We are a small museum and local history organization in upper Montgomery County, MD. We are open th 1980, BHS acquired the historic Boyds Negro
School property.
The school is located at 19510
White Ground Road. This one-room 22 x 30 foot
wooden building, heated by a wood stove, served
as the only public school for African Americans in
the Boyds area from 1895-1936. The schoolhouse
served students in grades 1-8, many of whom
walked for miles to attend classes at the school. After the purchase of the property in 1980, the
school was restored by BHS to its original
condition in approximately 1900.
Be sure to visit the historic school and other local sites this weekend for Heritage Days.
Local Sites Video Series Heritage Montogmery is proud to release a new series of videos highlighting... Read More May 9, 2022
Gwen Reese
Photo courtesy of Bethesda Magazine President, Sugarland Ethno history Project Interviewer: Kenny Sholes Date: 3/9/2020 How did you end up in the Ag Reserve? Gwen notes that to understand how she e…
The Edward U. Taylor Elementary School
In the early 1950s, still under legalized segregation and the auspices of “separate but equal,” the Montgomery County School Board decided to build four new elementary schools in the county for Afr…
On this day, May 17th, in 1954, the landmark Brown v. Board of Education was decided.
Seven years later, in August 1961, this article– buried next to a headline about the county fair– appeared in the Gaithersburg Gazette announcing desegregation of MCPS was “completed.”
Courtesy of
www.MoCoShow.com
We mourn the death of Nina H. Clarke, at 103 years of age. Ms. Clark attended segregated schools, and then became a teacher, a principal, and the author of the leading text on the history of black public schools. What an amazing, consequential life she had! This is a copy of the article from today in the Monocacy Monocle.
The historic Boyds Negro School was not a Rosenwald school. But the story of Julius Rosenwald is an important one in the history of education in America.
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rosenwald-Schools--an-Artifact-Donation--and-Newly-Digitized-Documents.html?soid=1121910310169&aid=cucRWDvnGEk
Philanthropy in Action Remembering the Rosenwald Schools View as Webpage THIS WEEK "Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools: A Force for Change" with Stephanie Deutsch and Dorothy Canter Tuesday,
Here is the story of another one of the NAACP pay equity cases in Maryland. Thurgood Marshall also represented William Gibbs in the Montgomery County case, Gibbs v. Broome.
As we celebrate African American History month, I am reminded of one of our own who made a significant contribution to society. The person who comes to mind is Harriett Elizabeth Brown, an educator in Calvert County. Ms. Brown, with assistance from NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, challenged the.....
Boyds Historical Society mourns the loss of two of its long time members, Steve and Ginger Gibson. Steve and Ginger lived right down White Ground Road from the historic Boyds Negro School property. The Gibsons were fixtures at every BHS event for decades, including open houses, craft fairs, fall festivals, flea markets, and Heritage Days. They gave tirelessly of their time and energy, and they loved meeting all of the visitors and sharing stories about the history of Boyds.
(Obituaries posted in the comments below on the original BHS post).
Interesting reading on this MLK day:
https://montgomeryhistory.org/online-exhibit-desegregation/
In 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a ruling on the case of Brown v. Board of Education: a monumental decision that fundamentally changed America and jumpstarted the Civil Rights movement that still continues to this day. That ruling overturned the legal precedent set by the 189...
Boyds Historical Society mourns the loss of Arthur Virts. Arthur was synonymous with the history of the Boyds community. He was our greatest human resource. Arthur knew nearly everyone and every story. We are so grateful for his contributions to the community.
The annual Montgomery County History Conference in January is always a worthwhile event. This year, it is entirely virtual, and takes place over eight days.
There are segments on the Sugarland community, the Cider Barrel, and other topics of interest.
https://montgomeryhistory.org/2021-mchc/
Join Montgomery History from January 22-30, 2021 for the 15th annual Montgomery County History Conference! This year the conference is taking place entirely online over eight days, offering myriad opportunities to take part, including three keynote sessions, twelve breakout sessions, a musical...
This is one historic site in Boyds MD. Come and visit.
The Boyds Historical Society (BHS) was organized in 1975 (as the Boyds/Clarksburg Historical Society). Our membership consists of local residents who share an interest in preserving our community's history. We welcome potential new members, contributions, suggestions, and requests for information.
On this Giving Tuesday, there are many worthwhile non profits to remember with your donation dollars.
Boyds Historical Society is a local history organization, with a mission of preserving the history of the Boyd's community, and specifically, with maintaining BNS, the historic one room segregated school. We have a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to make history education and preservation a priority in Boyds.
There is a donation link on our webpage if you are able to help support us! Thank you!
http://www.boydshistory.org/Welcome.html
The Boyds Historical Society (BHS) was organized in 1975 (as the Boyds/Clarksburg Historical Society). Our membership consists of local residents who share an interest in preserving our community's history. We welcome potential new members, contributions, suggestions, and requests for information.
Germantown Historical Society Presents: A History of Germantown
A Virtual Presentation with local historian Susan Cooke Sodorberg on the history of Germantown.
Open House at Boyds Negro School Property on Sunday, 10/25 - The MoCo Show
The October 2020 Open House for the historic one-room Boyds Negro School (1895-1936), at 19510 White Ground Road, is tomorrow (Sunday, 10/25). The open house will take place between 2pm and 4pm. Masks are required for participation i the event and one family or group, consisting of no more than 6 pe...
From one of our local history partners:
Activities include our new self-guided tours, farm animals, pop-up gift shop, picnic areas and recreational trail access. Toilet and sanitizer will be on-hand. Socially distancing and mask wearing are required. Access is by reservation only. Reserve your parking pass online before arriving at the fa...
Check out this new exhibit at the Gaithersburg Community Museum. It is about local upcounty schools.
Brand new exhibit on Gaithersburg schools in the schoolroom.
Clarence Hickey always gives a great presentation.
This interesting presentation is about Sugarland, another kinship community very close to Boyds.
https://youtu.be/iwP75DIIakk
Local writer Jeff Sypeck will talk about the process of collaborating on a book about the African American community of Sugarland with Gwen Reese and Suzanne...
The historic Edward U. Taylor School is right across the street from BNS. Please watch for opportunities this fall to provide input in the form of public comments when historic status is considered.
https://historicagreserve.wordpress.com/a-survey-of-our-inheritance/the-edward-u-taylor-elementary-school/?fbclid=IwAR2NcMKnfs9NP75o0nHNsy3tBHv4ccyt_s812skLA1CL_wk5snd4-PrzFII
In the early 1950s, still under legalized segregation and the auspices of “separate but equal,” the Montgomery County School Board decided to build four new elementary schools in the county for Afr…
Today's gorgeous weather is a perfect excuse to get outdoors! If you're looking for something to do, check out the City of Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour: https://rockvillemd.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=4986c0caa4834eafa5c03cd3a84dd913 2 miles, 18 sites, all easily accessible from your phone. If you have antsy kids or teenagers in the house this is a great opportunity to get them outside and learning!
City of Rockville Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation, Ltd.
This is an interesting project for those who may be interested. Posterity will thank you.
Historical societies around the country are collecting diary entries, photos, and other submissions that reflect how we are collectively dealing with the COVID-19 crisis—including Montgomery History! Check out this article from the Washington Post that details how and why organizations around the U.S. are documenting this historic moment: https://tinyurl.com/y94xkbkx Plus, it’s easy if you’d like to get involved at the local level and help us document the crisis. You can find out more about our COVID-19 Archive at https://montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/takepart/, or email our Archivist Sarah Hedlund at [email protected] with questions. Future generations will thank you!
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DC History
This interesting online presentation contains oral histories from six students who experienced segregation in education in Montgomery County MD first hand. One of the students was Nina Clarke, author of the book we have available in our library at BHS.
https://sites.google.com/view/school-desegregation/home
Women who lived the Montgomery County desegregation experience (L-R): Edith Throckmorton, Nina Honemond Clarke, Margaret Taylor Jones, Doris Hackey, Rose Kramer, Geneva Mason.
Front porch fundraiser concert to benefit Boyds Negro School.
Please help BHS "keep the lights on" and make a donation if you are able. There is a "Donate" button located on our web page.
http://boydshistory.org/Welcome.html
(Miriam Schoenbaum and Charlotte Sanford, performers)
https://youtu.be/TgOMByNEMxk
On April 19, 2020, the Boyds Historical Society hosted an outdoor porch-concert fundraiser at the historic Boyds Negro School in Boyds, MD during the "stay-a...
While you may at home and looking for films to view, be sure to look for "Boyds Negro School -- Historic Lives." This two part video about the history of the school has been uploaded to YouTube. The link can be found on our website:
http://boydshistory.org/Boyds_Negro_School.html
In 1980, BHS acquired the historic Boyds Negro School property located at 19510 White Ground Road. This one-room 22 x 30 foot wooden building, heated by a wood stove, served as the only public school for African Americans in the Boyds area from 1895-1936. The schoolhouse served students in grades 1-...
March 19, 2020.
As Americans make sacrifices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our usual daily routines in Montgomery County and across the country have been disrupted. Schools are closed, and many families are struggling to cope. These struggles, which we hope will be temporary, are mirrored in some of the history of the education of students of color in Montgomery County.
The schools for black students, authorized by the State of Maryland in 1872, were funded only by taxes paid by black families. There were many years when those funds ran out long before the school year was scheduled to end. After the harsh winter of 1881, the black schools closed at the expiration of one half of the spring term, on March 10, 1881. In 1905, all the black schools closed on February 24, 1905.
Other years, schools closed because of illnesses or epidemics. In 1900-1901, there was a diptheria epidemic in upper Montgomery County. The schools at Barnesville and Martinsburg were closed in October 1900 and January 1901, respectively, because of the epidemic.
Several schools were destroyed by fire over the years, and those school groups moved into churches or other unoccupied spaces. Most of the black schools fell into serious neglect. Repairs were deferred and supply requests were often ignored. Teacher salaries earned by black teachers were half of what was earned by their white teacher counterparts with the same training.
Notwithstanding all of these challenges, the parents in the black community persevered and continued to advocate for the education of their young students. The challenges they faced were not born of one season or one cause; they were ongoing and institutionalized.
(Taken from "History of the Black Public Schools of Montgomery County, Maryland, 1872-1961" by Nina H. Clarke and Lillian B. Brown).
Professor Gibson gave a talk at the Boyds Negro School several years ago, about his book on Thurgood Marshall, entitled "Young Thurgood."
Celebrate Black History Month with Montgomery History! Check out some of our free public programs happening throughout February all around the county. Learn about some of the county’s most influential African Americans, the history of important African American communities in Montgomery County, education and school desegregation, and more.
Boyds Negro School was not a Rosenwald School, but we sometimes get that question from visitors.
This article gives more information about the impact that Jewish philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald, had on the education of students of color in the US. (There are still a few former Rosenwald School buildings standing in Montgomery County).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-the-jew-who-built-5300-schools-for-black-children-in-the-1900s-deep-south/?fbclid=IwAR3DAILJrQEIUnmUGH-16N2vmKTrYJBNP6sLI4YDvEdVeVV0ZiLUXRJbjtg
Thanks to Karen Yaffe Lottes for this link.
New film, 'Rosenwald,' tells story of philanthropist Julius Rosenwald who transformed black lives, including those of writer Langston Hughes and opera singer Marion Anderson
Calling all history buffs. This is always a very interesting event.
New Exhibit showcases the underground railroad in Rockville
ROCKVILLE, Md., (WDVM)– Peerless Rockville opens their new exhibit called Forging Freedom Friday evening at the historic Red-brick courthouse. It’s an exhibit highlighting the undergrou…
Boyds Historical Society updated their phone number.
In the Boyds area, there were several such communities, including Turnertown, Blocktown, and White Grounds (the area around the BNS).
The goal of the exhibition, curated by students at American University, is to pay homage to the Montgomery County black communities who championed fights against racial discrimination through faith, family and fellowship.
Come join us on Sunday, July 28, 2-4 pm for an Open House at the historic Boyds Negro School (19510 White Ground Road, Boyds, MD).
Don't miss this great event, and be sure to include BHS on your list to visit!
Join us this weekend for Heritage Days 2019 and experience the life of a student in the 19th and early 20th centuries! Visit the Smithville School Museum, the Clarksburg Schoolhouse, Boyds Negro Schoolhouse, and the Seneca Schoolhouse Museum. Find full details at bit.ly/2WLzQay
Come join us for our monthly meeting:
Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30 pm
Historic Boyds Negro School
19510 White Ground Road, Boyds MD
Boyds, MD
20841
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Sack races at the historic Boyds Negro School. Join us for Heritage Days noon to 4:00 Sunday.
Call to Artists for the BHS Fall Craft Fair event scheduled for 10/15/16
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