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| Abbreviation | MCHC |
|---|---|
| Formation | March 1, 1844; 181 years ago (1844-03-01)[2] |
| 52-0403670[3] | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization[3] |
| Purpose | The Maryland Center for History and Culture collects, preserves, and interprets the history, art, and culture of Maryland. By exploring multiple perspectives and sharing national stories through the lens of Maryland, the MCHC inspires critical thinking, creativity, and community.[1] |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 39°17′49″N76°37′7″W / 39.29694°N 76.61861°W /39.29694; -76.61861 |
| John Banes[5] | |
| Katie Caljean[4] | |
Publication | Maryland Historical Magazine |
| Revenue | $4.6 million[citation needed] (2020) |
| Expenses | $4.3 million[citation needed] (2020) |
| Endowment | $12,780,634[3] |
| Employees | 38[4] (2021) |
| Volunteers | 19[citation needed] (2021) |
| Website | www |
TheMaryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC), formerly theMaryland Historical Society (MdHS),[6] founded on March 1, 1844,[2] is the oldest cultural institution in theU.S. state ofMaryland. The organization "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage". The MCHC has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes scholarly works on Maryland.
The MCHC has been located at the Enoch Pratt House in theMount Vernon neighborhood ofBaltimore, Maryland, since 1919.[7] Built in 1847, the Enoch Pratt House was presented to MdHS in 1916 by Ms. Mary Washington Keyser as a tribute to her husband, H. Irvine Keyser, who was a member of MdHS from 1835 until his death in 1916.Enoch Pratt (1806–1896) was a well-known philanthropist who created theEnoch Pratt Free Library and gave substantial contributions to theFirst Unitarian Church, theMaryland Science Center, and theMaryland School for the Deaf.
The organization changed its name from "Maryland Historical Society" to "Maryland Center for History and Culture" in September 2020 shortly after celebrating its 175th anniversary.[6] Apparently this rebranding was done to place emphasis on the word "center", signaling the inclusion of people from "all walks of life" not only those interested in history; and to expand beyond history to include other aspects of culture, such as art.[6]
Since 1906, the MCHC has publishedMaryland Historical Magazine, a peer-reviewed quarterly journal boasting one of the largest readerships among state historical organization journals. The organization also publishes books on Maryland history that are distributed through a partnership with theJohns Hopkins University Press, includingCrime and Punishment in Early Maryland written by former MdHS librarian Raphael Semmes (1890–1952). The MCHC has over 100 titles in theLibrary of Congress.
Notables on exhibit at the MCHC are the original manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the letters and journals ofBenjamin Banneker. The MCHC showcases include 231 weapons, 866 pieces of jewelry, 2,200 Native American prehistoric archaeological objects, 15,000 musical scores as well as a remarkable collection of 18th- and 19th-century paintings and silver, maritime artifacts, Maryland painted and inlaid furniture, quilts, costumes, ceramics, dolls and toys. Exhibits include Maryland's history, Maryland in art and furniture in Maryland life.
The H. Furlong Baldwin Library’s collections are both diverse and substantive. The library enables researchers, teachers, and students to see for themselves the records of the past, and to study and learn from its many treasures. The library’s collections include 60,000 books, 800,000 photographs, 5 million manuscripts, 6,500 prints and broadsides, 1 million pieces of printed ephemera, extensive genealogy indexes, and more, reflecting the history of Maryland and its people. These collections are accessible to visitors on-line and at the MCHC campus in Baltimore.
In 1968 the library acquired 80 photographs byBert Sadler, noted for his work in capturing everyday American life.
On July 9, 2011,Barry Landau and Jason Savedoff were arrested and later indicted for the theft of 60 society documents.[citation needed]
The MCHC is a community partner ofPreserve the Baltimore Uprising, a digital archive devoted to preserving and making accessible media created and captured by people and organizations involved in or witness to the protests followingFreddie Gray's death in 2015.[8] The 2016–2017 MdHS exhibitWhat & Why: Collecting at the Maryland Historical Society included items from the Preserve the Baltimore Uprising collections in a video installation.[9]
