What They Are
The St. Johnsbury Archives Collaborative is a partnership between five local institutions - the St. Johnsbury Academy, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, the Town of St. Johnsbury, and the St. Johnsbury Historical Society. The Collaborative was formed in 1999 to exchange information about the partners, holdings of historic records and to develop a strategy for preserving St. Johnsbury's heritage.
The same year the Collaborative was awarded a three-year grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), largely due to the national significance of the local story. The records in St. Johnsbury provide rich possibilities for the study of agriculture, industry, labor, immigration, philanthropy, and social history. This money brought a professional archivist into the community to organize and preserve records, make the documents accessible through printed and online guides, and train staff and volunteers in archival practices.
In 2004, the Community Archives received funding from the Vermont Humanities Council, the Vermont Community Foundation, and partner institutions to educate the public about the use of St. Johnsbury's historic records. In addition to presenting a series of lectures and workshops, the Collaborative published a subject guide to the historic records contained within all of the holding institutions.
Download the St. Johnsbury Community Archives Guide to Historic Records. (PDF 211K)
The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum's archive houses materials that document the history of St. Johnsbury and, to a lesser extent, the surrounding area. Collection strengths include records of local clubs and individuals, photographs, general research materials, and institutional records.
Archives Hours of Operation
The Archives are available to the general public by appointment only. The Library Director or the Assistant Librarian must be present to supervise researchers and provide access to materials. Contact or if you would like to use the archives.
Restrictions
Some materials are restricted due to preservation concerns, donor restrictions, or confidentiality.
Reference Requests
In general we are able to provide 15-30 minutes of free reference and research services. Beyond that, we encourage you to use the archives in person. Contact or if you have an archive request.
Last update: 7/5/07