Maryland Department of General Services to Host Exhibits in Celebration of Black History Month

BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Department of General Services today announced two exhibits on public display to celebrate Black History Month. The Office of Capital Grants and Loans and the Office of Human Resources worked with the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center to open temporary exhibits of photographs and wax figures to celebrate Black History Month. The exhibits, located in the lobby and cafeteria of the 301 W. Preston St. building in Baltimore, are part of the department’s community outreach efforts in recognition of Black History Month.

“We are honored to be able to host these exhibits during Black History Month,” said Secretary Ellington E. Churchill, Jr. “These exhibits highlight an American journey for people of color and the story of individual and group contributions to our state and nation’s history should be celebrated.”

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is among the nation’s most dynamic and unique cultural and educational institutions, committed solely to the study and preservation of African American history. The museum generously provided General Services with three wax figures from their exhibit titled “From Suffrage to Suppression: The Black Woman’s Battle for the Vote.” The wax figures of three iconic women who dedicated their life to civil rights are now on display: Sojourner Truth, Mary Church Terrell, and Shirley Chisholm. 

The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center is dedicated to highlighting the students, faculty, and community leaders who endeavored to obtain quality education for African American children in Harford County. The center generously provided General Services with an exhibit that showcases the 90th anniversary of the first public high school in Harford County for African American children. The exhibit provides a number of photos from the 1940s and 1950s as well as old and recent news articles that illustrates the extensive history of the development of the high school. 

Both exhibits are free and open to employees, visitors, and passersby for the remainder of the month.

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About DGS: The Department of General Services is responsible for essential services and programs administered on behalf of the state, including procuring goods and services; designing, building, leasing, managing and maintaining facilities; leading energy conservation efforts; and providing essential services such as fuel management, administration of capital  grants, disposition of surplus property and records management. The Department of General Services Maryland Capitol Police maintains safety and security at state buildings.