GSV Fall Meeting 2025
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Rutland Historical Society, 96 Center St, Rutland, VT 05701
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
Speakers:
Kevin Graffagnino will speak on "Ira Allen of Vermont: A Hard Founding Father to Love".
Kevin is a former Curator of Vermont History at the University of Vermont Library, and former Executive Director of the Vermont Historical Society. He is the author or editor of 25 books on Vermont and American history, book collecting, antiquarian maps and prints, related subjects. He has recently published Ira Allen: A Biography.
Michael Dwyer will speak on "French-Canadian Names Lost in Vermont" . In the 1990 U.S. Census, 29% of Vermonters disclosed French-Canadian or French as an ethnicity. Early immigrants to Vermont often lost their original first and last names in the process of assimilation. As a result, research to ancestors born in Canada faced a brick wall. The presentation illustrates dozens of case studies and the steps taken to discover hidden identities. It draws upon vital records, cemetery records, newspaper accounts, and extensively from the published church repertoires of the Vermont French Canadian Society which often provide the key to discovering the immigrant’s original name.
A longtime member of the Genealogical Society of Vermont and past editor of Vermont Genealogy, Michael Dwyer is a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists. He has published many articles in journals including the Register, American Ancestors, Vermont Genealogy, The Maine Genealogist among others. Named Vermont Teacher of the Year in 2004, he retired from teaching in 2018 and now serves as the Pastor of the Pittsford Congregational Church. He also hosts a monthly television show, “Historically Speaking” on Rutland Regional Television.
In the afternoon GSV attendees will have the chance to peruse the Rutland Historical Society's exhibits.
The mission of the Rutland Historical Society is to collect, hold, preserve and interpret historical material relating to the original Town of Rutland which today includes: Proctor, Rutland City, Rutland Town and West Rutland, VT. The Society has a vast amount of materials consisting of city directories, genealogies, municipal records, newspapers, special collections and yearbooks from local high school, most of these materials are viewable on-line at rutlandhistory.com. Along with several display cases showcasing local memorabilia there are also the following items to view including a Federal cherry inlaid tall case grandfather clock by Goddard Lord as well as a Goddard grandfather clock, James Hope painting of the West Rutland quarry, stained glass windows from Memorial Hall, Ambrose and Isabella Brown portraits, Harriet and Moses Strong paintings by Franklin Mason.
Registration, which includes the program, morning "coffee", and a lunch of sandwich, beverage, and chips, is $25 for GSV members and $30 for non-members.
Please send a check by April 25, 2025 to:
Genealogical Society of Vermont, 57 East Shore North, Grand Isle, VT 05458
Please include a note with your check if you require a gluten-free option.
or use PayPal via the button below:
(note, there is a $1 charge for using PayPal)
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Page updated 22 March 2025