12:30pm | Vermont State University Castleton, Jeffords Auditorium, Castleton
This presentation is based on the research Michele Pagan has done into the Revolutionary War ancestors of the girls who made 19th century schoolgirl samplers. Needlework samplers are a visual record of the values that guided early female education in Vermont, including its focus on needlework as an essential skill for all girls and women. As artifacts of female education, they provide insight into family dynamics, local history, and community values.
Pins and Pies, Linens and Lamps: Imagining the World of Charity & Sylvia
6:30pm | Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury
The publication of Tillie Walden’s recent graphic novel Charity & Sylvia–and its selection as the 2026 “Vermont Reads”–was a wonderful impetus for the Henry Sheldon Museum to rethink how we might feature the story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake in the museum galleries.
Strange Bedfellows: How Religious Liberties Have Aligned with Nondiscrimination Policies and Can Again
5:30pm | Dudley H. Davis Center, Burlington
The First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion. The Fourteenth Amendment affords all persons equal protection under the law. What happens when those two rights collide, as happened in the in the Masterpiece Cake case? Must protections for religious liberties come at the expense of non-discrimination statutes?
Objects such as banners, T-shirts, and buttons in the Vermont Queer Archives at the Pride Center of Vermont reflect currents and changes in the lives of Vermont’s LGBTQ+ community. Meg Tamulonis, volunteer curator of the Archives, discusses how these objects mark various milestones, from Pride events to legal rulings, and considers why some parts of the queer community aren’t well-represented in the Archives.
This presentation is based on the research Michele Pagan has done into the Revolutionary War ancestors of the girls who made 19th century schoolgirl samplers. Needlework samplers are a visual record of the values that guided early female education in Vermont, including its focus on needlework as an essential skill for all girls and women. As artifacts of female education, they provide insight into family dynamics, local history, and community values.
Merino Wool, Cotton Flannel, Pink Silk: A Hands-on Exploration of the Fibers in Charity & Sylvia
6:30pm | Aldrich Public Library, Barre
More sheep than people? Silkworms in Vermont? Join artist Pamela Wilson for an in-depth exploration of the Vermont fibers that feature in Charity and Sylvia’s work as rural tailors. We’ll explore the textile trends and innovations that feature in the book and Pamela will bring a variety of spinning and weaving tools to explore.
The evening will feature with a conversation between comic artists, graphic novelists, and faculty at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Dan Nott, Daryl Seitchik, and Tillie Walden. Their conversation will be moderated by Middlebury Professor of History Rebecca Bennette. This panel will explore how three Vermont artists and creators draw inspiration from one another as they craft unique and compelling stories.
Vermont, 1800 and Froze to Death: The Cold Year of 1816
4:30pm | Brookfield Pond Village Church, Brookfield
1816 has long been known as the year without summer. Vermonters still call it “1800 and Froze to Death,” a year of frosts every month, dark skies, and mysterious lights that caused a widespread belief that a higher power was displeased. In this talk, historian Howard Coffin includes scores of anecdotes on the dark year of failed crops, scarce food, and religious revival.
Picturing Language: An Introduction to the Magic of Comics
6:30pm | Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston
Comics are a powerful and often misunderstood storytelling language—one that is immersive, visually rich, and accessible across age groups and reading levels. From preschool classrooms to graduate seminars, comics have a unique ability to engage learners, including those who struggle with reading or communicate best through visual narratives.
The fifth annual Non-Fiction Comics Festival will feature panel discussions, workshops, and exhibiting cartoonists creating non-fiction and autobiographical work, with special events and workshops held throughout the entire weekend!
Picturing Language: An Introduction to the Magic of Comics
6:30pm | Putney Public Library, Putney
Comics are a powerful and often misunderstood storytelling language—one that is immersive, visually rich, and accessible across age groups and reading levels. From preschool classrooms to graduate seminars, comics have a unique ability to engage learners, including those who struggle with reading or communicate best through visual narratives.
