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Marcus,
The Vermont Folklife Center (VFC) was actually established 25 years ago
as a private non-profit organization. Although we do work
collaboratively with Middlebury College from time to time, we have no
official connection to them.
Jane Beck first began her work in 1978 as Vermont Folklorist under the
auspices of the Vermont Arts Council. In 1982 the Governor's Conference
on the Future of Vermont's Heritage issued a resolution suggesting the
establishment of an organization to document and preserve the heritage
of the state. As a result of this resolution, the Vermont Folklife
Center was founded as a private non-profit in 1984.
Jane has always viewed her work--for both the Vermont Arts Commission
and at the Vermont Folklife Center--as an extension of the work begun by
Flanders. The efforts of Helen Flanders and her collaborators (be they
her co-authors like George Brown or Marguerite Olney or the individual
performers with whom she worked over the years) continues to inspire
what we do at the VFC.
It is my understanding that Helen Hartness Flanders maintained her
collection at home until it became too large, at which time she donated
it to Middlebury College. The collection at Middlebury is not, as far
as I know, specifically one organized around the Committee on Vermont
Traditions and Ideals. That, however, is something for someone
affiliated with Middlebury College Special Collections to answer for sure.
Best Wishes,
Andy Kolovos
Archivist/Folklorist
--
Andy Kolovos
Archivist/Folklorist
Vermont Folklife Center
88 Main Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-4964 [voice]
(802) 388-1844 [fax]
http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/archive/
-----Original Message-----
From: Center for research on Vermont list on behalf of Kristin Peterson-Ishaq
Sent: Wed 3/11/2009 9:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: Vt. Folklore Center from M. McCorison
-------- Forwarded Message --------
I was surprised to learn that Jane Beck had founded the folklife center
only 20 years ago at Middlebury College. I have on my shelves what may
be considered a beginning about 80 years earlier -- Helen Harness
Flanders' books, "A garland of Green Mountain Song" (she compiled and
ed. it back in 1934 as Green Mountian Pamphlet No. I, a part of Pop
Peach's efforts to save Vt. folklife) and her "Vemont folk-songs &
ballads," (ed. with George Brown, Stephen Daye Press, 1932), another of
AW Peach's efforts. Mrs Flanders, daughter of a Vt. governor and wife of
a US senator began collecting ballads with Phillips Barry about 1930 and
deposited her papers at Middlebury College. Were they part of an archive
established by the Committee on Vermont Traditions and Ideals? And
don't forget the charming little book. "Vermont chap book," with
delightful woodcuts and hand set in type up at Breadloaf in 1941.
Marcus McCorison
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+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o+o
Marcus A. McCorison
101 Greenwich Court
Worcester, MA 01609-1159
508-791-3668
[log in to unmask]
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