In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC), Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) launched a new exhibition,Verda’s Place: An Homage to a Valiant Woman on Friday. In 1962, Verda Freeman Welcome became the first Black woman in the country to be elected to a State Senate. Seven years later, she introduced legislation creating the first ethnic commission in the United States, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. This exhibition celebrates Welcome’s life and legacy and explores the struggles she endured during her fight for civil rights in Maryland. The opening reception welcomed more than 75 people, and special guest MCAAHC Commissioner Janice Curtis Greene performed a reenactment as Verda Welcome.
“The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and Banneker-Douglass Museum are forever indebted to Verda Welcome, for it was her forward thinking and pioneering spirit that paved the way for both to be brought into existence,” said Chanel Compton, Director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum. “That is why we are honored to pay tribute to Verda Welcome by providing a space where visitors of all ages can learn about her life, work, and the tremendous contributions she made to the civil rights movement in Maryland.”
Located in downtown Annapolis since 1984, the Banneker-Douglass Museum has continued to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds to share the rich cultural traditions and history of Maryland’s African American community through programs and exhibitions highlighting the importance of education, community, and historic preservation. Verda’s Place continues the themes of education and preservation through memorabilia, photographs, and archival documents. Additionally, Verda’s Place encourages interaction and participation to move beyond the exhibition space and into the communities of those who visit.
Come learn more about this valiant woman by visiting this interactive exhibition. Verda’s Place will be open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 am – 4 pm, from March 8th, 2019 until December 28th, 2019.
