Mission

The Stewart-Swift Research Center is dedicated to documenting the history of Addison County and broader Vermont through the collection and preservation of historically and scholarly significant materials and supporting the research needs of the community. The Center seeks to disseminate historical knowledge based on its collections of both physical and digital materials and provide a deeper understanding of local and national history through reference services to patrons, exhibitions, publications, programing and public engagement.

Vision

The Stewart-Swift Research Center will strive to become a prominent and broadly recognizable repository of unique local and nationally significant historical materials. The Center will become a vibrant, engaging, and stimulating repository that will contribute through primary sources deep knowledge of the past for the benefit of the future. Guided by policies and documentation, the Center will implement sustainable digital preservation methods for the long-term preservation and access of its digital assets.

The Center will continue to provide excellent reference services to researchers, engage the public through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and other programming. It will endeavor to share its resources through the enhancement of its website, publications, introduction of electronic newsletter, and implementation of novel technologies. The Center will strive to reach diverse audiences to illuminate its rich resources and to attract financial support from individual donors, national and private foundations and other sources.