The Class Begins

I have started this blog in April, four months after the class began, so I'll be relying on my notes and memory. The class is taught by several local historians: Richard Day (historian and Vincennes State Historic Sites Curator), Rabb Emison (attorney), Robert "Gus" Stevens (historian and former director/archivest, Vincennes University), Bertha Proctor (director, Wabash Valley Human Services), and Catholic Schools Superintendent Mary Traylor. The class is taught in the beautifully restored Old Catholic School next to the Old Cathedral. We meet in the Dan Duesterberg Room, which is a very comfortable arena for learning and presenting. You can occasionally hear the running feet of Rivet students coming and going from various after-school events, which provides a charming, school-like atmosphere for the class members and instructors. The Vincennes History class is being videotaped and is planned to be available in the Knox County Public Library for viewing.

There are approximately 20-25 students from different walks of life who have paid the $75 fee to participate in the class, which will feature an occasional guest speaker and Saturday field trips. There is a vibrant, informal, open atmosphere in the classroom.

There are many materials (photographs, maps, articles) pertaining to the history of Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, and the Northwest Territory provided by the presenters, and I plan to scan these in and make links on this blog, if possible. Most materials are photocopies, so perhaps at some future time I can replace the scans with better quality originals if possible.