Jane Nylander will give a book talk about her new book, “The Best Ever: Parades in New England, 1788-1940” on Jan. 12 via Zoom. Submitted photo

The Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine plans to kick off 2023 with a book talk with Jane Nylander at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, via Zoom.

Nylander will discuss her new book, “The Best Ever: Parades in New England, 1788-1940,” published by Bauhan Publishing and Old Sturbridge Village.

Nylander, whose career as a museum curator, director and trustee, is paralleled by academic teaching, lectures worldwide on a variety of topics, and has more than 100 articles and books published on historic textiles and New England daily life. Notable among these is “Our Own Snug Fireside: Images of the New England Home, 1760-1860,” , according to a news release from FAC archivist Anna Faherty.

Nylander has served as a trustee of Historic Deerfield, Old Sturbridge Village, the New Hampshire Historical Society, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Hampshire, and the Worcester (Massachusetts) Historical Society.

Her most recent exhibitions “Behind Closed Doors: Asleep in New England” and “Fresh Goods: Shopping in a New England Town.”

Based on extensive research in the collections throughout the region, “Parades in New England” is focused on the creativity and narrative qualities of parade floats rather than the uniformity and power of long lines of marching white men. Abundant illustrations reveal the rich diversity of New England parade traditions ranging from the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 to the eve of World War II.

After the presentation, there will be time set aside for a question and answer session.

Those interested in reading the book before the Zoom event can check out a copy at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St.

To register, visit usm.maine.edu. All programs are recorded and archived at that website.

For more information or to register, contact Faherty at anna.faherty@maine.edu or 207-753-6545.

Those who have questions about disability access or need to request disability accommodations (e.g. sign language interpreters, materials in electronic format, etc.), can contact Faherty. Requests should be made as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for the accommodation process.

Check out other upcoming area events!