AARCH Society News Archive
New Grant Supports Frederick’s African American ‘Living Treasures’
November 16, 2024We are honored to announce that AARCH Society has received a $5,000 IDEA grant from the Ausherman Family Foundation. Funding will support three key projects under the AARCH Society’s Living Treasures Program – an initiative which honors and celebrates Frederick County, Maryland seniors, aged 90 and above, by collecting, preserving, and sharing their stories to provide a richer understanding of our community’s history. The projects include: producing a follow-up to the documentary “Tale of Lion,” which premiered at Frederick’s Weinberg Center for the Arts in 2018, publishing a new edition of AARCH Society’s Living Treasures Cookbook, and supporting our annual Living Treasures Banquet. We are grateful for our partnership with the Ausherman Family Foundation and for their ongoing support of our Mission and operations.
The Living Treasures Program uses oral histories to further the AARCH Society’s mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the African American history of Frederick County. The Living Treasures are living repositories of African American culture, traditions, and history. Our goal is for their stories to inspire, educate, and connect the community in profound ways. As one of our major initiatives, this program not only remembers the past, but ensures that experiences, culture, and traditions are passed down through generations. The Living Treasures Program will be a significant part of the exhibits and programs offered in the AARCH Society’s African American Heritage Center, benefiting students, the community, and visitors, which will open in 2025.
AARCH Shares Mission, Welcomes New Partnerships
November 16, 2024AARCH Society continues to expand our partnerships to cultivate new funding streams, increase our donor base, and reach a wider audience and increase awareness of our mission.
Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
The Episcopal Church of Maryland Daughters of the King invited Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Renée Gooch to discuss the Reparations Grant awarded to AARCH Society during the Daughters’ Fall Assembly held at the Bishop Claggett Center. We are grateful to the Daughters, which donated funds to support costs for exhibit lighting and furnishings for the planned AARCH Society African American Heritage Center.
Lafayette Bicentennial in Frederick Committee
AARCH Society partnered with the Lafayette Bicentennial in Frederick Committee to commemorate Marquis Lafayette’s visit to Frederick, MD during his 1824 Farewell Tour of America. Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Renée Gooch was one of three historians who spoke at the event. Her presentation, “Patriotism and Slavery in Frederick County, MD: Before, During and After Marquis Lafayette’s 1824 Visit” drew from materials in AARCH Society’s Collection and included ongoing research about African American patriots from Frederick County who served as soldiers in the War for Independence.
“The participation of AARCH’s Executive Director, Cheryl Gooch, in the recent Lafayette History Symposium provided depth and context to the Marquis de Lafayette’s support for the American Revolution and his visit to Frederick,” said Theresa Michel, Lafayette Bicentennial in Frederick Committee. “As a staunch abolitionist and advocate for equality, he served alongside African American patriots while, 50 years later throughout America, he was a guest at private homes supported by enslaved workers, including the home of his Frederick host, Col. John McPherson. Lafayette strove to resolve this dichotomy in favor of African Americans’ freedom throughout his life.”
AARCH Society Elects New President
October 24, 2024The African American Resources Cultural and Heritage (AARCH) Society is pleased to announce the election of Olivia G. White, Ph.D., as the new President of the AARCH Society Board of Directors.
“Olivia has been an important advocate for the AARCH Society for many years,” says Seaven Gordon, Vice President of the Society’s Board of Directors and a founding member. “Most recently Dr. White has served as co-chair of our Fundraising Committee. We are thrilled to have her on our Board and as our President and to gain her vast experience, leadership skills, and deep understanding of the value that organizations like the AARCH Society bring to the community at large.”
Dr. White is the retired vice president for student life and dean of students at Hood College, located in Frederick, Md. Currently, she serves as the Project Manager for the NCNW Good Health Women’s Immunization Networks (Good Health WINs) and Chair of the Charitable Partners Committee under the National Strategic Partnerships Committee of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She also contributes to several boards and community-based organizations including the Frederick County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Weinberg Center for the Arts, and the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek. She is an active member of Beltway Church of Christ, serving as the co-chair of the Education Ministry and a teacher.
“I am truly honored that the Board of Directors of the AARCH Society has elected me as the new President,” Dr. White says. “This is an incredibly exciting time and opportunity to work with the Board members, community partners, and the Society’s many stakeholders to further amplify its mission and to take forward an expanded vision for educating and transforming lives through the African American Heritage Center.”
As President, Dr. White will lead the AARCH Society’s team that will bring William O. Lee Jr. and David Key’s vision of preserving, sharing and celebrating Frederick County’s rich African American history, heritage and culture to fruition. The grand opening of the Heritage Center at the corner of Carroll and All Saint’s Streets, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2025, will be a testament to the perseverance and commitment of the visionary founders, Board members, funders, volunteers and community members who have dedicated time, talent and treasure to making this vision a reality.
“I am inspired by the collective wisdom, passion, and dedication of all within the Frederick community, and beyond, who have supported and continue to support AARCH Society,” Dr. White continues. “For me it is truly an honor, privilege, and blessing to serve in this role. We are poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact on Frederick and the state of Maryland. I invite everyone to join me on this incredible journey.”
Please join us in welcoming Dr. White.
Episcopal Diocese Awards AARCH Society Reparations Grant
May 15, 2024AARCH Society is pleased to announce that it has been approved for a $50,000 reparations grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
We are honored to be one of five organizations that met the criteria for the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland’s Reparations Program, which supports organizations and programs that have a proven history of restoring and building up Black and African American communities. Recipients will be honored in an Awards Ceremony at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, Md., on Saturday, May 18th.
Reparations Grant Project
Aligned to The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland Reparations Fund Grant goals of reconciliation and consciously historical education, the “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” project will provide engaging programs to the local and regional community about Frederick County’s African American cemeteries through initiatives that will become an embedded part of AARCH Society’s educational outreach:
- The Heritage Center permanent exhibit will feature the evolution and historical context of African American cemeteries and burials in Frederick City and county.
- Pop-up and travelling exhibits will engage diverse audiences about known and still being discovered cemeteries and efforts to preserve them.
- A Virtual/Interactive Exhibit on the AARCH Society website will feature illustrated and interchangeable displays, essays about African American cemeteries, including interviews with descendants and diverse stakeholders about preservation efforts, and equally important, the human stories and histories associated with these sacred places. An interactive Story Map will engage and educate users/visitors.
We are extremely grateful to the Episcopal Diocese for this support of AARCH Society’s work to celebrate, educate, and enlighten current and future generations on the rich contributions and history of African Americans in Frederick County, Maryland.
AARCH Society Secures $250K in Grants
May 12, 2024Spring 2024 Grants for AARCH Society
The African American Resources, Cultural and Heritage Society (AARCH Society) is honored to announce three grants in 2024 that support our mission to educate, enlighten, and enrich current and future generations on the rich contributions of Frederick County’s African Americans.
Omnibus Spending Bill Grant
AARCH Society has received grant funding from the federal government to support efforts to provide community, national and global access to 200 years of African American life in Frederick County, Md., through digitizing portions of our historical collection. We are grateful for the support of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) who supported the award of $162,000 through the fiscal year 2024 Omnibus Spending bill. Learn more here.
Reparations Grant
AARCH Society has secured a 2024 grant for $50,000 from the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland’s Reparations Program. We are honored to be one of five organizations chosen as this year’s recipients. The program is open to applicants within the Diocese’s region of service that “have a proven history of doing the work of restoring African American and Black communities.” Learn more here.
Equity and Inclusion Splash Grant
The City of Frederick has awarded AARCH Society $30,000 to support virtual exhibits and displays about civil rights and activism. These funds will support the AARCH Society’s plans and installations at the African American Heritage Center slated to open in 2025 at 125 All Saint’s Street in the historic district of Frederick, Md. The City of Frederick is a valued partner of the AARCH Society, and we are deeply appreciative of the numerous ways they have supported our Heritage Center efforts.
FirstEnergy Foundation Grant
AARCH Society was awarded $10,000 from the FirstEnergy Foundation. These grant funds support education initiatives and local and regional economic development in Frederick County, Md., including tourism. The Foundation’s vision is to invest in transformative organizations that enhance the vitality, sustainability and diversity of the communities it serves. AARCH Society is grateful for FirstEnergy Foundation’s continued support of our work to celebrate and educate others on the diverse cultures that have contributed to Frederick, Md., through the centuries.
Grants are an important way that AARCH Society is working toward opening the African American Heritage Center, Frederick County’s first museum and educational center dedicated to the history and contributions made by Black citizens of Frederick County, MD.
2024 Living Treasures Banquet a Success
May 11, 2024Thank you to The Frederick News Post for its feature on the 2024 Living Treasures Banquet, which honored the oldest living African Americans in Frederick County. The sold-out breakfast event, held on Saturday, April 20 at the Frederick American Legion Hall, is a long-standing tradition of the African American Resources and Cultural Heritage Society. This year’s was the first time it had been held in person since the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Lewis, Frederick News Post
We are deeply grateful to the following Living Treasures Sponsors who made this event possible:
Emerald Sponsors
- Asian American Center of Frederick
- Sharon K. Brown
- Colbert/Ball Tax Services
- Delaplaine Foundation
- George Street Services
- Lee Building Maintenance
- Rollins Life Celebration Center
Ruby Sponsors
- The Elks Mountain City Lodge #382
- Gentlemen with a Purpose
- Robert & Janet Allen Moore
- Road Knights of Frederick, MD
Pearl Sponsors
- Asian American Center of Frederick SCP Program
- Asbury United Methodist Church
- Lynda Weedon Bowie
- Rose Chaney
- Kavonte Duckett
- Sonja Brown-Jenkins
- Sandra Makel
- One Love Foundation
- Derek Shakleford
Federal Grant Supports AARCH Archive
April 30, 2024$162K Grant for Archival Digitization
Sens. Ben Cardin, Chris Van Hollen Secured Funds
FREDERICK, MD – The African American Resources, Cultural and Heritage Society (AARCH Society) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded direct federal funding to support its efforts to provide community, national, and global access to 200 years of African American history in Frederick and Frederick County through digital and virtual content.
Society will receive $162,000, requested and secured by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.), through the fiscal year 2024 Omnibus Spending bill passed by Congress to digitize portions of its historical collection for public access and engagement.
Empowering future generations
“Preserving and digitizing cultural objects and materials is a key objective of our Collections Management plan,” says Cheryl Renée Gooch, Executive Director of the AARCH Society. “Working with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on this project, AARCH Society will encourage public engagement by making this material available online. By sharing the intriguing history of African American life and history in Frederick County from the early and colonial periods to the present, we are fulfilling a central part of our mission to educate and empower current and future generations about our shared history.”
“Maryland is at the center of so much of America’s history, and it’s critical that we share the stories of our past to learn the valuable lessons they hold and honor the contributions of Marylanders. We secured this funding so that the AARCH Society can now digitize its records and publish them online, making Frederick County’s deep African American history and culture accessible to all and preserving them for generations to come,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Frederick, MD, African American Heritage Center
The AARCH Society was incorporated in 2009. It is currently securing funding for The African American Heritage Center at 125 All Saint’s Street in Frederick, Md., which is slated to open in 2025. The 3,200 square feet museum will house the core exhibit “Our Journey, Our Stories” reflecting the life and history of African Americans in Frederick County.
When the Frederick African American Heritage Center opens, visitors of all ages from around the region and nation will enter a dynamic hub of activity that tells the compelling stories and history of African Americans in Frederick County.
Here, you can undertake research, learn about and experience cultural objects highlighted through permanent and changing exhibitions, as well as educational and multidisciplinary programs that enrich and transform. Learn more about the AARCH Society Heritage Center here.
Ausherman Family Foundation Grant Award
January 28, 2024The African American Resources, Cultural and Heritage Society is pleased to announce that the Ausherman Family Foundation has awarded our organization an IDEA grant in the amount of $5,000. The funds will be spent on supporting African American music programming in 2024.
The Ausherman Family Foundation’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Aligned Grants Committee seeks to understand and support community needs in Frederick County by working with Black-led non-profits to provide grant funding and support such as ongoing coaching, capacity building, and mentorship.
AARCH Society is grateful to the Ausherman Family Foundation’s ongoing support and partnership, as well as the support we receive from all of our valued partners.
Unity Ball Turns Mission Into Gala Event
November 11, 2023AARCH Society and the Jack and Jill of America Foundation Western Maryland Chapter came together in Frederick, Md., on October 28 for a mission-inspired gala event. See photos by Epic Media Photography below.
The inaugural Unity Ball 2023 raised funds for AARCH Society’s African American Heritage Center and funds to support students of HCBUs who have financial needs that are not filled by scholarships.
Close to 200 guests mingled, dined on delicious food from Southern Style Bistro, and danced at the New Spire Arts Center, many wearing Mardi Gras style masks in keeping with the ball’s theme. Attendees included Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor and members of the AARCH Society and Jack and Jill of America.
Guests bid on silent auction items and a collection of African masks were on sale. African drummers gave a live performance to lead guests into the main room where AARCH Society Executive Director Renee Gooch kicked off the event with a speech celebrating the importance of education, history, and story-telling. AARCH Society Honorary Board Member Mary Harris received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work providing research, program support, and more.
We would like to thank all those who attended and our many sponsors for their support and donations: Ausherman Family Foundation, New Spire Arts, Benefactor Events, My Red Bow, Old Farm Liquors, Southern Style Bistro, Caroline Gessert, Event Decor DMV, i-VisioNet Org, Nicole Sideris, The UPS Store #5907, Tracy Boyd, and the Rural Maryland Council.
New Grants to Further Heritage Center
October 7, 2023AARCH Society is pleased to announce new grant support from Frederick County, the State of Maryland, Ausherman Family Foundation, and First Energy.
AARCH Society Grants Fall 2023
- In late August, the Rural Maryland Commission awarded $313,928 from its Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund to support construction of the Heritage Center site – located at Carroll and All Saint’s Streets – furnishings and equipment, and exhibit production.
- The Frederick County Tourism Council awarded $19,396 in two separate TRIPP Grants to be used for tourism promotion and development.
- First Energy awarded $10,000 to support the many educational and community programs conducted by AARCH Society.
- Ausherman Family Foundation awarded $5,000 of administrative support for AARCH Society; this is in addition to $25,000 awarded earlier to support the establishment of our Executive Director position filled in September by Dr. Cheryl R. Gooch.
“We continue to be honored at the faith our partners are demonstrating in our work to bring Frederick County’s only African American-focused museum to life,” says AARCH Society President Protean Gibril. “We are grateful for their support in making this important work a reality in 2024.”