Project Grant ZED28383022

THE GRANGER HOUSE PROJECT [CASTLETON UNIVERSITY SEEKS SUPPORT TO INVIGORATE AN ONGOING HUMANITIES PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN SEVERELY DISRUPTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THAT WILL PROVIDE KEY SUPPORT FOR ENDANGERED UNIVERSITY HUMANITIES PROGRAMS. THE GRANGER HOUSE PROJECT IS CENTERED ON THE RENOVATION AND REPURPOSING OF GRANGER HOUSE, AN EARLY-19TH-CENTURY HOME. THE SUPPORT REQUESTED HERE WILL ESTABLISH THE GRANGER HOUSE MUSEUM AND LEARNING LABORATORY FOR THE HUMANITIES. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE NEW CENTER WILL BE TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR EXPLORING THE FULL DIVERSITY OF HUMAN EXPERIENCES IN CASTLETON, VERMONT THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, SCHOLARSHIP, TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC FORUMS. THIS PLAN BUILDS ON ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, SUPPORTS THE STEWARDSHIP OF ONE OF CASTLETON'S OLDEST HOMES, AND RESPONDS TO A CORONAVIRUS-RELATED FISCAL CRISIS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS PLAN WILL STRENGTHEN HUMANITIES PATHWAYS AT CASTLETON UNIVERSITY AND PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT NEW HUMANITIES EMPLOYMENT.] [PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THE 'GRANGER HOUSE PROJECT' IS TO FUND COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES IN ARCHEOLOGICAL METHODS, MUSEUM STUDIES, CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY, U.S. HISTORY AND FIELD AND MUSEUM WORK CENTERING ON THE 19TH CENTURY GRANGER HOUSE WHICH IS BEING CONVERTED INTO A MUSEUM AND HUMANITIES LEARNING LAB. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: HUMANITIES COURSES WILL BE LINKED WITH THREE SEMESTERS OF EXTRAMURAL FIELDWORK CULMINATING IN PREPARING THREE MUSEUM EXHIBITS AT THE GRANGER HOUSE MUSEUM. THESE EXHIBITIONS WILL FOCUS ON THE GENERATIONS OF INHABITANTS OF THE HOUSE; AND THE "HIDDEN HISTORY" OF THE HOUSE, EMPHASIZING EVIDENCE OF NATIVE AMERICANS, INCLUDING THE ABENAKI, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, AS THE HOUSE WAS POSSIBLY A 'STOP' FOR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THROUGH COURSES, FIELD WORK AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS STUDENTS WILL GAIN HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN A RANGE OF DIFFERENT HUMANITIES RELATED CAREER PATHS. THE MUSEUM PLAN INCLUDES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, SCHOLARSHIP, TRAININGS, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC FORUMS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES COLLEGE TEACHERS WILL BENEFIT FROM UP TO 16 NEW PART TIME POSITIONS. 40 STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM FREE TUITION AND SUMMER STIPENDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR HUMANITIES-RELATED CAREER PATHS WHILE "BRIDGING TOWN AND GOWN" THROUGH THE MUSEUM AND STUDYING LOCAL HISTORY. THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE AND THE NATION WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GRANGER HOUSE AS A HISTORY MUSEUM. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.]