BETHESDA, MD—Today the Montgomery County Department of Parks opened its search for scholars to serve on an advisory committee for the Josiah Henson Site/”Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
“The goal of this advisory committee is to provide essential input into the development of the interpretive plan for the Uncle Tom’s Cabin site,” said Department of Parks Museum Manager Shirl Spicer.
The Department of Parks is hoping to identify 12 to 15 nationally and locally recognized scholars with substantial expertise in African American history, 18th century architecture, 18th and 19th century folklore, slavery, cultural landscapes, archaeology or Rockville and Montgomery County history to serve on this committee. To be considered, the department is asking interested scholars with expertise in any or all of these areas to submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae (C.V.) postmarked by July 7, 2008 to Montgomery Parks, Josiah Henson Advisory Committee, c/o Shirl Spicer, 1109 Spring Street, Suite 800, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 or MCP-HensonAdvisory@MontgomeryParks.org.
“We expect to select and notify advisory committee members by the end of July,” added Spicer, “and for the group to meet quarterly beginning in August.”
The Department of Parks purchased the $1 million Josiah Henson Site/”Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” at 11420 Old Georgetown Road, in January 2006. Since that time, the department has been studying the building and grounds intensively and beginning to identify some of the interpretive possibilities for the site, focusing primarily on the remarkable life of Josiah Henson and slavery in Montgomery County. Parks archaeologists, with consulting archaeologists, have also been digging around in areas of the yard on-site to find artifacts to better understand this resource in public ownership.
Also, in April of this year the department’s project consultant, John Milner Associates, Inc., briefed key parks staff and other interested parties on the current findings of a Historic Structure Report on Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which included information on Josiah Henson’s experience in Montgomery County, the building’s construction history, its archaeology, landscape evolution and current building conditions. The final report is due this month.
“Our advisory committee will be able to hit the ground running with a wealth of good information to plow through from our consultant John Milner and Associates,” said Spicer.
Potential advisory committee members and an interested public will also get an opportunity to learn more about the Uncle Tom’s Cabin site during an upcoming special event entitled, “Meeting Josiah Henson.”
On Saturday, June 28, 2008, the Department of Parks will host a panel discussion from 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm led by Dr. Cheryl LaRoche, University of Maryland professor, and Dr. Dianne Swann-Wright, director and curator of the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum. The discussion will be held at Francis Scott Key Middle School, 6300 Tilden Lane, Rockville. Following the panel discussion, 20-minute tours of the house and cabin will begin at 1:30 pm. Both are FREE. However, advance registration, which is open now at www.ParkPASS.org, is required for the cabin tours.
Parking for the “Meeting Josiah Henson” event is only available at Francis Scott Key Middle School. The Department of Parks will provide roundtrip shuttle service from the panel discussion to the house and cabin for the tours.
For more information on the advisory committee formation and the “Meeting Josiah Henson” event, visit www.JosiahHensonSite.org.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866