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Donor Family Sues College for Stripping Ancestor’s Name From Campus Chapel

The family of Vermont governor who paid for a chapel to be built on his college campus a century ago is suing the institution after his name was removed.

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Donor Family Sues College for Stripping Ancestor’s Name From Campus Chapel — The nameplate of Mead Memorial Chapel at Middlebury College was removed on Sept. 27, 2021. Courtesy of James Douglas

Darlene McCormick Sanchez

Senior Reporter

8/17/2023|Updated: 8/18/2023

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A Vermont judge has ruled a lawsuit will move forward against Middlebury College for removing the name of a prominent donor from the campus chapel because of his views on eugenics.

The 223-year-old college had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. But Judge Robert A. Mello ruled in the first week of August to reject that request and let the lawsuit proceed.

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Donor Family Sues College for Stripping Ancestor’s Name From Campus Chapel

Lawsuit says ancestor was mischaracterized, wants name restored or $2.23 million