Silent Presence: The French in New England

Wistariahurst Museum

Join Jeanne Douillard as she discusses French Heritage in the U.S.

238 Cabot St

Do you have Franco American heritage of Québec or Acadien (Maritime Provinces) origin? Join Jeanne Douillard as she presents a unique approach to a relatively unknown tale. In her talk, “Silent Presence The French in New England,” she weaves together her personal narrative with the historical story, attempting in its essence to get at the heart of a people. She believes the past is important. “We are the heirs of our ancestors' journeys. History matters. It shapes us. We carry these stories within us even if the narrative has been lost to us,” she says. The results of her research and personal reflections offer unique insights into the story of an “invisible” people. With compassion and understanding, she unravels a long and complex history in an attempt to make it understandable for all. Even if you are not French, you are sure to gain a greater understanding of American history.Jeanne Douillard is an independent scholar specializing in the story of the French in the Americas. She is one of the major contributors to the book Building a Better Life - The French-Canadians in Western Massachusetts published by the Republican newspaper in Springfield, MA. Her narrative poem, Not So Much The Same Place, is found in the anthology, Heliotrope and a recently published poem, pain, can be found in the online publication, Résonance. And finally, Jeanne has published her own book under the auspices of Swamp Press of Northfield, MA.In her book, I Remember… Je Me Souviens… she presents in greater detail the story of the French in the Americas. She also shares the story of her travels to France in 2014 and 2015 when she and her husband, Armand Proulx went off in search of their ancestral villages. There will be a book signing after her talk.¿Tienes ascendencia francoamericana de origen quebequés o acadio (provincias marítimas)? Únete a Jeanne Douillard mientras presenta un enfoque único de una historia relativamente desconocida. En su charla, «Presencia silenciosa: los franceses en Nueva Inglaterra», entrelaza su narrativa personal con la historia, intentando en esencia llegar al corazón de un pueblo. Ella cree que el pasado es importante. «Somos los herederos de los viajes de nuestros antepasados. La historia importa. Nos moldea. Llevamos estas historias dentro de nosotros, incluso si la narrativa se ha perdido», afirma. Los resultados de su investigación y sus reflexiones personales ofrecen una visión única de la historia de un pueblo «invisible». Con compasión y comprensión, desentraña una historia larga y compleja en un intento de hacerla comprensible para todos. Aunque no sea francés, seguro que adquirirá una mayor comprensión de la historia estadounidense.Jeanne Douillard es una investigadora independiente especializada en la historia de los franceses en América. Es una de las principales colaboradoras del libro Building a Better Life - The French-Canadians in Western Massachusetts, publicado por el periódico Republican de Springfield, Massachusetts. Su poema narrativo, Not So Much The Same Place, se encuentra en la antología Heliotrope, y un poema recientemente publicado, pain, se puede encontrar en la publicación en línea Résonance. Por último, Jeanne ha publicado su propio libro bajo los auspicios de Swamp Press de Northfield, Massachusetts.En su libro, I Remember… Je Me Souviens…, presenta con mayor detalle la historia de los franceses en América. También comparte la historia de sus viajes a Francia en 2014 y 2015, cuando ella y su marido, Armand Proulx, partieron en busca de los pueblos de sus antepasados. Después de su charla habrá una firma de libros.

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Silent Presence: The French in New England

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Silent Presence: The French in New England

More events from Wistariahurst Museum

Discover more events from Wistariahurst Museum, from Community to other experiences you might love.

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