FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2025

 

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum was notified April 8th that its $100,000 grant awarded in FY24 was cancelled by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) following a March 14th federal executive order which dismantled IMLS–the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services–as well as six other agencies. Although the grant was reinstated on May 21st in response to a court order obtained by the State of Maryland and others, the IMLS notified the Museum that it had appealed that order, “which may affect the reinstatement of your grant in the future”.

The museum’s IMLS grant was intended to fund a historic project to identify descendants and/or communities culturally affiliated with the remains of 13 individuals of African descent housed at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. In collaboration with Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture’s (which operates the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum) Ancestral Remains Committee were to conduct DNA analysis and research local history to determine lineal descendants, commission 3-D scans of crania that could be used in the future creation of facial reconstructions of the deceased individuals, and coordinate reburial ceremonies. 

While no official accounting of cancelled grants has been made public, it is being reported that more than one thousand IMLS grants to local institutions were cancelled in response to federal Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.” Grants were being terminated without proper review and explanation, and with little information about how to move forward, hindering the MCAAHC’s ability to fully implement the planned scope of this vital work.

In response, the MCAAHC, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, took steps to challenge the cancellation and seek accountability. As a result of those efforts, a federal court ruled that the termination of IMLS grants was improper, ordered their reinstatement, and enjoined any future terminations pending the outcome of the litigation. The MCAAHC is working with the Office of the Attorney General to monitor the ongoing litigation and ensure that the IMLS continues to administer the grant.

Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson expressed deep concern over the significant loss of federal support but reaffirmed the Commission’s steadfast commitment to this work:

“We were devastated by the cancellation of the IMLS grant, which was a critical resource for our efforts to restore honor and justice to displaced African American remains. However, the work of the Ancestral Remains Committee will go on despite the ongoing challenges to ensure these individuals receive the dignity they deserve.”

To honor the remains found in Anne Arundel County, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) will hold a “Echoes of Our Ancestors Remembrance Ceremony: Building Bridges Between our Past, Present, and Our Future” on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Mt. Calvary Church in Anne Arundel County. This public gathering is an opportunity for communal reflection, ancestral reverence, and healing. The media and public are invited to attend this ceremony and stand in solidarity with the families, descendants, and communities impacted and or inspired by this project. 

This event is organized by the Ancestral Remains Committee of the MCAAHC, comprised of Commissioners Janice Curtis-Greene, Ada Pinkston, Elinor Thompson, and Barbara Paca, PhD, OBE. The committee has been working to ensure the dignity and respect of the African American remains found in unmarked or historically overlooked burial sites across Maryland. 

For more information or to support this initiative, please visit africanmerican.maryland.gov. To register to attend this event, please visit https://bit.ly/EchoesofOurAncestors.

 

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About Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is the State of Maryland’s official museum of African American heritage and culture. It is operated by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. It serves to document, interpret, and promote African American history and culture through exhibitions, programs, and projects in order to improve the understanding and appreciation of America’s rich cultural diversity for all. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more, visit http://bdtmuseum.maryland.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

About the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture is committed to discovering, documenting, preserving, collecting, and promoting Maryland’s African American heritage. The Commission also provides technical assistance to institutions and groups with similar objectives. Through the accomplishment of this mission, the MCAAHC seeks to educate Maryland citizens and visitors to our state about the significance of the African American experience in Maryland. To learn more, visit https://africanamerican.maryland.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook and LinkedIn.