THE MISSION: To Identify, collect, preserve, exhibit, and disseminate the history and
culture of African Americans in Frederick County, to provide an understanding of how the
past shapes, and enriches the present and the future for all citizens.
'Twenty AARCH members and guests attended the AARCH Executive Committee Meeting on Tuesday,
04 September, 2007. Many thanks to the AARCH President for taking the picture
Click here to download an AARCH Membership Application
An article from the March 15, 2007 edition of the Gazette.com, Maryland Community
Newspapers Online, (Frederick):
A community in transition
Black history museum will serve all residents

Editor’s note: For the last three years, the African-American Resources
Cultural and Heritage committee has been working to establish a
museum in Frederick to honor the contributions and accomplishments
of blacks across the county. The museum is still in the concept stage,
and the group is working to make it a reality in the near future.

In his own words; Reverend Samie Conyers:

As the African-American people who were born and lived in Frederick County
die, many of their legacies die with them. After the death of William O. Lee, his
wife, along with members of the original AARCH committee, asked me if I
would be willing to jump-start the African-American community vision with
having a black history museum in Frederick County. After a year of
reorganization, I was elected as the president of AARCH.

A black history museum in Frederick County would serve to educate residents
and aid African-American youth in experiencing the richness of their
predecessors and creating hope of opportunity for a brighter future for
themselves and generations to come. Many youth in the black community are
searching for identity (a role model, leadership, discipline) and the path to their
destiny.

The contributions of African-Americans reach beyond sports and
entertainment. Society as a whole must understand the scientific innovations
accomplished by those in the black community.  
We must recognize the accomplishments by African-American scientists, as they are role models for young people and refute claims of the intellectual
inferiority of the race.

At the museum, students will learn the importance of artifacts as they examine the lives of African-Americans living in Frederick’s early years. They will
also learn what some history books and⁄or other written sources fail to teach you.

We must involve as many people as possible — the whole community — in order to see the reality of a Black History Museum in Frederick County. We
need researchers and educators from every facet of life, from every race, religion and culture. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

AARCH seeks to cultivate an appreciation for a Black History Museum in Frederick County. This museum will be the light shining triumphantly within the
black community of our culture and heritage. This county must take ownership in its diversity and demonstrate the untapped power that it contains. We will
not be successful in this mission without all people working together.

The promotion of diversity and helping others understand the history of African-Americans are the benefits of having this museum. By sharing the
accomplishments and contributions of African-American residents of Frederick County and around the world, one can appreciate their involvement. We
can see how all of us, together, benefit from one another’s talents, values and often, sacrifices.

The Rev. Samie Conyers is president of the African-American Resources Cultural and Heritage committee, a program of the Frederick Historic
Sites Consortium and Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc. Conyers oversees Grace Pentecostal Worship Center in Frederick and serves
on the county’s Human Relations Commission.   
Click here to download an AARCH Membership Application