A Grateful Remembrance (1976)
In 1973, the Montgomery County government (both County Executive and County Council) formed the “Montgomery County History Project” with two goals to complete ahead of the upcoming Bicentennial: to locate and inventory the historical records of Montgomery County; and to produce a written history of Montgomery County. Shortly afterwards, Montgomery History’s Jane C. Sween and Janet Manuel compiled a published inventory of Montgomery County’s records and Dr. Richard K. MacMaster was engaged to research and author Montgomery County’s history. Later, Dr. Ray Eldon Hiebert was contracted to assist with preparation of the final manuscript. Together, they produced A Grateful Remembrance: the Story of Montgomery County, Maryland, published in 1976, which was the county’s first attempt at creating a comprehensive narrative history.
At right: Bicentennial celebration at the Beall-Dawson House, 1976. Blair Lee III (far left) and Elizabeth Scull (far right) hold a newly-published copy of “A Grateful Remembrance.” Also pictured are Bill Hussmann (second from left), MCHS President Gerry Wooldridge (center), and Dickran Hovsepian (second from right).
Though progressive and thorough for the time (especially considering the then-fairly-recent accounting of the existence of extant Montgomery County records), the book is also a product of its time and has become outdated in many ways. In addition to the 50 more years of history that have transpired since the book’s publication, it failed to fully address many crucial aspects of Montgomery County’s growth and development, particularly as it pertains to the contributions and stories of traditionally underrepresented groups such as people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ residents.
Admittedly, A Grateful Remembrance was a first attempt. In the forward to the first edition, County Executive James P. Gleason wrote:
A word of caution to the reader: a history is never complete. One hundred years from now, and perhaps sooner, another and up-t0-date account of this county is certain to be published. Some events of the distant and recent past as found in this book will be more fully understood then and, with the advantage of the passing of time, may be perceived altogether differently. So be it.
The way we write about and understand history is changing all the time, with each generation’s changing perspectives and shifting societal norms. To read about a new project to enhance and continue the effort to more fully capture Montgomery County’s history, see the Unfinished Revolution project [ADD LINK] in progress now.
We present the original text of A Grateful Remembrance here for reference and research, as the book is currently out of print. In sharing it, we acknowledge both its breadth and its inevitable shortcomings, and look forward to augmenting its vision to more closely match our shared journey toward the future.