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VERMONT-HISTORY Oct-13-2006 (400 words) xxxn
Catholic newspaper marks anniversary with gift to historical society
By Cori Fugere Urban
Catholic News Service
BARRE, Vt. (CNS) -- The official newspaper of the Diocese of Burlington celebrated its 50th anniversary by giving a gift.
The Vermont Historical Society's collection of Catholic materials increased significantly in September with a donation of 83 parish histories from the Vermont Catholic Tribune newspaper.
Pat Gore, editor of the newspaper, and Father Peter Routhier, vicar general of the statewide Diocese of Burlington, presented a dozen white binders filled with booklets or typewritten parish histories, as well as several hardcover histories, to Paul Carnahan, Vermont Historical Society librarian.
"This is a unique donation in that a denomination has pulled together for us histories of various parishes," Carnahan said.
The idea for the donation was generated by the staff of the Catholic Tribune as a way to commemorate the diocesan newspaper's 50th anniversary.
"The Catholic Tribune is the chronicler of the history of the Diocese of Burlington, and the Vermont Historical Society is the preserver of Vermont history," Gore said. "The history of the Vermont Catholic Church is part of the history of the state, so these parish histories belong here in the library where they are accessible to the public."
Marjorie Strong, assistant librarian at the historical society who was on hand to receive the Catholic parish histories with Carnahan, said the histories complement parish sacramental records.
Individuals researching their genealogy will learn where an ancestor was baptized, for example, and by reading the corresponding parish history can get an idea of what brought people to that particular area.
Before the donation, the historical society had only about 20 books and booklets about the Catholic Church in Vermont in its regular stacks, with a few more rare publications or those in more delicate condition in the vault, Strong estimated.
Carnahan said the donation would be kept together as a part of the permanent collection, and it is hoped that histories for the nearly four dozen parishes not represented will be donated.
Jane Campbell, director of development for the historical society, expressed gratitude for the collection of parish histories. "Every piece of this collection is part of telling Vermonters' stories," she said.
"And part of our mission as a diocesan newspaper is to tell the stories of Vermont Catholics," Gore said. "Adding to the historical society's collection of information about the church is a way to connect the church to the public."
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Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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