Maryland's Four Centuries Project
Maryland’s Four Centuries Project, a 501C3 non-profit grassroots organization, has taken the lead in presenting commemorative programming for these key anniversaries. Our 250th anniversary commemoration—the Maryland Mosaic—is unique in its focus on Maryland’s national firsts.
Burt Kummerow
Founding Director
Burt Kummerow has been studying Maryland and American history for 50 years. He helped found the Living History movement in the U.S. and has been a writer, popular speaker, public television producer and museum director. From 1977-94 he was the Director of Interpretation, and then Executive Director of Historic St. Mary’s City. He was the founding director of the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick and most recently has been the CEO and President of the Maryland Historical Society. As president of his company, Historyworks, Inc. he has been a multifaceted public historian using a range of skills and experience to bring history to the general public. In 2017 he became the founding director of Maryland’s Four Centuries Project, laying the groundwork for a successful commemoration of Maryland’s Quadricentennial.
Mary Blair
Strategic Director
Mary Blair is the Strategic Director of Maryland’s Four Centuries Project and is responsible for overall planning and resource development. She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University in English and American Studies, and came to Baltimore in 1970 to teach at UMBC. For most of her career, she was a university development officer, employed at Johns Hopkins at the Hospital and then the Central Office from 1984 to 2000. She then moved to London where she was the lead development officer at the London School of Economics from 2000-2009. Upon her return to Baltimore she consulted for several local institutions. She is married to Burt Kummerow.
Board Members
Leadership and Board Members of Maryland’s Four Centuries Project, the registered non-profit that is making the Maryland Mosaic possible:
Larry Leak
Interim President, University of Maryland Global Campus, 2020-22
Amanda Shores Davis
Secretary
Executive Director, The Star Spangled Banner Flag House
R. Hutchings Vernon
Treasurer
Brown Advisory Group
Maya Davis
Executive Director, Riversdale House Museum, Prince Georges County
Formerly with Maryland State Archives,
Member, African American Commission of Maryland
Eleanor McConnell
Associate Professor of History, Frostburg State University
Teaches Early American History, including Maryland, with a specialization in Women’s History, Legal History and Economic History
Rob Schoberlien
Archivist, City of Baltimore
Board Member, Maryland Center for History and Culture
Mary Blair, Ph.D.
Strategic Director, Maryland’s Four Centuries Project
In Memoriam
Honorary President Senator Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Maryland Senate
“I am delighted to join Maryland’s Four Centuries Project as it builds public awareness and engagement toward the 400th anniversary of this state.”
Our Partners
Thank you so much
THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY:
DELAPLAINE FOUNDATION
THEIR GRANT WHICH WAS ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO THE MOSAIC MADE IT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE COMPILATION BY THE END OF 2023. THEIR FUNDS ENABLED US TO INCORPORATE THE IDEA OF THE MOSAIC INTO OUR WEBSITE AND TO MOVE TO PUBLICATION. DELAPLAINE STAFF INSTANTLY GRASPED THE METHOD AND THE IDEA OF THE MOSAIC AND SAW ITS POTENTIAL TO BE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM.
WE ALSO INDEBTED TO A GRANT FROM:
MARYLAND HUMANITIES, WITH FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST IN THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING. MARYLAND HUMANITIES’ GRANTS PROGRAM IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES AND PRIVATE FUNDERS. ANY VIEWS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS WEBSITE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF MARYLAND HUMANITIES, MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, OR NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.
