Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, will retire in December.
Freeman came to The Lewis Museum in 2020 after five years of leading the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
During her tenure in Baltimore, she steered the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic and a nation grappling with the realities of racial injustice and violence in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and numerous other Black Americans.
The museum received federal funding to build a permanent exhibit on the history of lynching in Maryland and a memorial to those who were killed.
In a 2023 interview with Baltimore Fishbowl, before the exhibit had opened, Freeman described the ways in which lynching persists today, often in different forms.
“Now, we don’t necessarily hang people from trees, but we still lynch people in this country,” she said. “And many times they are Black men whose lives are snuffed out because of drug charges that are minor, but once it’s on your record, your ability to live in a productive manner can be very, very difficult.”
In addition to shedding light on African American history, the museum also showcased arts and culture exhibitions. Freeman talked about the city’s need to bring more attention to artists and cultural institutions, like the Lewis Museum.
“I think what we have to do is this whole idea of changing the narrative to talk about how creative of a community Baltimore is…. [W]e want to concentrate on the creative class that is here and how they are creating this kind of hip, funky city that is Baltimore, Maryland, great for younger people, great for older people, walkable in many ways,” she said in 2023.
In 2030, the Lewis Museum will mark its 25th anniversary. During that 2023 interview, Freeman said she hoped that in 10 years’ time the museum would be “well-visited” with anywhere from 65,000 to 75,000 visitors each year.
“I think that it will be seen almost as a ‘third space’ if you will, a place where people can come and congregate and enjoy what there is to see in the museum, but also maybe just sit and chat and have a cup of coffee and be a place where people can meet,” she said of her vision for the museum. “I also would like to see us as a place that is teeming with young people during the weekdays during the school year, where young people are taking field trips to the museum or doing projects at the museum or doing research. We have over 11,000 objects in our collection, and to be able to have that searchable for people to do research and learn about these items would be a game-changer.”
In addition to the announcement of Freeman’s upcoming retirement, the museum also announced that W. Drew Hawkins has concluded his term as Chair of the Board of Directors. Kim Mumby Green, who previously served as the board’s secretary, has been elected as the new board chair.
Green thanked both Hawkins and Freeman for their service to the museum and community.
“It is an honor to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors during this important moment in The Lewis Museum’s history,” Green said in a statement. “I am grateful for the extraordinary leadership and dedication of both Drew Hawkins and Terri Lee Freeman, whose service has strengthened this institution and expanded its impact throughout our community. As we look to the future, I remain deeply committed to supporting the Museum’s mission, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and building upon the strong foundation that has been established to preserve, celebrate, and share Maryland’s African American history and culture for generations to come.”
Freeman described Hawkins as “an exceptional leader and steadfast supporter” of the museum during his eight years as board chair.
“I have been fortunate to work alongside Drew during a transformative period in the Museum’s history, and I am deeply grateful for his partnership, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to our mission,” Freeman said in a statement. “His visionary leadership, generosity of spirit, and belief in the importance of preserving and sharing Maryland’s African American history and culture have helped strengthen this institution and position it for continued success. It has been a privilege to serve alongside him.”
