Call for Photos of Baltimore’s History in the Making

As Baltimore regains normalcy in the wake of last month’s protests, calls for remembrance and justice emerge as history unfolds.

The Maryland Historical Society, located in Baltimore, has issued a public call for images from professional and amateur photographers in order to document the Freddie Gray protests, unrest and cleanup efforts in Baltimore. “We believe this is an important topic for public history,” says MdHS President Burt Kummerow. “We have the resources to interpret these events as well as what has happened in the past.”

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) responded to the charges filed in the death of Freddie Gray, the catalyst for the Baltimore unrest, with this statement:

“Freddie Gray and his family deserve justice, and the charges filed today by the State’s Attorney in Baltimore show that there is a process moving forward to investigate fully and thoroughly what happened. The investigation by the Department of Justice is an important part of the effort to ensure we learn the truth. The criminal justice process must continue to move forward in order to provide answers to Mr. Gray’s family while ensuring due process.

“In our country, no one is immune from justice under our laws, especially those who enforce them. I join in thanking the many law enforcement officers who have been working over the past several days to rebuild trust with those they serve and maintain calm. I also thank the many community leaders, including Rep. Elijah Cummings, who are working tirelessly to move the healing process forward.”

In addition to photographs, the Maryland Historical Society will also be collecting objects and oral histories from protestors and civil rights leaders in Baltimore.

“Through its 286-year history, Baltimore has seen its share of triumphs and setbacks, wars, depressions, mobs and spectaculars,” says Mr. Kummerow, “The Maryland Historical Society believes that one thing is certain: it is the people of Baltimore who give this city its great name. We made America the home of the brave 200 years ago, and we are known as the birthplace of the Nation’s Anthem today. The Maryland Historical Society is committed to healing and reconciliation in the community it loves.”

The historical society’s call for photos seeks to capture this time that define a seminal moment in Baltimore’s history,  Images may be submitted to the Maryland Historical Society through Dropbox, here. Submissions should your name, email address, date and location that images were taken, and camera type/model.

The photographic images will become part of a digital collection that will be housed on a WordPress website maintained by The Maryland Historical Society. By submitting images to the Society, photographers should be assured that they are not waiving their rights to these images. The Maryland Historical Society hopes to make these images available for viewing by the general public, the Maryland State Archives and the National Archives.