History
Honors Program
An
important part of BCHS's program is the annual presentation of History
Awards. The following have been so honored this year.
History Honors [ To persons respected in the academic and professional historian community]
JEAN H. BAKER: Professor of History at Goucher College. She has published nearly a dozen books and many articles. Focusing on the families of many historical figures, some of her subjects include Mary Todd Lincoln, James Buchanan and Adlai Stephenson.
MARY ELLEN HAYWARD: One of the most respected writers of history in this region, particularly of books that educate the reader about important historical properties and persuade the reader that history stories are well told by the places where they originated.
EDWARD ORSER: Professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Dr. Orser immerses his students in historical fieldwork, bridging the frequent divide between academic scholarship and real people in community life. His important 1997 book “Blockbusting in Baltimore,” exposed the relationship between racism and suburban development in the 1950s and 1960s.
JAMES D. DILTS: Jim Dilts, a former Baltimore Sun reporter and columnist, is the acclaimed author of The Great Road, a prize winning history of America’s first railroad, Baltimore’s B & O railroad. Other Dilts books tell the stories of The Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Baltimore’s “Cast-Iron” buildings and the much referenced Guide to Baltimore Architecture. James Dilts does not confine himself to writing about historic buildings; he is also frequently and personally on the preservation front line.
Living History Honorees: To persons whose lives exemplify the civic value of community involvement and enhancement.
CAMAY MURPHY: Camay Murphy has brought Baltimore history to life, dedicating her great imagination and organizational talent to encouraging the active engagement of Baltimore in, particularly, the rich cultural and musical traditions of the African-American community. The opportunity for this engagement is best realized at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center in Baltimore City, inspired and, until her recent retirement, led by Camay Murphy.
REV. DR. CHESTER WICKWIRE: Dr. Chester Wickwire, an esteemed Chaplain at the Johns Hopkins University in 1968-1969, encouraged the college generation to live their personal ethic, as he did on many fronts, by active participation in causes, such as racial equality, peace initiatives, and social justice, important to them as citizens in and out of Faith communities. He founded the Tutorial Project 49 years ago, which brings Baltimore elementary school children and Hopkins students together for mutual tutorial enrichment. He played an historic role as trusted intermediary during a racially troubled time in the City’s history.
WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER: Baltimore’s legendary Council Member and Mayor and Maryland’s respected Governor and Comptroller is a Prophet with honor in his lifetime, a life which includes 51 years of unblemished public service. His personal magnetism and enthusiasm drew hundreds of extraordinarily talented citizens into service to our City and State. One of his most notable monuments is the excitement he brought to City life and the Schaefer-inspired civic contributions of countless citizens and communities that are the City. He respects our City’s history and has been a particularly good friend to this Society.
In Memoriam History Honors: To deceased persons who deserve special recognition for their special contributions to Baltimore history.
PROFESSOR JOSEPH ARNOLD: Dr. Arnold’s untimely death in 2004 prompted this praise from a colleague: “His extraordinary professional accomplishments and contributions are but part of the story… he was as fine and generous a person as I have known.” Historians recognized Joe Arnold, Chair of the UMBC History Department, as one of their most preeminent colleagues. His academic and publishing work ranged widely, with a particular focus on urban history, and included an unfinished history of Baltimore City. Dr. Arnold is credited with assembling one of our major Baltimore history resources at his University, and this Society has paid appropriate tribute to him and his life’s work by naming our Annual Baltimore History Essay Contest in his honor.
VICTORINE Q. ADAMS: First serving as a Member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Mrs. Adams resigned that office and became the first African-American woman elected to the Baltimore City Council where she gave energetic attention to many public issues, including in particular the establishment of the Baltimore Fuel Fund to assist many threatened with the loss of essential utility service. In 1946, she energized and organized Baltimore’s Black women when she founded the Colored Women’s Democratic Campaign Committee to support the aspirations of the City’s African-American community for civic leadership. However, her civic leadership was not confined to elected office. Until her death in 2007, she was a major progressive force in the community life of Baltimore City.
JUDGE MABEL HUBBARD: Judge Hubbard was the first African-American woman to serve on the District Court of Maryland and, in 1981, the first to serve on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. A judicial colleague recalled her as “ a woman of great dignity who had great humanity. She cared about people and didn’t have a petty bone in her body.” In 2002 Judge Hubbard was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. While never departing from her personal philosophy of fundamental unbiased fairness to all, she never forgot her important responsibility as a role model, and actively encouraged talented female attorneys to achieve their personal best in the law. Mabel Hubbard, a well loved Judicial pioneer, died in 2006. |
