Discover your past... Montgomery History

History Conversations History Conversations: Rewind: Suburban Wasteland

Since the late 1970s, the punk rock subculture has thrived in Montgomery County. The time between the opening (1977) and closing (2002) dates of Yesterday & Today Records—a punk scene hub that both inspired and employed countless punks—was a profoundly active time for punk music and culture in Montgomery County. This presentation–originally from the 2022 Montgomery County History Conference–explores the bands, record labels, fanzines, record stores, and other pieces of the local punk ecosystem that made Montgomery County an integral part of the highly influential Washington, DC-area punk subculture.

Tuesday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m.

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Annual Fund Donate to the Annual Fund Today!

Montgomery History’s 2023 Annual Fund campaign—The Past is Personal—is officially underway! Your donation will celebrate the life-changing power of history. Every gift, no matter the size, can make a huge difference. Demonstrate your commitment to Montgomery County’s future by making an investment in local history.

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Online Exhibit The Immigrant Experience in Montgomery County

Today, more than 35% of the county’s residents are foreign born and even more speak at least one language besides English. Montgomery County has become one of the most diverse counties in the United States. This exhibit, created in partnership with Montgomery College’s Department of Anthropology, explores more than 200 years of immigration history and presents dozens of immigrant stories.

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Montgomery County Story Current Issue In Slavery’s Shadow: Surveying Montgomery County Public School Names

Our most recent issue by Ralph Buglass features the history of school naming (and renaming) in Montgomery County. Historical documentation shows the following individuals for whom seven current MCPS schools are named were also enslavers: Montgomery Blair, Francis Scott Key, Zadok Magruder, Richard Montgomery, John Poole, Julius West, and Thomas Sprigg Wootton. Included are biographical snapshots of the seven school namesakes, contextual background on slavery in Montgomery County, a general survey on the naming (and previous renamings) of Montgomery County’s public schools through the years, and a brief roundup of other recent area renamings stemming from increased scrutiny of past racism.

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