On December 17, 1800, George Allen was born in Milton. Allen loved language, and earned his living as a professor of languages at the University of Pennsylvania for 31 years.

George Allen also loved chess and music. He wrote passionately about both, but his work regarding chess became legendary.

Allen amassed a chess library that included books, documents, manuscripts and prints. Allen’s collection became widely known, was acknowledged as the largest chess library in America.

A compendium has since been published to index all of the materials that were in the George Allen chess library.

The Vermont Book Of Days photo.