�editors�in�panels,�readings,�and�other�special�events.�Free�and�open�to�the�public.�Downtown Brattleboro.�For�information,�802.365.7673.

OCTOBER 18 ~ Sorting the News from the Chaff. Paradoxically,�the�Internet�has�made�it�both�easier�and�harder�to�find�“truth.”�Journalist�and�educator�Mark�Timney�shares�how�to�tell�good�sources�from�bad�ones,�discern�fact�from�assumption,�and�distinguish�“fake�news”�from�the�real�thing.�Bellows Falls,�Rockingham�Free�Public�Library,�6:00�pm.�Anne�Dempsey,�802.463.4270.

OCTOBER 23 ~ Cartooning Reconsidered. James�Sturm,�co-founder�of�the�Center�for�Cartoon�Studies�in�White�River�Junction,�explores�the�history�of�the�language�and�art�of�comics�and�the�new�ways�that�cartooning�and�visual�storytelling�are�changing�the�world.�Putney,�O’Brien�Auditorium�at�Landmark�College,�7:00�pm.�For�information,�802.387.4767.

NOvEMBER 7 ~ The New World We Face: America Alone? First Wednesdays talk.�Veteran�diplomat�George�Jaeger�considers�a�world�in�which�America�chooses�unilateral�action�but�not�leadership�in�the�international�community,�which�risks�isolating�the�US�from�both�allies�and�adversaries.�Brattleboro,�Brooks�Memorial�Library,�7:00�pm.�Starr�LaTronica,�802.254.5290.

DECEMBER 5 ~ Writing the Life of Frederick Douglass.�First Wednesdays talk.�Yale�historian�David�Blight,�author�of�a�new�biography�of�Frederick�Douglass,�tells�Douglass’s�story:�an�escaped�slave�who�became�one�of�the�leading�abolitionists,�orators,�and�writers�of�his�era.�Brattleboro,�Brooks�Memorial�Library,�7:00�pm.�Starr�LaTronica,�802.254.5290.

SEPTEMBER 26 ~ 2018 vermont Reads Author Katherine Paterson Talk. Vermont Reads Event. World-renowned�children’s�author,�Vermont�resident,�and�frequent�VHC�presenter�Katherine�Paterson�will�speak�about�her�work�including�her�book,�Bread and Roses, Too,�VHC’s�2018��Vermont�Reads�book.�Springfield High School,�6:30�pm.�Richelle�Franzoni,�802.262.1355.

OCTOBER 3 ~ uS Immigration Policy in Historical Perspective.�First Wednesdays talk.�One�would�think�that�current�anxieties�about�immigration�in�the�US�have�never�

been�more�intense,�but�history�teaches�us�otherwise.�Dartmouth�professor�Richard�Wright�examines�the�present-day�contradictions�of�US�immigration�policy�and�places�them�in�historical�perspective.�Norwich Public Library,�7:00�pm.�Lucinda�Walker,�802.649.1184.

OCTOBER 20 ~ vermont’s Remarkable Sharpshooters and Gettysburg. Historian�Howard�Coffin�shares�his�recent�research��on�how�Vermont’s�sharpshooters�played�a�little-known�but�major�role�at�Gettysburg�during�the�Civil�War.�North Springfield,�Springfield�Art�and�Historical�Society,�2:00�pm.�For�information,�802.886.7935.

OCTOBER 20 ~ The Hills of Home: Mountains and Identity in vermont History. Historian��Jill�Mudgett�discusses�the�origins�and�meaning�of�our�strongly�held�attachments�to�the�Vermont�landscape.�Perkinsville,�Weathersfield�Meeting�House,�7:30�pm.�Weathersfield�Historical�Society,�802.885.9517.

OCTOBER 21 ~ Impact of the Textile Industry. Vermont Reads Event.�Bread and Roses, Too�tells�the�story�of�striking�mill�workers�in�Lawrence,�Massachusetts.�We’ll�discuss�their�working�conditions�and�the�historical�significance�of�the�strike.�Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield,��12:00�pm.�For�information,�802.885.3327.

NOvEMBER 4 ~ Of Wheelmen, the New Woman, and Good Roads: Bicycling in vermont, 1880–1920. UVM�professor�Luis�Vivanco�explores�the�fascinating�early�history�of�the�bicycle�in�Vermont,�a�new�invention�that�generated�widespread�curiosity�when�

it�arrived�here�in�the�1880s.�Woodstock History Center,�2:00�pm.�Jennie�Shurtleff,�802.457.1822.

NOvEMBER 7�~ The Antislavery Press and the Road to Civil War.�First Wednesdays talk.�University�of�Connecticut�history�professor�Manisha�Sinha�explores�the�work�and�legacy�of�antislavery�editors�such�as�William�Lloyd�Garrison,�Frederick�Douglass,�and�pioneering�African�American�and�women�editors�whose�journalism�in�the�mid-19th�century�was�critical�to�the�abolition�of�slavery.�Norwich Public Library,�7:00�pm.�Lucinda�Walker,�802.649.1184.

DECEMBER 5�~ Hamilton: The Man and the Musical.�First Wednesdays talk.�From�his�birth�in�the�Caribbean�to�death�in�a�duel,�Alexander�Hamilton’s�life�was�part�romance,�part�tragedy.�Hamilton�biographer�Willard�Sterne�Randall�discusses�the�man�and�the�blockbuster�Broadway�musical,�with�excerpts�from�its�score.�Norwich Public Library,�7:00�pm.�Lucinda�Walker,�802.649.1184.

Book Discussion: The African American Experience: South to North. This�series�pairs�Isabel�Wilkerson’s�masterful�history�of�the�African�American�Great�Migration�with�fiction�and�memoir.�Led�by�Deborah�Luskin.�Hartland Public Library,�Wednesdays,��6:30�pm.�For�information,�802.436.2473.�October 3,�Isabel�Wilkerson’s�The Warmth of Other Suns.�October 24,�Richard�Wright’s�Black Boy.�November 14,�Ernest�J.�Gaines’s��In My Father’s House.

Book Discussion: B.I.G. (Big, Intense, Good) Books. This�series�examines�classic�works�of�literature�of�a�certain�size�and�heft�—�both�literal�and�figurative.�Led�by�Suzanne�Brown.�Norwich Public Library,�Mondays,�7:00�pm.�For�information,�802.649.1184.�October 8,�Henry�David�Thoreau’s�Walden.�October 29�and�November 19,�Henry�David�Thoreau’s�Civil Disobedience and Other Essays.

2018 vA Combat veterans Book Group. Veterans�Book�Groups�create�an�opportunity�for�veterans�to�explore�books,�poetry,�articles,�and�short�stories,�with�the�goal�of�fostering�camaraderie�and�a�safe�space�to�reflect�and�share�ideas�and�questions.�This�series�is�open�to�any�former�Service�Member�who�served�in�a�combat�theater.�Free�copies�of�all�readings�and�light�dinner�provided.�Led�by�retired�history�professor�and�Vietnam�veteran�Michael�Heaney.�Free.�Pre-registration�required.�White River Junction,�VA�Medical�Center,�Wednesdays,�5:00�pm.�David�Szelowski,�802.296.6343.�October 3,�October 17,�October 31,�November 21,�November 28,��December 5.

Windsor County

Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018��•��Page 11

News andNotes

VHC sponsored 14 Humanities Camps at middle schools around Vermont this summer. The camps help at-risk students engage with reading and the humanities. This year, campers studied themes such as Pyramids, Plows, and Podcasts, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Circumstances, Is that True?, and Bread and Roses, Too, which was centered around the 2018 Vermont Reads book.

VHC staffers and board members regularly visit the camps to observe the fun and learning that takes place during a typical day. We spoke with several camp directors to get their perspectives on the value of these Humanities Camps.

Ben Parker, Northfield Middle School, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Circumstances theme: “Whenever you have kids in a setting that’s not graded or that’s not focused on achieving specific educational outcomes, you have so many opportunities for kids to participate in real learning activities. I think one of the best things about Humanities Camp is that it’s a camp, not school. So we’re able to get to kids in a way that we aren’t always able to in the classroom.”

Sarah Miller, Camels Hump Middle School, Is that True? theme: “These Humanities Camps are really important, for the adults as well as for the young people who participate in them. Over the course of the week that we spend together, we get to know each other in a way that we don’t always have a chance to during an academic school day. We have the time to spend a whole week talking about issues that are important to kids and looking at books that are interesting and engaging. When kids have questions, we can really explore those questions together. When kids are curious about something, they can launch into their own study or their own research or their own conversations with other people.”

“I Wish Education Could Always be Like This”

Students at the Northfield Middle School took part in a group activity called “Saving Superman,” a component of their Ordinary People in Extraordinary Circumstances theme.

Carrie Gilman, Northfield Middle School: “I wish education could always be like this. It’s intensive, it’s immersive, it’s experiential, it’s project-based. It’s all of the things that we have found as educators work the best. We would give the campers a project, and they would figure out how to work it. They took

way more ownership because of that. The campers love the experience. It is truly one of the most remarkable weeks of our entire summer, if not our entire school year.”

Visit vermonthumanities.org/camp to see a video about the 2018 camps.

The Camels Hump Middle School Humanities Camp in Richmond visited WCAX-TV as part of the “Is that True?” theme about the news media. The camp was supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in partnership with the Pulitzer Prizes as part of the “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” Initiative, which is administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

The hope that tomorrow will be better than today has been a key element

of America’s history, its self-image, and even its character. However, Americans have not always been optimistic. Join the Vermont Humanities Council at our 45th annual Fall Conference to examine how Americans’ sense of optimism has changed during the nation’s history, and how people have responded to the good times and the bad.

Plenary Speakers

November 16 and 17Begins Friday afternoon and runs through Saturday

Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont

vermont Humanities Council 2018 Annual Fall Conference

Ibram X. KendiIbram�X.�Kendi�is�Professor�of�History�and�International�Relations�and�Founding�Director�of�the�Antiracist�Research�and�Policy�Center�at�American�University.�His�second�book,�Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,�won�the�2016�National�Book�Award�for�Nonfiction,�making�Kendi�the�award’s�youngest-ever�winner.�He�has�published�essays�in�books�and�academic�journals�including�The Journal of African American History,�Journal of African American Studies,�and�The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics and Culture.�He�has�written�for�Diverse: Issues in Higher Education,�The New York Times,�Time,�The Washington Post,�The Chronicle of Higher Education,�and�other�publications.�Kendi�is�the�author�of�The Black Campus Movement,�an�award-winning�book�on�Black�student�activism�in�the�late�’60s�and�early�’70s.�His�next�book,�How To Be An Antiracist,�will�be�published�in�2019.�

David W. BlightDavid�W.�Blight�is�Class�of�1954�Professor�of�American�History�at�Yale�University�and�Director�of�the�Gilder�Lehrman�Center�for�the�Study�of�Slavery,�Resistance,�and�Abolition.�He�is�one�of�the�nation’s�foremost�authorities�on�the�US�Civil�War�and�its�legacy.�He�is�the�author�of�A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Narratives of Emancipation�and�Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory,�which�received�eight�book�awards,�including�the�Bancroft�Prize,�the�Abraham�Lincoln�Prize,�and�the�Frederick�Douglass�Prize.�His�American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era�received�the�2012�Anisfield-Wolf�Award�for�best�book�in�nonfiction�on�racism�and�human�diversity.�He�latest�book,�Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom�was�published�this�fall.

Heather Cox RichardsonHeather�Cox�Richardson�teaches�nineteenth-century�American�history�at�Boston�College.�Her�early�work�focused�on�the�transformation�of�political�ideology�from�the�Civil�War�to�the�presidency�of�Theodore�Roosevelt�and�examined�issues�of�race,�economics,�westward�expansion,�and�the�construction�of�the�concept�of�an�American�middle�class.�Her�book,�To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party�examines�the�fundamental�tensions�in�American�politics�from�the�time�of�the�Northwest�Ordinance�to�the�present.�She�is�currently�working�on�an�intellectual�history�of�American�politics�and�a�graphic�treatment�of�the�Reconstruction�Era.

Mary Lou KeteMary�Lou�Kete�teaches�nineteenth-century�American�literature�and�culture�at�the�University�of�Vermont.�She�is�author�of�Sentimental Collaborations: Mourning and Middle-class Identity in Nineteenth-Century America, co-editor�of�Lydia Sigourney: Critical Essays and Cultural Turns,�and�the�nineteenth-century�editor�of�Women’s Worlds: The McGraw-Hill Anthology of Women’s Writing.�She�has�published�on�a�wide�range�of�nineteenth-century�writers�including�Longfellow,�Terry-Prince,�Whitman,�Twain,�Wheatley,�Oakes-Smith�and�Emerson.��

Page 12��•��Vermont�Humanities��•��Autumn�2018

The Ebb and Flow of Optimism through American History

Conference Schedule

Friday, November 16

3:30 pm Registration desk opens 4:00 – 5:15 pm Breakout sessions (see page 14) 5:15 – 6:15 pm Reception 6:15 – 7:30 pm Buffet dinner, optional, reservations required 7:30 – 9:00 pm Racist Ideas in America: From Slavery to Black Lives Matter Ibram X. Kendi, author of the National Book Award-winning

Stamped from the Beginning, will trace the history of racist ideas through American history, including the “dueling dualities” of racial progress and the simultaneous progress of racism. He will consider the relationship between racist ideas and racial discrimination, and offer reason for hope for the future.

Saturday, November 17 7:15 – 8:30 am Registration desk open

Continental breakfast

8:30 – 9:10 am Welcome Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, VHC executive director; Rolf Diamant, VHC board chair; presentation of 2018 Victor R. Swenson Humanities Educator Award.

9:10 – 10:25 am Composite Nation: Can America Find a unifying Historical Narrative Rooted in Progress? Americans’ sense of hope or faith that tomorrow will be better than today has always depended upon not only when one lives, but also who one is. Yale professor and author David Blight considers the ebb and flow of optimism throughout American history in light of this fact, and what this history means for the present and for the future.

10:25 – 10:40 am Break

10:40 – 11:55 am Breakout sessions (see page 14)

11:55 am – 1:00 pm Buffet lunch 1:00 – 2:15 pm The American Pendulum and the Renewal

of American Democracy Boston College professor Heather Cox Richardson explores how the economic and political crises of the 1850s, 1890s, and 1920s each created a backlash that inspired Americans to reclaim government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

2:15 – 2:30 pm Break with coffee and tea 2:30 – 3:45 pm Breakout sessions (see page 14) 3:45 – 4:00 pm Break with coffee and tea

4:00 – 5:15 pm Emerson and the Literary Landscape of Optimism Ralph Waldo Emerson’s optimism remains revolutionary. UVM professor Mary Lou Kete discusses the intersection of Emerson’s legendary faith in the future of America and his faith in the power of poetry.

Dr. Kendi’s appearance at Fall Conference 2018 is made possible with support from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Fountain Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, and Patricia Fontaine. Educator scholarships are made possible by a grant from the Bay and Paul Foundations.

Breakout Sessions

Friday, 4:00 –5:15 pm

How to Be an AntiracistWhen the first Black president was elected, some Americans imagined that their country was colorblind, even post-racial. But racism is very much alive in America, and more overt. As many people are coming to see America’s racial reality, they are trying to understand racism for the first time. In this deeply personal and empowering lecture, Ibram X. Kendi shifts the discussion from how not to be racist, to how to be an antiracist, offering direction to those who want to see a real antiracist America. Led by: Ibram X. Kendi, Professor and Director, Antiracist Research and Policy Center Department of History, American University

Walt Whitman, America’s Great Optimistic Writer

Huck Gutman and Mary Lou Kete discuss the ebb and flow of optimism in Walt Whitman, an optimist among American writers. Yet Whitman had a darker side, and an awareness of the history that constrained the nation, not least because a civil war would soon imperil the democracy he so deeply loved. Led by: Mary Lou Kete, Associate Professor of English, University of Vermont, and Huck Gutman, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Vermont

From Here to Nowhere: utopian Schemes in American LifeSince the 17th century, America has been fertile ground for attempts to engineer society according to utopian schemes. Randall Balmer considers how The Great Awakening at the turn of the 19th century unleashed a flurry of communitarian experiments, several of which had their roots in Vermont. Led by: Randall Balmer, Professor in the Arts a nd Sciences, Dartmouth College

Frederick Douglass, In Spite of Everything, OptimisticDespite having been an enslaved person, a leading abolitionist for decades, and a witness of the end of Reconstruction and the establishment of Jim Crow, Frederick Douglass had a deep 19th-century belief in progress. David Blight examines this brilliant, prominent, and influential American. Led by: David Blight, Professor of American History, Yale University

Saturday, 10:40–11:55 Am

The Blessed Hope: Optimism and Apocalypticism in American History

Randall Balmer explains how, from the earliest days of American history, Protestants have disagreed about interpreting various prophetic passages in the Bible. Their interpretations have sometimes inspired great waves of social reform, and other times have spurred Protestants to seek the second coming of Jesus and the imminent end of history. These various interpretations have impacted the agendas for social reform, and continue to affect our current political climate.Led by: Randall Balmer, Professor in the Arts and Sciences, Dartmouth College

Tribal Nations, Manifest Destiny, and the “Dying Indian”Bruce Duthu considers how Native writers, artists, and other humanists have confounded and complicated the national origin story. In the process, they have challenged the United States to live up to its professed commitments to justice for Native peoples as expressed in federal law and Indian affairs policy. Led by: N. Bruce Duthu, Samson Occom Professor of Native American Studies, Dartmouth College

visions of ProgressJennifer Raab looks at 19th-century American landscape painters like Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and Albert Bierstadt to consider how artists of that era represented progress and used the physical environment to express hope and doubt, past and future, and the local and the global. Raab will cover themes such as the relationship between art and science, the settlement of the West, modes of exhibition and display, and tourism and ecology. Led by: Jennifer Raab, Professor in the History of Art, Yale University

How the Gilded Age Created theProgressive EraThe voices of the Progressive Era, including Jane Addams, W. E. B. Du Bois, Theodore Roosevelt, and Zitkála-Šá, didn’t come from nowhere. Heather Cox Richardson explains how they articulated a vision for America that had its roots in the runaway capitalism of the Gilded Age. Led by: Heather Cox Richardson, professor teaching 19th-century American history, Boston College

Discussion and Reflection on the ThemeVHC program scholar Suzanne Brown expertly leads attendees in a discussion of three to four short selections that will explore the tension between the New World possibility of our young nation and the inevitable confrontation with social circumstance. Participants will receive these theme-related materials in advance of the conference. Led by: Suzanne Brown

Saturday, 2:30–3:45 pm

Salvation or Slippery Slope: Women as Barometers of Democratic Enthusiasm in American History

Democracy has been a core element of American identity, but enthusiasm for it has waxed and waned throughout American history. Ideas about the place of women can provide a helpful barometer of opinion. Leslie Butler explores why the campaign for women’s political rights emerged when it did and why it took so long to succeed, and what that timing can tell us about democratic optimism and/or pessimism. Led by: Leslie Butler, History professor, Dartmouth College

A.R. Ammons’s “Corson’s Inlet”: American Optimism at the End of the Twentieth CenturyAmmons’s poem is about taking a seaside walk. Referring to what he is seeing, Ammons (1926-2001), two-time winner of the National Book Award for Poetry, considers the “opposite” of optimism: violence, destruction, and terror. But he rejects them for an openness to experience that recalls Walden’s last line, “The sun is but a morning star.” Huck Gutman will walk both experienced and new poetry readers through the poem into the sun. Led by: Huck Gutman, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Vermont

The Ebb and Flow of Optimism in Twentieth-Century AmericaMark Stoler will explore the ups and downs of American attitudes toward the future in what has been called “the American Century.” He will examine the various challenges to our national optimism, from the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930s through Vietnam and Watergate in the 1960s and 1970s, and our multiple responses to those challenges — responses that often succeeded in restoring optimism. Led by: Mark Stoler, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Vermont

Discussion and Reflection on the ThemeAdam Sargent engages a student-directed dialog using advance readings and student observations of the conference and its theme. Led by: Adam Sargent, Harwood Union High School History and Humanities teacher and HUHS students

Educator Discussion Educators are invited to this facilitated session to discuss the conference themes and connections, using advance readings to explore and share potential classroom applications. Led by: Alan Berolzheimer, Historian, The Flow of History

Conference DetailsConference fee

The $129 fee ($79 student) includes all conference programs, continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and snacks. Friday night dinner is not included. An on-site bookstore will be open Saturday.

Registration and payment

Deadline is November 5.

Register and pay online at vermonthumanities.org/optimism (preferred) or by using form at right. Space is limited; registration closes on November 5 or when all spaces are filled.

Cancellations: refund less $25 fee until November 5; no refund after that date.

Group rates: discount price for groups of five or more from an organization (standard group rate: $95; student group rate: $65). Submit one form for each participant.

Scholarships: Available for those with financial need. Apply by October 26 at vermonthumanities.org/optimism.

Educator Scholarships: Vermont K-12 educators, as well as Adult Education and Literacy system educators are eligible for a full scholarship thanks to a grant from the Bay and Paul Foundations. Certification letters are available. Apply by October 26 at vermonthumanities.org/optimism.

Lodging Rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Burlington are $139 (plus tax). Rate is good November 16 and 17 and expires October 26. For reservations, call 802.865.6600 or visit bit.ly/vhc-doubletree18.

Contact Richelle Franzoni, 802.262.1355, community@vermonthumanities.org.

PAgE 12: Crop of Achelous and Hercules by Thomas Hart Benton, (1889–1975); PAgE 13 (top to bottom): Pro-suffrage cartoon by Hy Mayer, 1915; immigrant family on Ellis Island looking at Statue of Liberty, National Park Service; astronaut Buzz Aldrin saluting the US flag on the Moon, July 21, 1969, NASA; protestors marching after shooting of Jamar Clark, Minneapolis, MN, November 15, 2015, Fibonacci Blue/Wikipedia Commons; Fort Laramie by Alfred Jacob Miller (1810–1874), Walters Art Museum; suffragists J. Hardy Stubbs, Ida Craft, and Rosalie Jones, ca. 1912, Library of Congress.

First name ..................................................... Last name ..................................................................

Company/Organization. ......................................................................................................................

Mailing address ...................................................................................................................................

Town ............................................................................ State .................... Zip..................................

Phone (day) ....................................................... E-mail .....................................................................

First vHC conference? �(circle) Yes No

Special needs (including dietary)? .....................................................................................................

CONFERENCE ACTIvITIES

FRIDAY BREAKOuT SESSIONS

4:00–5:15 pm (please�number�1–4�in�order�of�preference)

SATuRDAY BREAKOuT SESSIONS

10:40–11:55 am (please�number�1–5) 2:30–3:45 pm (please�number�1–5)

REGISTRATION FEES$129 individual registration ($79 student) $ .....................

$35 optional Friday evening dinner $ .....................

Donation to the vermont Humanities Council $ .....................

TOTAL DuE $ .....................

Check enclosed for $ .............................. OR charge to (circle) visa MC

Card no. .......................................................... Exp. date ........................... Cvv code ................

Signature .............................................................................................................................................

...... The Blessed Hope with�Randall�Balmer

...... Tribal Nations with�N.�Bruce�Duthu

...... visions of Progress�with�Jennifer�Raab

...... The Gilded Age with�Heather�Cox�Richardson

...... Discussion and Reflection with�Suzanne�Brown

...... Salvation or Slippery Slope with�Leslie�Butler

...... “Corson’s Inlet” with�Huck�Gutman

...... Optimism in Twentieth-Century America with�Mark�Stoler

...... Discussion and Reflection with�Adam�Sargent

...... Educator Discussion with�Alan�Berolzheimer

...... How to Be an Antiracist with�Ibram�X.�Kendi

...... Walt Whitman with�Huck�Gutman and�Mary�Lou�Kete

...... From Here to Nowhere with�Randall�Balmer

...... Frederick Douglass with�David�Blight

[ Register online at vermonthumanities.org/optimism

SEE CONFERENCE DETAILS TO LEFT. One person per form. Make checks payable to Vermont Humanities Council. Mail to 11 Loomis Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Contact: community@vermonthumanities.org • 802.262.1355

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VHC Fall Conference Registration Form

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The Ebb and Flow of Optimism through American History vHC Fall Conference 2018, November 16 and 17

1st Wednesdays Free Public Talks at Nine Libraries around vermont, October to May

vermont Reads March in 2019A Statewide One-Book Community Reading Program

Before Your Time PodcastsExploring vermont’s history through its artifacts with the vermont Historical Society and VTDigger

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