Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC

Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1969-1979

1969-1979 1969

Senator Verda Freeman Welcome, academically supported by Dr. Benjamin Quarles, introduces Senate Bill #185, establishing the Maryland Commission on Negro History and Culture as a resource for preserving and documenting the Black experience in Maryland

The Maryland Commission on Negro History and Culture begins a statewide study to note the best ways to create a better understanding and knowldge of African American history and culture Mt. Moriah A.M.E Church is sold to Anne Arundel County, Maryland

1971

The renamed Maryland Commission on Afro-American presents the results of their study to the Governor of Maryland and suggests a permanent commission and museum on Maryland's African American heritage

MCAAHC and Historic Annapolis, Inc. collaborate to save Mt. Moriah Church from demolition with the support of Annapolis City Council

1973

1970 1972

On January 15th, Mt. Moriah is placed on the National Register of Historic Sites Circuit Court Judge of Carroll County approves the demolition of Mt. Moriah Church MCAAHC moves into 12 W. Madison Street, Baltimore, Maryland

On April 11th, the location at 12 W. Madison Street is officially opened as the Afro-American and Indian Study Center

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1975

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1969-1979 1976

In March, Thomas R. Dawson, Carroll Greene, Jr., and Yevola S. Peters sign the Articles of Incorporation establishing the Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation (BDMF) On May 19th, MCAAHC dedicates the Azzie Briscoe Koger Resource Library at the Afro-American Study Center MCAAHC creates the Afro-American Bicentennial Commission MCAAHC helps organize AFRAM ‘76 in Baltimore, MD The Commission establishes a headquarters at 20 Dean St., Annapolis, MD

Anne Arundel County leases Mt. Moriah to MCAAHC for $1 per year for 99 years

1978

1977

On March 15th, the Leon Bridges Architectural Firm was chosen to renovate Mt. Moriah MCAAHC publishes Black Marylanders: A History for Children

Restoration of Mt. Moriah begins Herbert Frisby donates his collection of artifacts to MCAAHC

1979

IMPORTANT ACRONYMS

MCAAHC: Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture BDM: Banneker-Douglass Museum BDMF: Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation

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Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1979-1989

1979-1989 1980

MCAAHC co-sponsors the Benjamin Banneker Stamp Dedication Ceremony in Annapolis, MD In July, BDMF commissions portraits of Harriet Tubman, John H. Murphy, and Lillie May Carroll Jackson to be painted by Hughie Lee-Smith

Renovations to Mt. Moriah Church continue with funding from the Housing and Urban Development Community Block Grant and the Maryland General Assembly, bringing the total cost of the project $960,000

1983

In April, the Commission’s staff closes all other offices and move into offices on the lower level of Mt. Moriah as renovations near completion

MCAAHC presents Rosa Parks with a certificate of appreciation On February 24th, Mt. Moriah Church is dedicated as the BannekerDouglass Museum of Afro-American Life and History

1985

1981-82 1984

“The Ghandi Reader”, a large portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. painted

by Nathaniel Gibbs is unveiled on MLK’s 56th birthday Carroll Greene, Jr., MCAAHC Executive Director, becomes the Coordinator for Maryland’s MLK commemorative holiday celebration March 18th, Verda Welcome Hall is dedicated at BDM BDM collects objects from Dr. Ralph Young of Baltimore

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1979-1989 1986

MCAAHC hosts a conference entitled "The Black Experience in Southern Maryland: Past and Present" at St. Mary's College

MCAAHC celebrates the first Kunta Kinte Heritage Heritage Day on the Annapolis City docks in commemoration of Kunta Kinte’s arrival in America October 1-2nd, Morgan State University, Maryland State Archives, Maryland Historical Society, and MCAAHC co-sponsors conference “Freedom Fettered: Blacks in the Constitutional Era in Maryland: 17761819” at Morgan State University

1988

1987

In January, “Let Freedom Ring” became Maryland’s official tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Baltimore, MD under Maestro David Zinman Exhibit "Amandla: Contemporary and Traditional Art of South Africa" opens in September In December, MCAAHC and BDMF sponsor the first Kwanzaa program at BDM

BDM’s 5th Anniversary Celebration is hosted by MCAAHC and BDMF March 10-11th, MCAAHC sponsors “Black Women: Creativity and the Quality of Life at Bowie State University in Bowie, MD In November, MCAAHC hosts the lecture “Stitched from the Soul: Slave Quilting in the Antebellum South” by Dr. Gladys-Marie Fry

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1989

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Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1989-1999

1989-1999 1990

In May, MCAAHC sponsors a symposium entitled "Issues and Trends in the Protection of African American Culture" in Prince George's County, Maryland In September, museum exhibition "A Focus on Dignity: The Photography of the Scurlock Family" opens

The Maryland Commission on Afro-American History and Culture is renamed the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture On October 23rd, BDM hosts the lecture “Archaeology in Annapolis” in conjunction with the Historic Annapolis Foundation On October 26th, the MCAAHC hosts a gallery talk about the history of dolls and a workshop on doll making

1992

MCAAHC helps pass a resolution in support of the preservation of the John Maynard House and the construction of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis, MD

Thomas Baden's objects and photographs are donated to the Commission and BDM On September 25th, museum exhibition "Highland Beach: The First One Hundred Years" opens

1994

1991

1993

MCAAHC publishes the “Maryland Inventory of African-American Historical and Cultural Resource Survey Guide”

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1989-1999 1995

In January, exhibition “Pass It On: African American Children’s Literature” opens MCAAHC establishes the Consortium of African American Museums in Maryland (CAAMM)

On June 1st, MCAAHC hosts the Togu Na Interior Design Forum, cosponsored by BDM, the Organization of Black Designers, and DC Design Consortium, featuring presentations by eight designers on African and African American inspirations in interior design

1997

In March, MCAAHC participates in the African Burial Ground Project Tour to view items at Howard University’s Biological Anthropology Laboratory In March, MCAAHC hosts CAAMM’s first conference “Shared Stories, New Voices: Accessing African and African American Resources in Maryland” In June, MCAAHC co-sponsors two African American genealogy sessions at the Columbia Festival with the Maryland Humanities Council In August, exhibition “Benjamin Banneker: His Time and Place” opens

On February 28th, BDM hosts “Paul Laurence Dunbar: From Dawn to Sunset”, a living history performance On March 7th, BDM presents “The Life of Harriet Ross Tubman”, a living history performance

1999

1996

1998

On November 23rd, exhibition "In His Own Words: The Life and Work of Frederick Douglass" opens

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Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1999-2009

1999-2009 2000

BDM hosts "Summer 2000", a youth summer camp offering classes on African fabric arts, oral history and archaeology techniques, and exhibition techniques

On May 28th, museum exhibition "Doorway to Africa: African Art & Artifacts from the Permanent Collection of the Banneker-Douglass Museum" opens In June, BDM hosts the five day "Statewide Teacher and Administrator Institute" to provide participants with information about African American Marylanders through presentations, workshops, and on-site field trips On October 12th, MCAAHC and BDM partner with the Maryland Division of Tourism, Film, and the Arts and Parvenir to honor Kevin Clash, the creator of Sesame Street's Elmo, for the event "Celebrating Maryland's Heritage"

2003

2002

MCAAHC hosts the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the BannekerDouglass Museum's building expansion

BDM reopens with permanent exhibit “Deep Roots, Rising Waters: A History of African Americans in Maryland"

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2006

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1999-2009 2007

On October 27th, the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library is dedicated at the Banneker-Douglass Museum

BDM worked with the Maryland State Teachers Association’s Radical Readers Program which culminated with an event at the museum Exhibition, “SoWeBo”, guest curated by Baltimore photographer Martha Cooper, opens

2009

2008

BDM hosts two interns through the IMPART program from May through August On November 17th, Chair Ted Mack speaks at the dedication of the Dred Scott Plaque at City Hall in Frederick, Maryland

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Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of MCAAHC TIMELINE OF EVENTS 2009-2019

2009-2019 2010

Senate Bill 319 established the African American Heritage Preservation Program, a capital grant established by MCAAHC and the Maryland Historical Trust In January, exhibit “The Seneca Village Collaboration” with sculpture “Celestial Praise House for Seneca Village” by Dr. Leslie King-Hammond and Jose J. Mapily In collaboration with The Next Step Program and Roland Park Country School, BDM hosted “Growing Girls and Gardens” where rising high school senior girls learned how to conduct historical research

On March 19th, MCAAHC supports 14th Annual Black Saga at Towson State University On April 12th, MCAAHC is expanded from 9 to 21 members when House Bill 1253 is signed On August 6th, Chair Ted Mack presents the Governor's proclamation honoring the day as Henrietta Lacks Day at Turner Station Heritage & Praise Celebration

2012

2011

MCAAHC and BDM, in collaboration with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Historic Annapolis, and Historic London Town and Gardens hosted “Our Common Threads”, a quilting project led by Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither where over 500 students, teachers, staff, and volunteers contributed over 2,000 hours

On January 31st, MCAAHC supports Senate Bill 42/House Bill 0167 requiring the Governor to annually proclaim November 1st as Maryland Emancipation Day On February 13, exhibit “Making It Work: Emerging African American Women Artists” opened

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2013

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2009-2019 2014

On February 22nd, installation “Peace Be Within These Walls” piece by Lorning Cornish is unveiled at BDM BDM celebrates its 30th Anniversary On September 14th, exhibition “True to Form: Expressions of Community Art” opens

MCAAHC endorses the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project On May 23rd, MCAAHC sponsored the lecture “Being Black in Brownsville: Echoes of a Forgotten ‘Frostburg’ - Crossing into the Promised Land” at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center On October 15th, MCAAHC sponsored the lecture “Dorothy Porter Wesley at Howard University: Building a Legacy of Black History” at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center

2016

2015

On February 17th, Commissioner Steven Lee testifies at the State of Maryland Legislative Hearings on behalf of the Commission in support of House Bill 174 to create the Commission on the Solemn Remembrance of the Victims of Lynching” On April 11th, MCAAHC and University of Maryland: College Park’s College of Information Studies hosts an event on the digitization project entitled “Transition to Freedom” On June 2nd, exhibition “Jumping the Broom: Celebration of African American Marriage for 50 Years or More” opens

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2009-2019 2017

MCAAHC organized quarterly author talks and books signings beginning in March in celebration of Women’s History Month March 6th, BDM, the Four Rivers Heritage Area, and Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation sponsored the event “Voices of Freedom: An Evening with Umar Bin Hassan of ‘The Last Poets’, Exploring the Legacy of Frederick Douglass through Spoken Word”

January 27th, BDM hosts “Conversations About Race Part 1” followed by “Conversations About Race Part 2” on February 10th, facilitated by Latisha Monique Jones In February, exhibition “Douglass Reading Room” opens In July, BDM hosts the first annual Youth Conference On October 13th, BDM hosts “Conversations with Curators and Collectors”

2019

2018

On January 12th, exhibitions “Laurence Hurst Anniversary Show” and “Songs of the Caged Bird” open On February 9th, MCAAHC hosts the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Celebration at BDM with Governor Larry Hogan as the keynote speaker On March 8th, exhibit “Verda’s Place: An Homage to a Valiant Woman” opens On June 29th, MCAAHC celebrates its 50th Anniversary with the “We Rise!

Legacy Symposium” at Morgan State University

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