Franco-American Veterans: Heritage of Service

FAIN: PY-234524-16

University of Southern Maine (Portland, ME 04104-9300)
Joyce Gibson (Project Director: June 2015 to November 2017)

A one-day digitization event targeted at preserving the cultural heritage materials related to military experiences - at war and on the home front - of members of Maine’s Franco-American population, the state’s largest ethnic group. The grant would also support a speaker series addressing the history of Franco-American military service. The theme of military service would allow the applicant to help the public explore questions of identity and loyalty, which attended Maine’s Franco-American population from its early days. Digitized materials would be stored as part of the Franco-American collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College. Materials that could be digitized include photographs, documents, film, and audio (the latter two would be sent off-site for digitization).

The University of Southern Maine is seeking a grant of $10,477 to support programming on Franco-Americans and military service. A one-day event will provide the opportunity for veterans and their families to bring in materials related to military service and to share stories of that experience. A lecture series by scholars will address the history of Maine Franco-Americans in the Armed Forces, the significance of military service for Franco-American identity, and the impact of service on veterans and their families.