History Conversations: “African American Benevolent Societies in Montgomery County...”

“African American Benevolent Societies in Montgomery County and Morningstar No. 88 of Order of Moses”
with Diane Baxter and Paige Whitley
Tuesday, January 12 @ 2:00 p.m.

Benevolent societies in African American communities were an important support center for local black populations in the segregated post-Emancipation era. Historians note their role in not only providing a communal support system to members during times of sickness and death, but also in building civic identities and training for civic activism. This talk provides an overview of benevolent societies in Montgomery County during Segregation and notes clues public records can provide as to their existence and workings. The case of Morningstar No. 88 of the Order of Moses in Cabin John, Maryland, and the remarkable artifacts (some of which are available online through the Montgomery County History Digital Repository) preserved by descendants and others provide additional glimpses into members’ lives and the workings of this organization.  What might be hiding in your attic?

Visit https://montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/watch/ for the link to register for the Zoom session. Because of the increasing popularity of our History Conversations, we’ve updated our Zoom platform so it now accommodates 500 people! If the Zoom session reaches capacity, you can watch on Facebook where it’ll be streamed live. Pre-registration is still recommended, so that you get a reminder prior to the event.

If you have further questions about accessing the conversation via Zoom, please contact Matt Gagle, Director of Programs, at MGagle@MontgomeryHistory.org.