Inspired by Nature: The Women Artists of Rokeby

Rokeby`s trail camera has caught another late-night visitor to the Red Trail, a familiar one to many Vermonters. This raccoon, one of Rowland E. Robinson`s "midnight prowlers", stopped by a few times over the course of a week. RER had many colorful nicknames for the raccoon (free-booter, robber, despoiler of cornfields), but he also had a great fondness for the animal:

"This little brother of the bear is one of the few remaining links that connects us with the old times...when all the world had not entered for the race to gain the prize of wealth, or place, or renown. [It is pleasant] to know that he survives...if he too shall not then have gone the inevitable way of all the wild world." - RER, "The Raccoon", In New England Field and Woods, 1896

#wildlifephotography #nature #naturetrail #earthmonth #conservation

Rowland E. Robinson’s name may not be as well-known today, but there was a time when his books were considered synonymous with Vermont itself. Rokeby Museum recently discovered three illustrations by Roy F. Heinrich, bringing to life moments from "A Danvis Pioneer" and "A Hero of Ticonderoga". These scenes once ran in magazines nationwide as part of a 1934-1952 ad campaign for National Life Insurance Company®, today’s National Life Group®.

The advertisements were meant not only to sell insurance policies but to honor the rich history and culture of Vermont. The sole author included, Robinson’s characters stand alongside such famed Vermonters as Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and Thaddeus Stevens. It is a strong reminder of his popularity and recognition among Vermonters even then, 40 years after his death.

With the assistance of archivists from @national_life_group, Rokeby was able to obtain high-quality scans of these illustrations, as well as the brief explanatory text that accompanied the drawings. While the exact ad copy has not been found, the title of each work gives a sense of how National Life Group® connected their business to the morals and themes of Robinson’s work.

#vermont #VermontHistory #literature #illustration #culture

Visitors of all kinds love Rokeby Museum’s nature trails! Our brand-new trail camera caught this curious coyote taking in the sights and smells of the Red Trail. They even made a few late-night return trips!

Rokeby’s trails are open year-round, dawn to dusk (apologies to our non-canine guests, no night-time strolls, please). Trail conditions change according to the weather. Come by and take a walk; you may be surprised at what you’ll see!

#wildlifephotography #nature #naturetrail #canine