Dedication of Martin Luther King Highway in Prince George’s County, Maryland
Dedication of Martin Luther King Highway, Prince George's County, Maryland
Archive for the 'Local History' Category
16 January
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15 January
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Records & Recollections: Early Black History in Prince George's County, Maryland
As a park historian for what used to be the “History Division” of MNCPPC, I researched the African-American experience during the colonial and ante-bellum periods, documenting the various relevant remaining physical sites, interviewing older residents about specific churches, schools and neighborhoods, and chronicling the history of specific families whose lineages began in the county. That work lasted from 1982 to 1989. Years later, from 2000 to 2009, my local history research focused on one specific place. The preservation of local history is important because it “keeps the story” of man’s existence in a specific place – alive for future generations. Local history and preservation is not about “living in the past” but rather about the continual building process that is based on an appreciation of early accomplishments, lessons learned from trials and tribulations, and understanding the evolution of humanity. If done well, it is the uninterrupted storytelling of the lives of a people. It is truly interesting to me.