State historical society recognizes volunteers with award for extended service
- President, Waterbury Historical Society
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Jane and Paul Willard were honored with the Achievement Award for Extended Service by the League of Local Historical Societies and Museums at their 71st Annual Conference on May 9 at the Middlebury Inn in Middlebury.
Waterbury Historical Society’s Board of Directors nominated the couple for their decades of service to the society, which included roles on the board, committee membership, fundraising efforts, outreach initiatives, and book publications.
Paul served for thirty years as the society’s treasurer.
He established investment accounts and savings that have allowed the society to expand and further its mission-critical goals. As treasurer collecting dues and donations, Paul also managed the membership list and the society’s various communication channels, including its website.
Jane, a creative and energetic teacher by profession, focused on innovating strategies and developing relationships that brought Waterbury’s story into the community.
As chair of the Outreach Education Committee, she established regular presentations at the Senior Center, field trips for students to visit the History Center, field trips for senior citizens to historic locations around town, and artifact show-and-tell in school classrooms and libraries. Further, Jane served as co-editor, with Laura Parette, to publish the society’s latest book, A New Century in Waterbury, Vermont: Stories of Resilience, Growth, and Community (History Press, 2022; available from WHS).
Together, Jane and Paul mobilized in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.
They ensured the Historical Society had a place in the new municipal complex approved by Waterbury voters. They safeguarded the society’s collection in appropriate storage during construction, and Paul consulted with the Town for the layout of the new History Center on the second floor of the Dr. Henry Janes house, which comprises the street-facing portion of the complex. Paul and Jane both threw their energies into the society’s capital campaign to raise money for the History Center renovations.
The League of Local Historical Societies and Museums (LLHSM) was founded in 1953 by the Vermont Historical Society.
It's an initiative focused on supporting the local historical societies, cultural organizations, and museums
throughout the state. Through LLHSM, the Vermont Historical Society offers workshops and webinars throughout the year on topics such as collections care, strategic planning, community engagement, and exhibit curating. The LLHSM conference, which is held at a different historic location each year, is funded in part by the Walter Cerf Community Fund.
