The University of Vermont Libraries’ Silver Special Collections Library, celebrated an exciting collection now available to researchers — the Vermont Public Interest Research Group’s (VPIRG) historic archives (the first part of which came to UVM in the 1990s). Stewardship of the collection preserves insights into VPIRG’s legacy of civic engagement and support of the democratic process in Vermont. The new collection was celebrated with remarks and a sneak peek. 

“It is so fitting that the UVM Special Collections Library will serve as keepers of the history and memories of this important Vermont advocacy group started by UVM students over 50 years ago,” said Bridget Burke, director of Special Collections, “UVM began archiving VPIRG records in 1997. This addition of more than 50 boxes makes decades of VPIRG’s history of accessible advocacy available in the Libraries. We look forward to UVM and Vermont community members working with this collection and delving into the history of civic engagement in Vermont.”  

On hand to celebrate the welcoming of this rich history to its new home were members of the UVM Libraries, current VPIRG staff members and current members of the VPIRG student-run club at UVM. Speakers included leadership from all three organizations. 

Group stands in front of VPIRG archives on display
Front row from left to right: Katie Erbe, president of the VPIRG student chapter at UVM; Paul Burns, executive director of VPIRG; Bridget Burke, director of Silver Special Collections, stand in front of VPIRG employees and students.

Burke shared that as she began looking through the 50 boxes of notes, plans, posters and more in the collection, a clear thread emerged: “Advocacy is work and there’s a method — writing notes and plans, sending out emails, keeping track, linking advocacy to real people and eventually bringing in legislative support,” Burke said in her remarks. “This process creates a vision for the future.” 

The collection itself includes a range of internal documents such as notes, campaign materials, publications, letters, research data, posters and mementoes. Guests at the event could see some of this as well as vintage posters from many of the public-interest campaigns VPIRG championed, such as the assemblance of more than 30,000 petitions in support of GMO labeling and its decades-long push for the Vermont Senate to retire the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. 

Paul Burns, executive director of VPIRG reminded attendees that these ordinary-looking documents represent the foundation of important citizen advocacy work.  

“Our state is cleaner, healthier and more sustainable today because ordinary Vermonters came together and put their shoulders to the wheel to help these initiatives be successful,” Burns said. “I honor those who came before and whose notes are scribbled on these pages." 

Collection close up of "retire vermont yankee" sign, photo contact sheet, self-inking stamper
Artifacts from collection box #33 – a photo contact sheet, posters, pamphlets, self-inking stamp that says “Stamp Big Money Out of Policitcs”-- all indicative of items in the collection and materials created by VPIRG over their decades of community engagement and activism.

Katie Erbe, president of the VPIRG student chapter at UVM marveled at the grass roots energy of UVM student involvement represented in the collection. 

“For me the most exciting part of this here today and also what I love most about VPIRG is how much of our history and work is written by students and young people,” Erbe said. “We are standing on five decades of student advocacy and leadership.” 

The UVM community, Vermont community and non-regional researchers can interact with the collection by working with the Silver Special Collections Library.