Vermont Historical Society honors ‘Waterbury Women’ video project

Jack Carter and Cheryl Casey explain the project at the award presentation. Courtesy photo.

October 17, 2020  |  Waterbury Roundabout

A video project created to share a local history exhibit still unseen firsthand by much of the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic recently won a Vermont Historical Society award for excellence.   

In a socially distanced ceremony at the Waterbury Municipal Office’s Steele Room on Oct. 2, the “Waterbury Women’s Video Project” received the League of Local Historical Societies & Museums Achievement Award for Excellence from the Vermont Historical Society. 

Executive Director Steve Perkins and Community Outreach Manager Eileen Corcoran from the Vermont Historical Society presented the award to Jack Carter, Waterbury Historical Society Museum curator, and Cheryl Casey, who produced the “Waterbury Women” video series. 

The award recognizes exceptional work by either individuals or community organizations to collect, preserve and share Vermont’s history. Although typically presented at the society’s annual conference, the certificate was delivered directly to the Waterbury recipients as this year’s conference will be held virtually. 

The certificate from the Vermont Historical Society. Courtesy photo.

The video project evolved earlier this year as a creative solution to the challenge of sharing an exhibition with the public just as the pandemic was shutting down public places. The exhibit “Waterbury Women: Stories & Inspiration” was scheduled to open on March 26. Carter had created the presentation in honor of the centennial year of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted women the right to vote. Its series of visual displays drew on a 2007 scrapbook project sponsored by the Waterbury Public Library highlighting stories of 20 local women from the original project. 

The exhibit was installed in the Steele Room in preparation for a public opening that was called off when Gov. Phil Scott issued his Stay Home Stay Safe order. Carter next turned to Waterbury Historical Society member Cheryl Casey who used the exhibit materials and more to create video presentations of the women’s stories to share with the community online. 

An associate professor of communications at Champlain College, Casey captured the history of the 20 women profiled in the display with distinct video segments. The six video episodes are now on the Waterbury Historical Society’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

At the award presentation, Perkins praised the effort to share the work that went into the exhibit despite the pandemic’s challenges. “The video series exhibited significant creativity and perseverance in response to the pandemic and could serve as a potential new model for other organizations’ exhibits in the future,” he said.  

Carter said he is most pleased that the exhibit now is available to the Waterbury community and beyond. “The video presentations make the exhibit accessible to a wider audience, engaging viewers with the celebration of Waterbury’s women and their achievements and accomplishments,” he said. 

The stories highlight contributions of women in Waterbury from the 19th century to the present day including those who have held public office, owned businesses, and volunteered with community organizations. Carter and Casey explain that the exhibit and videos tell individual stories that together help tell the community’s story.  

There is currently no date set for in-person viewing of the exhibit, but the award-winning videos can be found on the Waterbury Historical Society website. 

Editor’s note: Cheryl Casey is a contributing writer to Waterbury Roundabout.