Virtual Winter Speaker Series: A New American Globe: James Wilson of Vermont with Amanda Kay Gustin
In 1810, James Wilson, a farmer from Bradford, made something extraordinary: the first American-made globes for sale in history. With little formal schooling and no real scientific background, he had made an object of astonishing detail and incredible beauty. His globes made their way into classrooms and homes across America for the next fifty years, a less expensive alternative to imported English globes and an education phenomenon.
The Vermont Historical Society has spent 18 months re-examining Wilson’s legacy and his work, and is presenting new research – alongside several examples of Wilson’s globes at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier through June 2023.
Amanda Kay Gustin is the Director of Collections and Access at the Vermont Historical Society, where she works on statewide projects that examine and share Vermont’s history, including public programs, research projects, and exhibits, and supervises the work of the research library and museum collections. She holds degrees in history and museum studies from Middlebury College and Tufts University, and has held leadership positions with the American Association of State and Local History and the New England Museum Association.
For questions or troubleshooting, email Amanda Kay Gustin at amanda.gustin@vermonthistory.org
