After the American Civil War, abolitionist, activist, and author Frederick Douglass was invited to speak in Howard County on numerous occasions, but those historical visits are unknown to many Marylanders.
Howard County Library System’s will present “The Lost History of Frederick Douglass in Howard County, Maryland” to teach patrons about Douglass’s ties to the county.
The event, which will be hosted by author John Muller, will be live-streamed and held in-person at the Elkridge Library on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.
Douglass visited Howard County on several occasions, including when he served as the keynote speaker for an Emancipation Day celebration.
According to library officials, Douglass’s local and political activism throughout Howard County and the entire state of Maryland after the Civil War was overlooked.
Next month’s presentation will focus on relationships the activist had with county residents, particularly within political groups, as well as Douglass’s association with the Baltimore Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Washington Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Attendees will learn about Douglass’s B&O railroad travels and other local connections, including Irving Park, Annapolis Junction, and Ellicott City
The event will include maps, letters, newspapers, photographs, ephemera, history archives, and will be followed by a Q&A session.
