Benjamin Collins Papers

The Benjamin Collins Papers is divided into four major sub-divisions. Each division is arranged alphabetically by topic. The arrangement of the divisions also reflects the chronological progression of Collins' career. The largest group in the collection is the Hoff Administration papers which spans Collins' tenure in the administration (1864-1968). The next series documents the Youth Project of Vermont (also known as the Vermont Youth Project, Vermont-New York Youth Project, and the New York City (or NYC)-Vermont Youth Project). This group contains manuscripts and photographs, as well as audio and videotapes from the two year experiment in racial understanding, begun in 1968 in response to the Kerner-Lindsay Report on Civil Disorder. Materials in the Hoff Senatorial Campaign subdivision relate exclusively to activities between January and November, 1970 during Hoff's campaign for the U.S. Senate. Collins' Personal material makes up the next series. The materials, mostly correspondence, cover a twenty year span, from Collins' years as a reporter to his tenure on the Goddard College administration, although much of the series focuses on his activities in the Hoff administration.

The collection covers a period of dramatic governmental growth and change in Vermont and reflect the reform spirit of the 1960's and of the Hoff administration. The collection is particularly strong in the areas in which Collins had the most responsibility: civil rights, economic opportunity, constitutional revision, employment and labor, and general administration. The collection also shows off his strength as a writer. He drafted most of Governor Hoff's speeches, and represented him at events across the state. Many of the speeches underwent several drafts as the chief executive and his chief administrator honed their liberal message for Vermonters.

The Hoff Senatorial Campaign and Personal subdivisions also reflect the ideological gap which developed between Collins and Hoff. In confidential memoranda and in his resignation letter from the Hoff senatorial campaign Collins appeared impatient with what he perceived as Hoff's shift from liberal to moderate democratic ideals.

The manuscripts in the Youth Project of Vermont subdivision complement the larger collection titled Youth Project of Vermont Records. The Collins papers contain project correspondence, reports and evaluations and administrative paperwork such as grant applications and documentation of everyday work. Films about the project as well as audiotape recordings of evaluation hearings, are included.

As in the larger related collection of Hoff gubernatorial papers, the Benjamin Collins Papers contain correspondence with noted state and national figures including: William Meyer, Robert "Bill" Daniels, Madeleine Kunin, Richard Snelling, John Daley, Winston Prouty, George Aiken, Robert Stafford, Hubert Humphrey, Edward M. Kennedy, John Kenneth Galbraith, Daniel Inouye, and more.

In the papers, researchers will find useful illustrations of a chief executive's relations with his staff, and the effects of rapid social and political change on small state governments.