Introducing our inaugural cohort of the Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program

The Vermont Historical Society is proud to announce its first cohort of the Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program for 2025.

The local historical societies and museums selected to participate are:

• Bixby Memorial Library (Vergennes)
• Brookfield Historical Society
• Sharon Historical Society
• Thetford Historical Society
• Waterbury Historical Society

Representatives from these five local historical societies and museums will spend the next year working together to develop advanced skills in approaching their work from within an “Active Collections” framework. Guided by VHS staff, cohort members will establish collections priorities, right-size their collections, and energize their community engagement strategies to help increase organizational sustainability and ensure the continuing preservation of local history.  

This is the first of two cohorts that will participate in this program. The Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant 21MP-256386-OMS-24. The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) grant program supports institutions across the country in preparing museum professionals to tackle contemporary challenges in the field.