PRESS RELEASE:  For immediate publication

Contact:        Peter Mallary, 1st Vice President VHS board
                (802) 429-2282, (802) 222-5152, or 222-9690

December 13, 1995

New Historical Society Director Chosen

        Montpelier -- The trustees of the Vermont Historical Society are
pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Gainor Davis as the new
Director of the Vermont Historical Society.  Davis, who was chosen from
a field of more than one hundred candidates, comes to the Society from
her present post as Executive Director of Longue Vue House and Gardens
in New Orleans.

        Vermont Historical Society President Dodie Mitchell, clearly
excited about the choice, pointed out that Davis brings the Society
impressive credentials in both scholarship and development, mostly
acquired while working in and around her native Philadelphia.  Davis has
worked for the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, the University of
Pennsylvania, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, The Strong
Museum in Rochester, New York, and as Director of Development and
Alumni Affairs at Temple University in Philadelphia.

        "Gainor Davis has the experience, strengths, and enthusiasm to
lead the Vermont Historical Society to a new level of success," said
Mitchell.  "Her strong development skills, as well as her desire to engage
the people of Vermont in their own history are just what we need."

        While Mitchell spoke warmly of the Society's accomplishments in
scholarship during the past decade, she also stressed the importance of
building the financial and membership base of the Society in the future.

        "The Vermont Historical Society must become an organization
capable of moving quickly into the twenty-first century fiscally sound and
strategically responsive to the world around it," Mitchell said.  "I believe
that Gainor Davis is the ideal person to spread the news about the Society
throughout Vermont.  That's the development aspect of the job.  In
addition Gainor is a fine scholar and museum professional."

        Davis has a Master's degree in American History and a certificate
in Museum Studies, both from the University of Delaware.  She is a
Doctoral candidate in American History at Temple University.  She is
expected to be on the job at the Society's headquarters in Montpelier by
the beginning of February.

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Paul A. Carnahan, Librarian
Vermont Historical Society
109 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont  05609-0901
Voice: 802-828-2291 Fax: 802-828-3638
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