Humanities Commentaries on VPR

“Sharing Our Past — Shaping Our Future” Since 1974

For more information contact VHC
at info@vermonthumanities.org

or 802.262.2626

Women Get the Vote (8-17-10) Recently, a high school history teacher showed commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert a photocopy of a page from the town records of New Haven, Vermont. The teacher uses the document in her class . . . and here's Peter to tell you why.

Civil War Commission (8-11-10) This afternoon Governor Douglas appointed a commission to plan, promote, and present programs related to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which begins next April. Here's commentator, executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council, and commission member Peter Gilbert to provide some context.

Hawaiian Farmers Market (8-3-10) On a Saturday morning earlier this year, commentator and executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council Peter Gilbert visited a farmers market in Honolulu – and found both very different from and similar to farmers' markets in Vermont.

Hiking and Meditating (7-12-10) Hiking, particularly alone, offers plenty of time for thinking and daydreaming. As Commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert hiked last summer, he solved a mystery and day dreamt unlikely endings to a modern-day Cinderella glass slipper story.

Justice Black (6-30-10) West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd died recently at the age of 92. Byrd was the longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, and it's well known that he was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan. VPR commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert tells us about another hugely influential person who was also a member of the Klan.

Silken Tents (6-22-10) It's wedding season in Vermont, and commentator and executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council Peter Gilbert has these thoughts.

Blue Willow Ware (5-25-10) As warmer weather returns, commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert is reminded of an item often found at yard sales - one that takes him from his grandparents' kitchen to ancient China and Victorian England - and one that holds some timeless lessons.

The Rule of Law (5-11-10) Vermont Humanities Council executive director and commentator Peter Gilbert has been thinking about how early May become associated with the Rule of Law.

The Case for Literature (4-29-10) Vermont Humanities Council executive director and commentator Peter Gilbert recently saw a startling commentary in Education Week, the key periodical in the country about K-12 education. Peter explains.

Revere’s Ride (4-19-10) "Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere." Today is Patriots’ Day, the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord and the day after Paul Revere’s ride. Here’s commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive Director Peter Gilbert to tell you more.

VSO (4-5-10) On May 1 the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will conclude its seventy-fifth season with a performance of Verdi's Requiem at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Here's commentator and executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council Peter Gilbert with the powerful back story.

Way Down East (3-22-10) Commentator Peter Gilbert tells us about the classic silent movie that contains what some people consider to be some of the greatest scenes in film history. And how those key scenes were filmed right here in Vermont.

Alexander Pope’s “Dunciad” (3-8-10) Commentator Peter Gilbert is preparing for the Vermont Humanities Council's autumn conference on Comedy and Satire. With the Olympics Games now behind us, he tells us about a satiric poem that features an edgy parody of such classical heroic games.

Lincoln’s Cooper Union Speech (2-24-10) We're about to mark the anniversary of a spectacular speech by a little-known Illinois politician that, according to commentator Peter Gilbert, made him president.

Virtue and Desire (2-12-10) In anticipation of Valentine's Day this Sunday, executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council and commentator Peter Gilbert is considering a love poem that's more than four hundred years old. While it appears to be mostly about virtue, it also speaks of passion and desire.

The Great Game (2-5-10) The Super Bowl is this Sunday, but commentator and Humanities Council Executive Director, Peter Gilbert, has been thinking about not the "big game," but "The Great Game," a contest that went on for well over a century – and the clock is still running.

Smokeless Burning (1-22-10) As more people talk about carbon footprints and turn to burning wood to heat their homes, Vermont Humanities Council executive director and commentator Peter Gilbert thinks of the science involved – and a poem by a poet who knew a lot about science.

Twelfth Night (1-6-10) Today is "Twelfth Night" - the traditionally festive twelfth day after Christmas. Commentator and executive director of the Vermont Humanities Council Peter Gilbert, has been thinking about Shakespeare's play by the same name.

Each month, VHC’s Executive Director Peter Gilbert presents commentaries on Vermont Public Radio that examine current and past events from a humanities perspective. You can read or listen to Peter’s commentaries by clicking on the links below.

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E-mail: info@vermonthumanities.org