All posts by Tricia Labbe

About Tricia Labbe

Tricia joined NEHGS in July of 2014. A recent graduate of Clark University with an MA and a BA in History, Tricia comes to NEHGS with several years of customer service and administrative experience. Some of her previous professional roles have been at the American Antiquarian Society, the People’s World Peace Project, Skinner Inc., and the Worcester Historical Museum. Tricia is very interested in both New England and immigration history and spent her undergraduate and graduate years researching the Acadian Deportation of 1755 - a topic closely tied to her own family history and Maine roots.

The first Thanksgiving

American History, Mayflower 2020
“The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” by Jennie A. Brownscombe (1914).

With each holiday and celebration, it is the menu that most piques my interest. Food brings people together; on the best day it can break down cultural barriers, and it often provides a mode for keeping family traditions and history alive. It is no wonder that as Thanksgiving approaches, my mind turns to the history of this national holiday and the food that we now hold dear. Exactly how far have we strayed from that first Thanksgiving meal of the Pilgrims and Wamponoag? Would we find familiarity in dishes of stuffing, cranberry sauce, or sweet potato casserole? I’m here to find out. Continue reading The first Thanksgiving →

The Dionne Family: Genealogical beginnings

Family Stories, Research Methods,
Francis Dionne
Francis Dionne

Growing up in Waterville, Maine, with a large French-Canadian family, I was always interested in history—particularly the history of my family and hometown. Both my parents grew up in Waterville, their forebears having moved there from Canada and Northern Maine not long before. Having my memeres, my tantes, and many aunts and uncles living close by during my childhood allowed me to hear details of life in Waterville through the generations. Those details continue to give me a sense of roots that I especially appreciate now that I live in a much larger city. Continue reading The Dionne Family: Genealogical beginnings →