About Us
Preserving Our History. Connecting Our Families. Honoring Our Heritage.
The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society–Baltimore (AAHGS-Baltimore) is a membership-based organization dedicated to preserving, studying, and sharing the history, genealogy, and culture of African-ancestried communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society, Inc. has been active in the Washington, D.C. area since 1977 and, in 1989, the Baltimore Chapter was chartered. The chapter was named in honor of Agnes Kane Callum in 2005, and she was a founding member of the chapter.
We believe that our history lives not only in archives and historical records, but also in the stories of our families, the experiences of our communities, and the discoveries we make about those who came before us.
AAHGS-Baltimore encourages individuals to actively research, record, preserve, and document their personal, family, and community histories. Through education, collaboration, research, and shared resources, we help members deepen their understanding of their heritage and contribute to the preservation of African American history for generations to come.
The Chapter Board
Glenn Blackwell
President
Noreen Goodson
Secretary
Karen Sutton, PhD
1st Vice President
Victoria Dials
Web Master
Donna T. Hollie, PhD
2nd Vice President
Our Founder
“They think it’s a white people’s plantation (Sotterley)…but our roots are here too, the Kane roots, and the beautiful thing about this historic place is that for once, the slaves are included in the story.” – Agnes Kane Callum
Agnes Kane Callum (February 24, 1925 – July 22, 2015) was a genealogist known for her research into Maryland’s African-American history. She was a founding member of the Baltimore Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, a frequent columnist for The Catholic Review, and the founding editor of a black genealogical journal, Flower of the Forest. Callum was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014.