July 2003

Members of the local legislative delegation recently co-sponsored an official expression of sentiment on behalf of the 121st Legislature for the Franco-American Heritage Collection at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College. Written in French, the sentiment recognizes the efforts of Joanne Lapointe, who was instrumental in starting the Collection in 1972, and of Madeleine Giguere, USM professor emeritus and long-time patron who served as the volunteer director of the Collection for seven years. Several Lewiston legislators made the presentation in the Collection’s Reading Room, which is named in honor of Ms. Giguere. They included Rep. Margaret Craven, Rep. Will Walcott, Sen. Peggy Rotundo, Rep. Elaine Makas, and Rep. Lillian O’Brien. Officials representing USM-LA College included Collection Coordinator Donat Boisvert, L-A College faculty member Dr. Barry Rodrigue, who serves as the Collection scholar, and Dean Zark VanZandt. The Franco-American Heritage Collection, formerly known as the Centre d’Heritage Franco-Americain, is open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 - 5:00, and Thursdays, 8:00 - noon. Call 753-6545 or visit the website at usm.maine.edu/lac/franco for more information.