Visit to Maryland Historical Society

This is the former home of Enoch Pratt and site of MdHS since 1919. In 1882, Enoch Pratt donated more than $1 million to found a Baltimore City public library system that would be open to everyone, regardless of class, race, or color.

Lion keeping watch outside of MdHS

On September 13, I joined the Legacy of Slavery team members for a meeting with staff at the Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) in Baltimore. MdHS is partnering with MSA on a U.S. Department of Education funded grant to document the Underground Railroad in five counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

After a productive meeting, we were given a tour of MdHS’ major exhibition, “Divided Voices: Maryland in the Civil War.” For me, a highlight of the exhibition was a newly acquired, beautiful flag of the U.S. Colored Troops, 4th Regiment. Donated by the “Colored Ladies of Baltimore,” it is extremely rare for a silk flag to survive for so long in such great condition. The flag was rescued by a member of the troop, Christian Fleetwood, after both members of the color guard were killed. His courageous actions won him the Congressional Medal of Honor, making him the first African American from Maryland to receive this award. The Library of Congress holds Christian Fleetwood’s papers including his diary, which describes his actions on that day.