Select Page

Maryland Women’s History Center (2004 – 2025) 

MWHC "added HERstory to history to tell OUR story."

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center was the only organization in the state and one of the few in the country completely devoted to telling and preserving women’s stories of accomplishment, compassion and leadership.

How Maryland women (and some men) built the MWHC

Right: Click on photo gallery for captions.

MWHC celebrated Black History Month with an evening of readings by Kim Singleton, a Prince George's County native, author, filmmaker, and poet. She is pictured here (center) with Abigail Giroux (Baltimore City Bryn Mawr student) and MWHC VP Programs Danita Terry. Giroux won the National History Day competition for her documentary film “Wade in the Water: How African Americans Got Back Into The Pool.”


i need to know their names

those women i would have walked with . . .

all the women who could have known me,

where in the world are their names?

Lucille Clifton

Former Poet Laureate of Maryland Member, MWHC Honorary Board

Our Mission and Legacy

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center was dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women throughout Maryland’s history.  Our mission was to educate and inspire by highlighting the achievements of women from diverse backgrounds, fostering an appreciation for their impact on society. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach, we empowered future generations to continue the legacy of excellence and leadership demonstrated by Maryland’s women.

Milestones

Pivotal moments that defined the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
Read more here

1984

First Vision

Delegate Pauline Menes learned of a state that had a Women’s Hall of Fame when she attended a national meeting of women legislators. With her inspiration, the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame inaugural event was held at the historic Brice House in Annapolis on July 21, 1985.

Delegate Menes headshot. short brown hair and large glasses

2003

Maryland Women's Heritage Trail & Resource Kit

Maryland Women’s Heritage Trail features more than 150 sites across the state that reflect the accomplishments of diverse historical and contemporary women to all areas of society.

image of maryland divided into sections the shows locations on the MD women's heritage Trail

Download Maryland Women’s Heritage Trail Resource Kit – 2003

2004

A Room of One's Own

With the support of then-First Lady (), Governor () and leaders of the Women’s Legislative Caucus – encouraged by statewide women’s organizations – the State of Maryland granted seed money to fund the establishment of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center and Museum as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.  

Linda Shevitz standing in front of the first MD women's heritage center with a sign that says this place matters.

2020

Continuing women's heritage at Baltimore's Woman's Industrial Exchange

Founded in 1880, the Woman’s Industrial Exchange helped craftswomen discreetly earn a living. In 2020, its owner, Marian House, a women’s shelter, invited MWHC to move into the first floor retail space. Thus, this historic Baltimore landmark continued its service to women.

Friends and supporters of artist Malynda Madzel (seated) surrounded her at the MWHC artist reception held at the beginning of Malynda’s MWHC artist exhibition in September 2024. They are (l to r) Dora Strope, Vicki Bowman, Cynthia Jones, Joyce Cifaldi, and Patricia Marshall. Each is holding a painting that she had previously purchased from Malynda.

Explore Our History Through Photos

Photo Gallery

Community Friends 

A woman wearing a sash and a cardboard sign that says "Votes for Women"

Women’s Artist Series

Malynda Madzel wearing a white dress stands in front of an abstract painting and smiles over her shoulder
Artist Rowan Bathurst, seated in front of multiple art works. Wearing white jeans and head resting on hands
Flier advertising artist event. Dark green background with an abstract image of a green moth. Erin Rae Gouldin
vertical image of two Asian inspired paintings
abstract blue background with an image of a woman bathed in red color, emerging from water
Friends and supporters of artist Malynda Madzel (seated) surrounded her at the MWHC artist reception held at the beginning of Malynda’s MWHC artist exhibition in September 2024. They are (l to r) Dora Strope, Vicki Bowman, Cynthia Jones, Joyce Cifaldi, and Patricia Marshall. Each is holding a painting that she had previously purchased from Malynda.

Programs

Program flier about 90s Punk Feminists, pictured are two high school students, the presenters. 11/16/23
Judy Olsen Program flier. She is pictured with a headshot. She was former director of the Peace Corps. Program on October 30
Blue flier that advertises Women with Wings program that took place on National Aviation Hx month 2024. Speakers: Carol Hamilton, Susan Helms Angel Hughes, Julie Hornwood, moderator Kalin Thomas
Purple Flier that advertises Women's Health Equity Month program Feb 2025. Headshots of presentersDonna McCree and Tekisha Dwan Everette
Flier for Shabnam Samuel Founder Panchgani Writer Retreat, India. Program date 6/14/25
flier announcing MWHC closing reception 10/8/25
Melissa Ludtke headshot shows long grey hair and the cover of her Locker Room Talk book
flier showing four women taking part in a caregivers program
flier advertising the program Memories of the Woman's industrial exchange

Board Members

Five women holding a sign that says "Vote for MWHC"
Author Cherie Smith is wearing an ERA apron given to her by Bernice Friedland
Pam Young, pageboy style hair, wearing sunglasses smiling at camera
bea dane wearing a navy blue blouse, standing next to the unveiled marker
Kathi Santora, Board president at lectern, wearing white jacket
Dr. Amy Rosekrans standing next to an old shutter that has the name of the Woman's Industrial Exchange , 3rd Floor, painted on it.
MWHC Board members Judy Carbone and Kate Stevenson joined other Equal Rights Amendment supporters during an Annapolis rally that took place during the legislative session.
Five MWHC board members sitting on the deck of the LB Skybar. The skyline of Baltimore is visible
Gov. Wes Moore, Danita Terry, Ida Jones and Lt. Gov Aruna Miller standing in front of the mirror in the foyer of the Gov's mansion. The circular staircase is reflected in the mirror.
Kate Stevenson looking into camera from side pose, wearing pink and red colors

Capturing Women's History in Video

Annie Simcoe's artistic ode to Maryland's farmHERS
Kalin Thomas remembers Billie Holiday
Judy Carbone recalls the Mountain Maryland suffrage hikes
Edna Lawrence

Edna Lawrence was featured in the Women in the Arts exhibit. Click to see all of the women featured. Known as Grandmother Edna, Lawrence was an early MWHC supporter. 

Newsletter Samples

N. Louise Young, Maryland’s first African American female physician, and Lucille W. Roeder combined public service, family, and volunteerism in Western Maryland

Dr. Phyllis Ann Williams rose above segregation and became a groundbreaking economist, and Astronaut Mary Cleave looked at Earth from the Atlantis window and promised to protect her

Pauli Murray saw injustice, then devoted her life to defeating it, and Maryland’s women lighthouse keepers braved the elements each and every day

Delegate Heather A. Bagnall moves to exonerate Maryland’s 17th- and 18th-century accused witches

These Maryland women devoted their lives to equitable health care