Gift preserves history of Vermont thriftiness
MONTPELIER: Vermont led the nation in its campaign to save scrap metal for the war effort during WWII, and Vermont schoolchildren were a vital part of the effort. On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, the students’ efforts were commemorated with a donation by Jeannine Baker Dubuque to the collections of the Vermont Historical Society (VHS). The donation was presented in the Vermont History Museum, in the Pavilion Building at 109 State Street, at 10:30 am. Ms. Dubuque was interviewed by several media representatives, and she shared her memories.
Jeannine Baker Dubuque was a student at the Grand Isle grammar school in 1942, when the school had the highest per capita rating in the state’s salvage campaign, with 6,880 pounds per capita. Dubuque, then Jeannine Baker, was chosen by her schoolmates to represent her winning school at the christening of the Calvin Coolidge Liberty Ship, launched from Portland, Maine on December 27, 1942.
The artifacts Ms. Dubuque donated include:
- A scrapbook relating to the metal drive and launching of the S.S. Calvin Coolidge
- A teakwood box containing the bottle with which she christened the boat
- A silver mirror and brush with image of the boat on the back from vanity set presented to her at the boat launch.
- News clippings, photos and letters related to the ceremony, including a May 25, 1943 letter signed by Grace Coolidge.
Some of the Dubuque pieces will be on display with related items from the Society’s collection in the display cases of the Vermont History Museum’s Snelling Room through the summer season.
“This donation brings history to life,” noted Society librarian Paul Carnahan, “giving us a window into a different time, when thrift was a patriotic necessity, and our entire country was unified in the war effort.”
Mark Hudson, the executive director of VHS, agreed saying, “Ms. Dubuque is making the history of this era available for generations to come. The pride and thriftiness demonstrated by Vermonters in the scrap campaign exemplifies the spirit of the Green Mountain State.
To make a donation or get more information, please contact Jane Campbell, at 802.479.8516 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or donate online by clicking here.
