Middlebury College and the Sheldon Museum present "Charity & Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early Weybridge, Vermont," a talk by author Rachel Hope Cleves on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 4:30 pm at Twilight Hall, Middlebury College. This talk explores the history of same-sex sexuality, and reveals how the mechanism of the "open secret" enabled Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake to be recognized by their community as a married couple two centuries before the United States v. Windsor landmark case. Cleves is Associate Professor of History at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. She is the author of "Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America" (Oxford University Press, 2014). She based much of her research for this book on archival materials at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury. Immediately following the talk, a book signing with Professor Cleves and opening reception for the exhibit "Charity & Sylvia: A Weybridge Couple" will take place at the Sheldon Museum, 6-7 pm. The events are free and open to the public. Twilight Hall is located at 50 Franklin Street, Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. The Sheldon Museum is located at One Park Street, Middlebury, VT. For more information, go to www.Middlebury.edu or www.HenrySheldonMuseum.org or call the Sheldon at 802-388-2117.

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