Legal Case: Mead Memorial Chapel
Overview of the ongoing litigation over the Mead Memorial Chapel name, preserving the legacy and intentions of Governor John Mead amid recent institutional actions.
Context
The Mead Memorial Chapel at Middlebury College is a historic monument built to honor the Mead family’s legacy, specifically that of Vermont Governor John Mead. In 2021, Middlebury College’s trustees elected to remove the Mead family name from the chapel, citing remarks from a 1912 speech given by Governor Mead. The decision caused significant outcry among the Mead descendants and associated community, who asserted that the deed for the chapel explicitly required the continued use of the Mead name. The estate filed suit against the college, contending both breach of a covenant and injury to the Mead family’s reputation and intent, leading to an ongoing dispute punctuated by motions, appeals, and considerable media coverage.
Letter from Middlebury Campus Alumni
Legal Timeline
Key Parties Involved
| Plaintiff | Estate of John A. Mead, represented by Jim Douglas (Administrator and former Governor of Vermont) |
| Defendant | Middlebury College, represented by its Board of Trustees and senior officers |
| Counsel for Plaintiff | L. Brooke Dingledine, Valsangiacomo & Pelkey, P.C. |
| Counsel for Defendant | Justin Barnard, Dinse P.C. |
| Other Stakeholders | Vermont Supreme Court; Descendants of the Mead family; Public supporters; Media organizations covering the case |
Plaintiff
Estate of John A. Mead, represented by Jim Douglas (Administrator and former Governor of Vermont)
Defendant
Middlebury College, represented by its Board of Trustees and senior officers
Counsel for Plaintiff
L. Brooke Dingledine, Valsangiacomo & Pelkey, P.C.
Counsel for Defendant
Justin Barnard, Dinse P.C.
Other Stakeholders
Vermont Supreme Court; Descendants of the Mead family; Public supporters; Media organizations covering the case
