We are pleased to announce that more than 77,000 pages from 1,575 issues of the Gazette and other local newspapers have been digitized and are now available for viewing at the Jane C. Sween Library.
This work was made possible thanks to the success of our New Life for Old News campaign, which raised the funds necessary to make these papers accessible and preserved for posterity.
New Life for Old News celebrates the memory of former Montgomery History Executive Director Mary Kay Harper. Acquiring all the extant hard copies of the Gazette was one of the last initiatives Mary Kay undertook before she retired, and we remain forever grateful.
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Join us for upcoming History Conversations! |
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This week!
REWIND - New Life for Old News
With Sarah Hedlund
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Join Montgomery History's Archivist and Librarian, Sarah Hedlund, as she discusses our collection of the county Gazette (1960-2002) and Montgomery County Sentinel, and details some of the exciting history that can be found within these pages. These two newspapers were some of the most important sources of local journalism and were critical in telling the story of Montgomery County in the 20th century. Our Executive Director, Matt Logan, will also discuss why the preservation and digitization of these vital resources is so important.
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Next week!
“…[M]y name is not Tom…My name is Josiah Henson”
With Jamie Ferguson
Tuesday, September 20 at 2:00 p.m.
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While participating in the Josiah Henson Birthday Celebration earlier this year, a young guest wrote on a wooden image of the Reverend’s likeness, “Thank you for your lessons.” In a time when the fight against racial injustice remains constant in our country, what can we learn from a man formerly enslaved in Montgomery County, who in his lifetime and posterity, remains associated with “Uncle Tom?" Join Jamie Ferguson, Montgomery Parks Senior Historian, to hear the real story of Rev. Josiah Henson uncovered during her book research and the development of exhibits for the new museum commemorating his life in North Bethesda. |
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If you have questions about accessing any of our programs, please contact Matt Gagle, Director of Programs.
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Please show your appreciation by clicking the button below to make a donation.
Thank you!
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This school bell, which is featured in our 75 Objects + 75 Stories online exhibit, was used to summon students to the one-room Etchison School in the early 20th century. It was donated to Montgomery History in 1985 by the estate of E. Guy Jewell (1902-1984), who had been a teacher, administrator, and planner for the Montgomery County Public School system for 50 years.
The Etchison School was a one-room school for white students at the corner of Woodfield and Sweepstake Roads in the small community of Etchison, near Damascus. It was in existence at least as early as 1899 (possibly as early as 1868) and it closed in 1937.
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Materials from the closed Etchison School were used to build part of what current high school?
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Answer from last week
Exactly 25% of you knew that Rockville got its name in 1803! Before that, Rockville was known as the village of Montgomery Court House.
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New Speakers Bureau Talks Available:
Herman Rabbitt and Washington National Cathedral
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Due to the popularity and demand for two of our recent History Conversations about Herman Rabbitt and Washington National Cathedral, we have turned both of those talks into Speakers Bureau programs!
Herman Rabbitt: The Man, The Money, The Legend, and The Legacy
With Sarah Hedlund
When eccentric Montgomery County cattle farmer and land speculator Herman Rabbitt died in 1972, part of his $2.5 million estate was found buried in milk cans on his property. The rest was part of a three-year legal battle between bickering heirs. But the story of his unlikely millions was only one of the strange and legendary tales from Rabbitt’s life still told and retold by old-timers today. Join Montgomery History's Archivist and Librarian, Sarah Hedlund, to hear more about the battle for Herman’s money and other anecdotes from his unusual life.
Building Washington National Cathedral
With Andy Bittner
At 83 years, the building of Washington National Cathedral was the longest-lasting construction project in the history of Washington D.C., and it resulted in one of the great wonders of the 20th century. Join Andy Bittner, author of the book Building Washington National Cathedral, as he takes you on a photographic journey through the years of the cathedral's construction and introduces you to some of the key figures in that amazing story.
Information about this and other Speakers Bureau talks can be found on our website. Please contact Matt Gagle, Director of Programs, if you have any questions.
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Job Announcement
Join the Team at Peerless Rockville
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Peerless Rockville is looking for an organized, enthusiastic, and independent worker with strong writing and interpersonal skills to be their new Administrative Coordinator. The successful candidate will serve as an integral part of their team and work to advance their mission to preserve buildings, objects, and information important to Rockville’s heritage.
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Support your local history! |
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For 78 years, Montgomery History has been collecting, preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of our community. Please help us continue to tell the story of Montgomery County by supporting our research library, public programs, exhibitions, conferences, and more. Your support of Montgomery History will allow us keep our treasured history alive for generations to come. |
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