Preserving and Expanding Access to Vermont's History

FAIN: PB-274029-20

Vermont Historical Society (Barre, VT 05641-4209)
Stephen Perkins (Project Director: May 2020 to October 2022)

The retention of eight staff members to produce digital records for online access to the Vermont Historical Society’s museum and library collections.

VHS seeks funding to support the important work carried out by our library and museum collections departments to make Vermont history accessible from anywhere in the world. This work has greater importance now, as researchers, teachers, students, and the general public are unable to benefit from our services in person. VHS serves more than 6,000 teachers and students annually, who are relying on access to online primary source materials as they navigate virtual learning and continue to meet curriculum standards. Researchers need access to the rare and unique items preserved in our archives to promote scholarship on Vermont history. Since the start of the current pandemic, we have seen a distinct increase in use of our digital collections, as the public connects the past with the present to make sense of current events. Though nothing can replace experiencing collections in real life, we endeavor to meet the growing need for access through museum and library objects cataloged online.