Local historian Paul Durham will address the May meeting of the Garrett County Democratic Club on the history of slavery in Garrett County.

We invite all Garrett County residents to hear Paul’s presentation and as we approach Garrett County’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, it is important for all residents, whatever our political perspectives, to better understand the history of the county we love. We invite open discussion after Paul’s remarks.

​The meeting, held by Zoom, will be Thursday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m.
REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArfu6rrjMuGtJRCIivVIsKRw__lFF5Suog

​In 2020, Durham, a 32-year county resident, published an article entitled: “African-American Slavery and the Underground Railroad in Garrett County, Maryland.”​

In the article’s foreward, Durham wrote: “The history of slavery in Garrett County has been largely forgotten. It is a complicated story. We too often focus on the famous, and infamous, while leaving out the many people who also lived here and whose lives helped to shape our community story.”

​“Polarized depictions of American history,” wrote Durham, “tend to divide us and undermine our civic community.” The goal of his continuing research, Durham says, is “to uncover, document and share all of our stories so that our history may truly become a common and shared history.”

​Durham was employed as a Park Ranger/Park Manager in the Maryland Park Service for 27 years before retiring in 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Resource Development from the University of Maryland.

​For several years, Durham served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Interpretation, a professional organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation. Secretary of the newly established Garrett County Branch of the Maryland NAACP, Durham is also an accomplished landscape and travel photographer.