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Cyndy Bittinger (center) receives award from Ms. Terry Davis, President and CEO of AASLH, and Dr. Charles Bryan, President and CEO of the Virginia Historical Society and Chair of AASLH.
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Radio commentaries about Grace Coolidge, Burlington, Vermont native, and First Lady of the land, have recently won two prestigious awards presented by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and the Vermont Associated Press Radio Awards.
Last year, Cyndy Bittinger, Former Executive Director of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation (CCMF), was asked by John Van Hoesen, News Director, and Betty Smith, editor of commentaries for Vermont Public Radio (VPR), to write and record a series of 6 broadcasts on Mrs. Coolidge. This was a new experience for Ms. Bittinger, who had never before written or recorded commentaries.
The commentaries were based on newly donated letters from the Coolidge family. According to Ms. Bittinger, "Grace Coolidge's letters are well written and very personal, that is the secret. I have read hundreds of them. She wrote her friends and relatives every Sunday. I am the first person to have read so many and to have used them to tell her story."
The AASLH national award is based on recommendations from both its state and national committees. This award honors the CCMF and Ms. Bittinger. Ms. Bittinger created 4 more commentaries last year with Calvin Coolidge as the subject. Trustees Jerry Wallace, John Lutz and Mimi Baird nominated the commentaries. Writer Sara Rath, editor Betty Smith, and publisher Tordis Ilg Isselhardt evaluated the commentaries and sent their letters to the committees. The presentation of the award will be made this September at the AASLH's Annual Meeting. Established in 1945, the Annual Awards Program is the most prestigious national recognition program for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of local, state and regional history. Awards are given for general excellence, exhibits, public programming, special projects, media/publications, individual achievement, and preservation or restoration projects.
Betty Smith, VPR's editor of commentaries, was the recipient of the Vermont Associated Press Award for her editing work. It was one of 21 awards honoring excellence in news broadcasting by Vermont Public Radio.
For further information: Cyndy Bittinger: 802-672-3389
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