Summary
- Dates: 1736-2015
- Size: 77 boxes of varying sizes
- Media: paper; drafting film; archaeologically recovered material (wood; iron); photographs; video tapes; audio cassettes
- Languages: English
- Subjects: pre-contact; contact; French and Indian War; American War of Independence; War of 1812; Canal Era; Steamboat Era; Recreational Era; non-Lake Champlain related history
- Related Publications: Lake Champlain Underwater Cultural Resources Lake Survey (Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 1996-2003); Inventory of Naval and Military Vessels of Lake Champlain, Lake George, and the Upper Richelieu River (1742-1836) (Barranco, 1999).
- Access and Use: Some materials in the Lake Survey series are restricted due to sensitivity of content.
Scope and Content
The Barranco Collection, named for Peter Barranco, was assembled between 1953 and 2015. Records include data sheets, maps, charts, correspondence, nautical archaeology reports, notes, primary source documents, archaeological artifacts, newspaper clippings, card catalogs, photographs, VHS tapes, and audio cassette tapes.
The Lake Survey Series includes data sheets, maps, charts, nautical archaeology reports, and notes, although such materials are also found in other series in the collection. Barranco kept a meticulous record of all archaeological/survey projects in which he participated, leaving the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum with a near-complete picture of those projects.
Correspondence related to Lorenzo Hagglund’s salvage projects (Hagglund raised several revolutionary war gunboats and the steamboat Vermont I from 1934-1952) and the archaeological and historical work undertaken by Barranco and other lake scholars is included in the collection. Of particular note are the emails between Peter Barranco and Art Cohn (Museum co-founder) and Adam Kane (Director of Archaeological Projects 2000-2011), two prominent nautical archaeologists who have worked in Lake Champlain. Additionally, records of Hagglund’s correspondence with various significant museums, historical societies, universities, and social organizations is included in the collection.
Research including primary source documents, archaeological artifacts, newspaper clippings, and card files encompass a general overview of the history of the lake from the colonial era and the revolutionary war conflict through the height of the steamboat era. Barranco collected information about pertinent people, cargo, and vessels that worked on, lived along, or passed through Lake Champlain.
Thousands of media samples from photographs, VHS tapes, and cassette tapes visually and audibly represent Lake Champlain’s maritime history and culture.
Citation Recommendation
Peter Barranco Collection, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT.
Note: The Barranco Collection includes photocopies of primary source documents held by other repositories. These may require a different citation that recognizes these repositories or consideration of copyright restrictions, evaluated on a case by case basis.
Keywords
Pre-contact; contact; French and Indian War; American War of Independence; War of 1812; Canal Era; Steamboat Era; Recreational Era; non-Lake Champlain related history; shipwrecks; Lake Survey; Lorenzo Hagglund; Peter Barranco