NEWS FROM FOUR RIVERS
February 9, 2021
New Survey - COVID-19 Impacts on Maryland's Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage Organizations
The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) want to hear from organizations doing historical, natural and cultural heritage-related work around the state. To date, how has your organization been impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting changes to the economy and daily life?

This information will help update thier understanding of how partner organizations across the state continue to be affected and, potentially, identify how they can help. Please complete this brief (10-15 minutes) COVID-19 Impacts on Maryland's Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage Organizations Survey.
Virtual Event – Wil Talk with Allen Hirsh, Mathematical Painter
Tuesday, February 9
5:00 pm
Organization: Maryland Federation of Art

Join MFA and art historian Wil Scott as the Maryland Federation of Art sits down with Allen Hirsh. Hirsh uses his own software to generate mathematically altered images of the physically world, creating surreal art with startling structures.

Virtual Lecture – Chocolate Through Time
Tuesday, February 9
7:00 pm
Organization: Historic Annapolis

It’s time to speak of chocolate, a treasure and a love! Learn about the history of chocolate from its ancient beginnings in Meso-America through the centuries to the modern day. This interactive presentation by Joyce White will focus on how chocolate has changed through time both in terms of its cultural value and how mechanization has altered its production process over time. A timeline of how chocolate evolved as an ingredient in recipes will also be explored. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this fascinating lecture about the holiday’s favored delectable delicacy.

Registration is required. Cost to attend is $15 per household for General Admission or $10 per household for HA Members and Volunteers. Register for Chocolate Through Time.
Lunch and Learn – Historical Representation in the Maryland State House: The Statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass
Thursday, February 11
1:00 pm
Organizations: The Maryland State Archives in collaboration with The Enoch Pratt Free Library and The Maryland Four Centuries Project

In February 2019, statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass were dedicated in the Maryland State House. The story of how these two individuals--the most historically important Marylanders in American history--came to be included among the works of art and monuments in the state’s capitol encompasses legislators, artists, historians, and private citizens, and ultimately conveys what it means to be “represented” in our state’s most historic public building.

Elaine Rice Bachmann, Deputy State Archivist and Secretary of the State House Trust, and Maya Davis, Research Archivist with the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland program at the Maryland State Archives, will present an illustrated lecture about the creation and unveiling of these statues, and their interpretation as part of the visitor experience in the State House.

Virtual Event – The Battle of the Chesapeake, 1781: Military Decider for the American Revolution
Thursday, February 11
7:00 pm
Organization: Annapolis Maritime Museum

Dr. Bill Cogar, Executive Director of Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA), will review the battle between the British and French navies at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in September 1781, explore the event that would spell the end of the American Revolution and independence for the American colonies, and examine how the battle reflected global politics rather than solely regional ones. Lectures will be held virtually.

Lectures are $10 or free for AMM Members First Mate and above ($100). Register for The Battle of the Chesapeake, 1781: Military Decider for the American Revolution.
Online Lecture - Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth: A History of Sugar and Dessert
Thursday, February 11
7:00 pm
Organization: Hammond-Harwood House

Join an online Lecture by Joyce M. White, food historian. Learn about the history of cane sugar in its many forms from Muscovado to Lisbon to Loaf. An interactive presentation will review how sugar has evolved over time from its introduction to Medieval England up until the Victorian days. Learn the many ways sugar has been incorporated into meals for medicinal, culinary, and decorative purposes.

Registration is required. This event is free to attend. Register for Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth: A History of Sugar and Dessert.
Workshop: Introduction to Finding Grants
Wednesday, February 10
2:00 pm
Organization: Anne Arundel County Public Library
 
Are you new to the field of grantseeking? Discover what funders are looking for in nonprofits seeking grants and how to find potential funders in this introductory course.
 
Listening Session: Non-Profit Board Professional Development
Thursday, February 11
2:00 pm
Organization: Maryland State Arts Council

Join the Maryland State Arts Council to provide feedback about what is needed to prepare current and potential board members. What is your organization looking for in a board member? What training would prepare your current or future members to be the best possible board for your organization?

FREE TO VIEW: Black Museums Matter with AASLH
February is Black History Month and AASLH will be spotlighting important conversations that took place during the 2020 Annual Meeting around the topic of diversity in our field. They will be available for free in the AASLH Resource Center.

The first session to be highlighted is "Black Museums Matter: Agents of Change Through Storytelling as Places of Healing." Its panelists discuss a unique sector of African American museums and historic sites that address the unheard, unseen, and underrepresented nestled in powerful historically African American communities serving as agents of change. Take advantage of this great FREE opportunity to learn more!
Beyond the Statements: Leading Racial Equity in Humanities Organizations
At a time when many organizations have put out public statements in support of Black Lives Matter and in opposition to White supremacy, dismantling our organizational inequities remains an elusive next step. Maryland Humanities invites you to join them for a speaker series - Beyond the Statements: Leading Racial Equity in Humanities Organizations - focused on operationalizing racial equity work in the humanities field. Leaders from Maryland will speak to the efforts they have led in their respective organizations. Topics covered will include incorporating racial equity into hiring, where to start when leading an organization, and leading the work within a university setting.

The series will be moderated by Alicia McLeod, Executive Director of Challenging Racism and Maryland Humanities Board Member.

There is no cost to participate, but registration for each event is required. The first event is February 22 - "Beyond the Statements: Leading Racial Equity in Humanities Organizations" with Omar Eaton-Martínez.
Save the Dates: The Maryland Day Celebration Weekend will be March 19-21, 2021
Save the Dates:

Friday, March 19 through Sunday March 21, 2021

The signature annual collaborative event of our area, the Maryland Day Celebration weekend, will take place this year on March 19-21, 2021. The event will be a "hybrid" of virtual and in-person events, as our partner sites make plans to safely reopen again this year, and/or share their stories while sites are still closed.

The theme will be Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and our partners are planning a wide range of NEW offerings, stories, and programming for this event. Mark your calendars, and check out the event website, www.marylandday.org, which will be updated regularly as plans develop!
Four Rivers Heritage Area | 410-222-1805 | heritage_area@aacounty.org | fourriversheritage.org