Between emergent historical research, the state-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the upcoming PoutineFest, interest in Vermont’s French heritage appears to be ticking in the right direction. Those wishing to learn more should consider attending the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society’s annual conference in South Burlington on September 27. Vermont PoutineFest will be held the next day in Burlington; tickets are still available, but will go quickly. A delicious, fun-filled weekend in good company awaits.

No history of Franco-Americans seems complete without some mention of the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the Association Canado-Américaine—fraternal organizations which, much like the better-known Knights of Columbus, provided members with insurance. They also played an essential part in structuring the social and cultural life of Franco-American communities.

We read and hear much less of St. Anne’s societies, though they too flourished.[1] These associations of married Catholic women were organized at a parish level and, as is shown below, engaged in a variety of activities that served their members and the wider community: they attended at weddings and funerals, raised funds for charitable causes, held social activities involving food, music, and games, and promoted Catholic life. Predictably, perhaps, they upheld traditional gender roles, including an ideal of motherhood and domesticity. But that domesticity was expansive: the prioritizing of family life did not preclude community involvement or a role in the “public sphere.”[2]

In Vermont and undoubtedly elsewhere, there was another aspect to this type of engagement. As occurred with the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella, within the Ladies of St. Anne, Franco-Americans socialized with women of other ethnic backgrounds, a chink in the dam of cultural isolation that would crumble in the decades to follow.

The following excerpts of Vermont newspapers provide a very small glimpse of the range and significance of the activities of St. Anne societies in the interwar period. Note that these articles appeared in “mainstream” newspapers and not in their French-language, ethnic counterparts. The excerpts are a small hint of the forgotten visibility of Franco-Americans in this era, such articles being very common.

Burlington Daily News, January 18, 1919:

The St. Anne’s Society of St. Joseph’s church will give its annual supper for the benefit of the poor, January 28. Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, the president of the society[,] will have charge of the supper and the musical entertainment which is to follow. [It] is hoped that as many will attend as did last year when they served 600.

Burlington Free Press, October 12, 1920:

St. Anne’s society of St. Francis Xavier’s Church [in Winooski] has had many calls lately, asking for donations of old clothes from the people. This society has done much work for charity ever since its organization and during the past few years the work has about doubled . . .

St. Anne’s Society of St. Francis Xavier’s Church are asking for old clothes. Kindly send [them] to Mrs. George Villemaire, 165 Weaver street or St. Louis Convent. Adv[ertisement].

The Caledonian-Record [St. Johnsbury], February 16, 1924:

Every member of St. Anne’s Society of Notre Dame church was present at the funeral Friday morning of Mrs. Lucy Lemoine, out to pay final honors to the oldest member of the organization. Three priests officiated at the solemn high mass at nine o’clock at Notre Dame and [it was] attended by large numbers of friends and relatives . . . Members of the Society of St. Anne formed two aisles through the center of the church and through this the casket was borne. Burial was in Mt. Calvary cemetery . . . Mrs. Lemoine died Tuesday night at the home of her son, Louis Lemoine in the 95th year of her age. She was probably St. Johnsbury’s oldest resident and was a lady highly regarded by hosts of friends.

The Caledonian-Record, February 17, 1926:

Following their usual custom of putting on a supper on Shrove Tuesday, members of the Children of Mary joined forces with the Society of St. Anne yesterday and served supper last night in St. Aloysius hall to more than 400 persons, thereby netting nearly $300. Mrs. Arthur Prevost, president of the St. Anne Society and Miss Alberta Landry, president of the Children of Mary, headed the committees of arrangements, Mrs. Prevost in charge of the kitchen end of the big enterprise. Frechette’s orchestra played during the supper hour and later in the evening additional pleasure was given by well-known vocalists Paul Emil Desrochers, with Miss Olivette Hommell playing his accompaniment . . . Pretty needlework was sold in a booth presided over by Miss Angelina Desrochers and Miss Yvonne Racicot . . . At the ice cream booth, Miss Luce Prevost and Miss Angela Racicot were kept busy. Another popular corner was the one devoted to a fish pond in which all who dropped in their lines were successful. This was in charge of Mrs. Adelard Couture. Mrs. J. D. Bachand and Mrs. John Prevost were in charge of the dining room, and members of the Children of Mary served as waitresses assisted by younger members of the senior society.[3]

St. Albans Daily Messenger, September 9, 1926:

At a recent meeting of St. Anne Society of the Holy Angels church, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

Congregation Ladies of St. Anne: President Mrs. L. Deslauriers; first assistant, Mrs. L. Beaudry; second assistant[,] Mrs. Charles Perrault; secretary, Mrs. S. A. Hebert; treasurer[,] Mrs. L. Duchesne.

Barre Daily Times, February 24, 1933:

A successful whist party was held last evening at St. Monica’s school hall by the ladies of St. Anne society. Twenty-five tables were in play. Dainty refreshments were served and a musical program given. The officers had charge with Mrs. Ladrie as chairman.

Burlington Free Press, December 15, 1936:

Christmas wreaths and Christmas lights are smiling cheery greetings throughout the city: shoppers are bustling about on the most important business of the year—that of playing Santa Claus’ helpers—and in the midst of all this hustle and gay rush there is a group of men, women and children in Burlington to whom Christmas will just be December 25 unless they are remembered by the more fortunate Burlingtonians.

St. Anne’s Society of the Cathedral is planning to send out Christmas baskets to needy families again this year and has asked the aid of the people of Burlington in making possible this work. Christmas of 1936 marks the 25th year that St. Anne’s Society has carried on this work of remembering the needy poor at Christmas-time and in the quarter century the demands have grown until last year 193 donations of baskets were distributed . . . For families whose members range up to six or seven persons, the baskets contain one chicken; families numbering over seven persons receive two chickens.[4]

Burlington Daily News, November 23, 1937:

The Ladies of St. Anne of St. Anthony’s Church have made arrangements for their annual Thanksgiving Eve supper which will take place at St. Anthony’s parish hall on Pine Street tomorrow evening. Supper will be served from 5 to 8 o’clock and will be followed by a bazaar. One of the outstanding features of the evening’s entertainment program will be a half-hour moving picture show arranged by Dr. A. J. Lavallee.

The Caledonian-Record, May 22, 1939:

The Ladies of St. Anne Society observed their 50th anniversary Sunday with the golden jubilee opening at 8 A.M. when the members marched in a body to the Notre Dame des Victoires Church where a corporate communion was administered . . . At 6:30 in the evening a banquet was held at the Colonial restaurant with 150 attending including the local Catholic clergy, the five remaining charter members of the society and the two living past presidents, Mrs. Claire Prevost of Island Pond and Mrs. Alcide L. Roy of St. Johnsbury . . . The society started 50 years ago with 102 members following a retreat conducted by the Rev. Fr. Gladu, O.M.S., during Fr. Boissonnault’s pastorate. The society steadily grew in membership and has today 239 ladies, with Mrs. J. Alphonse Nolin as president.

St. Albans Daily Messenger, December 16, 1940:

Mrs. Addie Mercier, a member of St. Anne society of the Lady of the Lake church at the Bay, entertained at a party in the Catholic Daughters hall last evening in honor of the older Ladies of St. Anne’s. Sixty members of St. Anne’s societies and friends attended. Guests were present from Swanton, Burlington, Sheldon Springs and St. Albans Bay. Mrs. Mercier was assisted by Mrs. Alice Richard, Mrs. Bertha Murphy, Mrs. Jerry Raleigh, Mrs. Minnie Guyette and Mrs. S. Sylvester . . . Rev. A. H. Couture, pastor of the Lady of the Lake church[,] was the main speaker of the evening. He mentioned a card party which will be held in the town hall at the Bay Jan. 31 for the benefit of the church. Rev. Fr. Couture was presented a desk set made by Maurice Raleigh, Jr. Games were played, for which prizes were awarded. A prize was given to the oldest ladies of the society, Mrs. Emma Richard, who is 80 years old, and to Mrs. Nellie Gonyeau who is 76. William H. Guyette was the oldest man present. Mr. and Mrs. William Guyette as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus provided much amusement.

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[1] They are not to be confused with the Sisters of St. Anne (Congrégation des Soeurs de Sainte-Anne), an order of women religious established in Lower Canada in 1850.

[2] Information about the Ladies in their more recent incarnation is available on the web page of the Suncook, New Hampshire, chapter. Jonathan Gosnell presents similar groups in Franco-America in the Making: The Creole Nation Within (2018).

[3] Mrs. Bachand (Juliette Cormier) was the wife of Joseph Denonville Bachand, a native of Quebec who enjoyed a long career in Vermont state government.

[4] Unlike the other local societies depicted here, the Cathedral group was predominantly Irish. Its ranks nevertheless included Franco-Americans.