Speakers Bureau

Talks and Living History Presentations for Your Community

Vermont History

Return to the main Speakers Bureau Catalogue page.

View biographies of our presenters.

Talks with the Vermont History theme:

Image of poster for governor 1964: A Watershed Year in Vermont’s Political (and Cultural) History- Deborah Lee Luskin shows how Vermont's 1964 shift from conservative republicanism to progressive and even radical ideals was more complex and more nuanced than mere politics.
Image of old postcard of the Connecticut River 400 Miles Down the Connecticut River- Michael Tougias narrates the rich history of the Connecticut River, discussing the days of loggers, Indian Wars, steamships, and canals.
Image of Daisy Turner Daisy Turner’s Kin- Jane Beck shares the story of the Turner family, a powerful and rare account of the African American experience in New England from the 1880s forward.
Photo of historical boat scene From Skiffs to Sail Ferries: The Story of Vermont’s Small Boat Traditions- Douglas Brooks shares his research on Vermont's boatbuilding traditions and his work recreating some of these historic small vessels.
Image of Green Mountain Parkway map Getting from Here to There: A History of Roads and Settlement in Vermont- Deborah Lee Luskin explores how the difficulties of traveling in Vermont have played a significant role in the state’s settlement, development, culture and politics.
Image of Levi Allen's signature Levi Allen: Ethan’s Black Sheep Brother- Vincent Feeney discusses the life of Levi Allen, an outsider within a prominent family during Vermont's formative years.
Image of Mad Matt Mad Matt the Democrat- Vincent Feeney discusses Matthew Lyon—Green Mountain Boy, entrepreneur, and one of the most colorful characters in Vermont's early years.
Image of 1893 bicycle club Of Wheelmen, The New Woman, and Good Roads: Bicycling in Vermont, 1880-1920- Luis Vivanco explores the early history of the bicycle in Vermont, tied to important changes in industrial production, consumerism, and new cultural ideas about auto-mobility and effortless speed.
Image of a Vermont graveyard Reading Places: Art, Architecture, and Gravestones in Early Vermont- William Hosley demonstrates how art and artifacts can be used to understand historical experience while surveying the extraordinary visual allure of historic Vermont.
Image of woman with bunch of mint The Counterculture’s Impact on Vermont and Vermont’s Influence on the Counterculture Generation- In the late 1960s and '70s, thousands of young migrants moved to the back woods, small towns and cities of rural Vermont. Author Yvonne Daley discusses this time in Vermont’s history and its impact today.
Image of Civil War soldiers The First Arsenal of Democracy: “High-Tech” in the Connecticut Valley, 1795-1900- Carrie Brown explores the role of the Connecticut River Valley, with an emphasis on Vermont, in developing the military technology that changed American life.
Image of a mountain scene The Hills of Home: Mountains and Identity in Vermont History- Jill Mudgett explores evolving human ideas about Vermont's mountain topography, explaining how environmental understandings changed throughout history.
Image of postcard of maple syrup gathering The Many Meanings of Maple- Michael Lange discusses maple sugaring, focusing on why maple has become so important to Vermont’s identity, and how it helps us shape who we are as Vermonters.
Image of Adam Boyce The Old Country Fiddler: Charles Ross Taggart, Vermont’s Traveling Entertainer- Adam Boyce portrays musical humorist Charles Ross Taggart, sharing recollections of his life with live fiddling and sketches.
Image of Abenaki man in traditional dress The Western Abenaki Today- Jeanne Brink discusses the Abenaki of the twenty-first century and their efforts to maintain and preserve their culture, traditions, and language in today's fast changing world.
Image of Abenaki illustration The Western Abenaki: History and Culture- Jeanne Brink examines the importance of elders and children, the environment, and the continuance of lifeways and traditions in Abenaki society.
Image of Civil War soldier Vermont and the Civil War- Vermont author and Civil War historian Howard Coffin addresses the Vermont contribution to the Civil War.
Image from Way Down East film Vermont vs. Hollywood: 100 Years of Vermont in Film- Amanda Gustin discusses Vermont's portrayal in Hollywood movies over the past century, reflecting both the state's and the country's history.
Image of theater curtain Vermont’s Historic Theater Curtains- Christine Hadsel provides a glimpse into the rich cultural history of pre-World War I Vermont through the painted theater curtains of its grange halls, opera houses, and community theaters.
Image of Linda Radtke singing Vermont’s Musical Ladies- Linda Radtke explores the contributions of Vermont women to the traditions of parlor songs, women’s club music contests, and social reform efforts.
Image of sharpshooters taking aim Vermont’s Remarkable Sharpshooters- Historian Howard Coffin will discuss his recent research into this little-recognized group and consider the reasons why Vermont may have been so well-represented in this elite group of marksmen.