Montgomery History outlines oral‑history work and plans for new county history center; staffes recommend another year of operating support

Montgomery History representatives told a joint Montgomery County Council committee on Wednesday that they are using funding to record first‑hand and family oral histories, to prepare a revised county history titled "The Unfinished Revolution," and to secure physical museum and collections space in downtown Rockville.

Matt Logan, a representative of Montgomery History, described progress on a Black Resistance Oral History Initiative and recruiting researchers and chapter authors for the county—s 250th anniversary volume. Logan said the organization has hired an oral‑history lead and has collected interviews across the county in communities including Lyttonsville, Lincoln Park and Sandy Spring.

Logan also described two facilities projects: negotiations to acquire the Farmers & Trust Bank building at Fort Courthouse Square for exhibit and public space, and a lease for space in the Circuit Courthouse to store the organization—s artifact collection. He told the committee that construction on Four Courthouse Square could begin in the fall and that Montgomery History hopes to start moving collections next summer so the organization can help showcase the county—s 250th anniversary on Sept. 6 next year.

"We should be able to start construction by the fall and be in hopefully by the end of the calendar year or at least start the move," Logan said of the Fort Courthouse Square project, and he said the group—s artifact holdings — roughly 10,000 items in multiple offsite locations — will be consolidated under county‑leased space in the courthouse complex.

Logan said the oral‑history initiative also surfaced difficult material, including the testimony of a white descendant whose family diaries referenced a 1896 lynching; he urged the committee to capture such testimony as part of a complete historical record.

Deborah Lambert of the Office of Management and Budget told the committee the executive recommended a modest operating increase for the historical activities NDA (non‑departmental account) — described in the staff report as a 3% increase (about $6,656) over FY25 — and clarified that the recommendation represents one more year of support after last year—s one‑time allocation. Lambert said the recommendation is not an increase above last year—s one‑time funds overall but continues operating support for another year while Montgomery History pursues fundraising for capital and renovation costs.

Committee members praised the oral‑history work and the planned museum and collections space and urged continued partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools to embed local history in curriculum and public programs.

Ending: OMB confirmed the executive—s recommended one‑year continuation of operating support; Montgomery History said it will continue fundraising and expects to begin construction work in the fall with moves to the courthouse storage and Four Courthouse Square planned for next summer.