Uncovered: A New England Romance

This Valentine’s Day, we invite you to join us for an enlightening and heartwarming program that will explore an extraordinary chapter of early American history. Vince Tripi, a passionate public history educator specializing in LGBTQ+ history, will lead a special presentation titled “Uncovered: A New England Romance.” The program will delve into the remarkable and little-known love story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, two women who lived together as a same-sex married couple in post-colonial New England.

The inspiration for this program comes from historian Rachel Hope Cleves’s groundbreaking book, Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America. While conducting research for her dissertation, Cleves stumbled upon a personal letter that led her on a journey to uncover the lives of Charity and Sylvia, whose relationship challenges our understanding of both marriage and lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity in the early United States.

Despite the deeply entrenched gender and social expectations of their time, Charity and Sylvia formed a lifelong bond and lived openly as a couple in their small community of Weybridge, Vermont. Far from being an anomaly, their story reveals that same-sex relationships were not as rare or detestable in the past as one might think. Vince will explore how the two women managed to live authentically as a couple, how they navigated the complexities of daily life and economic pursuits, and how their community offered surprising levels of support in a time we might expect it to be impossible.

https://wams.nyhistory.org/building-a-new-nation/american-woman/charity-and-sylvia/#single/0

Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving personal histories and challenges long-standing stereotypes about gender and sexuality. Charity and Sylvia’s enduring relationship highlights that, even in the face of adversity, LGBTQ+ individuals have always found ways to love and thrive. It also demonstrates that communities can be more open and supportive than history often portrays.

Join us for an inspiring program that not only uncovers a hidden romance from the past but also celebrates the resilience, love, and authenticity of LGBTQ+ people across time. Charity and Sylvia’s legacy reminds us that history is filled with untold stories of courage, and this Valentine’s Day, their tale will serve as a beacon of hope.

First Course

Salmagundi Salad

Boston, Romaine, Endive, Assorted Greens,

Baked Ham and Chicken, Cheddar Cheese,

Hard-Boiled Eggs, Anchovies

Warm Rolls and Butter

Second Course

Sugar Cookies with Two Hearts

Coffee, Tea & Iced Tea Service

*plus 20% service charge & tax

Event Venue

Woman's Club of Wisconsin, 813 East Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, United States