About Howard County Historical Society

Founded in 1958, the Howard County Historical Society is primary private repository of historical records and artifacts related to Howard County’s rich history, the Howard County Historical Society provides access to materials that aid in historical exploration, research and discovery for all ages and cultural groups.

Throughout the year, the Howard County Historical Society presents a wide variety of engaging public programs, concerts, lectures, and other activities. The Society also welcomes school groups, scouts, home schoolers, adult groups, and the public to participate through field trips and outreach programs.

Our Flag

Howard County’s rich military history, our Maryland heritage, and the Society’s mission of community outreach arethe essential elements in the Official Howard County Historical Society Flag.

Formally adopted by the Board of Directors on July 9, 2002, our flag was inspired by the headquarters banner of General Bradley T. Johnson – a unique burgee (swallowtail flag) – with a white field and red border. In the center is a large cross bottony in red – an original symbol of Maryland and one that appears the state seal. It’s the same symbol is used in the Howard County flag.

Surrounding the cross is an elliptical circle of 12 stars with a thirteenth star in the center replicating the star pattern of the Third Maryland Regiment’s colors. One of the Continental Army’s most reliable units, the Third Maryland played a major role in the victory by American forces at the Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina in 1781. It was commanded by Colonel John Eager Howard, for whom the county is named.

The white stars on the regimental color are gold with black fimbration – representing our state colors: white, red, black, and gold. The stars are arranged so that a point on the star reaches out in all directions – symbolizing the society’s desire to reach out to future generations.

Over the cross bottony is the steeple of the Howard County Historical Society Museum, where the flag is flown. We invite you to view the flag, which was designed for the Society by Richard T. Clark, by visiting the Howard County Historical Society Museum.

Staff

Shawn Gladden

Shawn Gladden

Executive Director

Bio
Q

About Shawn Gladden

Shawn Gladden has a M.A. in History from George Mason University and a B.S. in History from Towson University. A lifelong Howard Countian, Mr. Gladden has also worked at the Fell's Point Maritime Museum, the Maryland Historical Society, The Preservation Society for Fells Point and Federal Hill, and was the Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. In addition to his Museum work, Mr. Gladden has taught as an adjunct at Howard Community College since 2009.
Paulette Lutz

Paulette Lutz

Deputy Director

Bio
Q

About Paulette Lutz

Paulette Lutz has been a resident of Howard County for over 60 years growing up in Font Hill Manor. She currently is a 40 year resident of West Friendship. After she retired from the Social Security Administration in 2005, she volunteered at the Historical Society in 2010. Her love of history and Howard County led her to become a researcher, Member of the Board of Directors and President of the Board of Directors. Her current position is Deputy Director, assisting the Executive Director in various projects and programs. She is a registered genealogist for the Daughters of the American Revolution and Vice President of the War of 1812 Society. She established four buildings in Howard County for the National Park Service, Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. She also developed the Year of the Howard County Woman program in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She has organized the popular Holiday House Tour for the last eight years.
Mary Sanphilipo-Ward

Mary Sanphilipo-Ward

Collections Manager

Bio
Q

About Mary Sanphilipo

Mary Sanphilipo started with us in 2012 as a volunteer and now acts as our Museum and Collections Manager. She has her B.A. in Archaeology with a minor in History from U.M.B.C. and her Masters in Library Sciences from U.M.C.P. After college, she began her career at the Baltimore City Life Museums where she stayed for 10 years. She then took a 15 year hiatus from work to homeschool her two children, Shannon and Aiden. She also oversees our Museum rentals such as our ongoing yoga and ballroom dance classes.
Fred Campbell

Fred Campbell

Archives Manager

Bio
Q

About Fred Campbell

Mike Radinsky

Mike Radinsky

Museum Employee & Civil War Curator

Bio
Q

About Mike Radinsky

Mike Radinsky has been curator at the Museum of Howard County History since 2016. His interests lie in local history, especially Howard County’s involvement in the Civil War. He participates in living history programs in the area and for the museum. Mike also leads historic walking tours and ghost tours in the historic district. He lives in Ellicott City with his family.
Henry Fitzer

Henry Fitzer

HCHS Volunteer

Bio
Q

About Henry Fitzer

Henry “Hank” Fitzer has undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Accounting with minors in German and History. Hank’s careers include Maritime Commerce at the Port of Baltimore (14 years) and with the Maryland State Government (30 years). He has recently retired and now volunteers at both the Archives and the Museum. His interests include Languages, History and Archaeology. His historical areas of greatest interest are Ancient, Native American, U.S. Colonial through Civil War, and Latin American.

Board of Directors

Board Members Name
Director 2019-2022 Mae Beale
Director 2019-2022 Martha Clark
Director 2019-2022 Tom Goss
Director 2019-2022 Mae Beale
Director 2019-2022 George Tolen
Director 2020-2023 Gail Bates
Director 2020-2023 Roger Caplan
Director 2020-2023 Bob Glascock
Director 2020-2023 Lela Sewell-Williams
Director 2020-2023 Tara Simpson
Director 2020-2023 John "JD" Slack
Director 2021-2024 Richard T. Clark
Director 2021-2024 Debra "Debbie" Costley
Director 2021-2024 Judith Draper
Director 2021-2024 Leonora Hoenes
Director 2021-2024 Ken Wireman

Officers

Executive Officers Name
President Ellen Flynn Giles
1st Vice President Patricia Greenwald
2nd Vice President Kimberly Eggborn
Recording Secretary Rita Hamlet
Corresponding Secretary Anne Schoenhut
Past President Steve Castro

Honorary Board Members

  • Betty Adams
  • Charles Coles
  • Doris Fredericks
  • W. Henry Griffith
  • Paul L. Miller
  • Consuelo Regan-Alexander
  • Phil Stackhouse
  • Gladys H. Wahlhapter

Presidents of the Howard County Historical Society

Alda Hopkins Clark 1958-1964
Louis D. Clark 1964-?
S. Tracey Stackhouse ?
Charles Wehland ?-1973
Aelred D. Geis 1973-1975
Roberta Adams 1975-1977
Shirley Hobbs 1978-1980
Granville W. Wehland 1980-1982
Helen S. Jones 1982-1984
C. Edward Walter 1984-1987
Jim Holway 1987-1988
Barbara Warfield 1988-1990
Doris S. Thompson 1990-1991
Ann H. Ryder 1991-1993
Paul L. Miller 1993-1995
James Clark, Jr. 1995-1996
William A. Fralic 1996-1997
Charles M. Coles, Jr. 1997-1999
W. Henry Griffith, Jr. 1999-2003
Richard T. Clark 2003-2005
Constance Wehland 2005-2007
Philip Stackhouse 2007-2009
Shelley Wygant 2009-2011
Leonora Hoenes 2011-2013
Paulette Kelly Lutz 2013-2016
Theodore Mariani 2016-2017
Steve Castro 2017-2019
Tom Bower 2019-Present
About HCHS

About Howard County Historical Society

Founded in 1958, the Howard County Historical Society is primary private repository of historical records and artifacts related to Howard County’s rich history, the Howard County Historical Society provides access to materials that aid in historical exploration, research and discovery for all ages and cultural groups.

Throughout the year, the Howard County Historical Society presents a wide variety of engaging public programs, concerts, lectures, and other activities. The Society also welcomes school groups, scouts, home schoolers, adult groups, and the public to participate through field trips and outreach programs.

Our Flag

Howard County’s rich military history, our Maryland heritage, and the Society’s mission of community outreach arethe essential elements in the Official Howard County Historical Society Flag.

Formally adopted by the Board of Directors on July 9, 2002, our flag was inspired by the headquarters banner of General Bradley T. Johnson – a unique burgee (swallowtail flag) – with a white field and red border. In the center is a large cross bottony in red – an original symbol of Maryland and one that appears the state seal. It’s the same symbol is used in the Howard County flag.

Surrounding the cross is an elliptical circle of 12 stars with a thirteenth star in the center replicating the star pattern of the Third Maryland Regiment’s colors. One of the Continental Army’s most reliable units, the Third Maryland played a major role in the victory by American forces at the Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina in 1781. It was commanded by Colonel John Eager Howard, for whom the county is named.

The white stars on the regimental color are gold with black fimbration – representing our state colors: white, red, black, and gold. The stars are arranged so that a point on the star reaches out in all directions – symbolizing the society’s desire to reach out to future generations.

Over the cross bottony is the steeple of the Howard County Historical Society Museum, where the flag is flown. We invite you to view the flag, which was designed for the Society by Richard T. Clark, by visiting the Howard County Historical Society Museum.

Staff

Staff

Shawn Gladden

Shawn Gladden

Executive Director

Bio
Q

About Shawn Gladden

Shawn Gladden has a M.A. in History from George Mason University and a B.S. in History from Towson University. A lifelong Howard Countian, Mr. Gladden has also worked at the Fell's Point Maritime Museum, the Maryland Historical Society, The Preservation Society for Fells Point and Federal Hill, and was the Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. In addition to his Museum work, Mr. Gladden has taught as an adjunct at Howard Community College since 2009.
Paulette Lutz

Paulette Lutz

Deputy Director

Bio
Q

About Paulette Lutz

Paulette Lutz has been a resident of Howard County for over 60 years growing up in Font Hill Manor. She currently is a 40 year resident of West Friendship. After she retired from the Social Security Administration in 2005, she volunteered at the Historical Society in 2010. Her love of history and Howard County led her to become a researcher, Member of the Board of Directors and President of the Board of Directors. Her current position is Deputy Director, assisting the Executive Director in various projects and programs. She is a registered genealogist for the Daughters of the American Revolution and Vice President of the War of 1812 Society. She established four buildings in Howard County for the National Park Service, Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. She also developed the Year of the Howard County Woman program in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She has organized the popular Holiday House Tour for the last eight years.
Mary Sanphilipo-Ward

Mary Sanphilipo-Ward

Collections Manager

Bio
Q

About Mary Sanphilipo

Mary Sanphilipo started with us in 2012 as a volunteer and now acts as our Museum and Collections Manager. She has her B.A. in Archaeology with a minor in History from U.M.B.C. and her Masters in Library Sciences from U.M.C.P. After college, she began her career at the Baltimore City Life Museums where she stayed for 10 years. She then took a 15 year hiatus from work to homeschool her two children, Shannon and Aiden. She also oversees our Museum rentals such as our ongoing yoga and ballroom dance classes.
Fred Campbell

Fred Campbell

Archives Manager

Bio
Q

About Fred Campbell

Mike Radinsky

Mike Radinsky

Museum Employee & Civil War Curator

Bio
Q

About Mike Radinsky

Mike Radinsky has been curator at the Museum of Howard County History since 2016. His interests lie in local history, especially Howard County’s involvement in the Civil War. He participates in living history programs in the area and for the museum. Mike also leads historic walking tours and ghost tours in the historic district. He lives in Ellicott City with his family.
Henry Fitzer

Henry Fitzer

HCHS Volunteer

Bio
Q

About Henry Fitzer

Henry “Hank” Fitzer has undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Accounting with minors in German and History. Hank’s careers include Maritime Commerce at the Port of Baltimore (14 years) and with the Maryland State Government (30 years). He has recently retired and now volunteers at both the Archives and the Museum. His interests include Languages, History and Archaeology. His historical areas of greatest interest are Ancient, Native American, U.S. Colonial through Civil War, and Latin American.
Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Board Members Name
Director 2019-2022 Mae Beale
Director 2019-2022 Martha Clark
Director 2019-2022 Tom Goss
Director 2019-2022 Mae Beale
Director 2019-2022 George Tolen
Director 2020-2023 Gail Bates
Director 2020-2023 Roger Caplan
Director 2020-2023 Bob Glascock
Director 2020-2023 Lela Sewell-Williams
Director 2020-2023 Tara Simpson
Director 2020-2023 John "JD" Slack
Director 2021-2024 Richard T. Clark
Director 2021-2024 Debra "Debbie" Costley
Director 2021-2024 Judith Draper
Director 2021-2024 Leonora Hoenes
Director 2021-2024 Ken Wireman
Officers

Officers

Executive Officers Name
President Ellen Flynn Giles
1st Vice President Patricia Greenwald
2nd Vice President Kimberly Eggborn
Recording Secretary Rita Hamlet
Corresponding Secretary Anne Schoenhut
Past President Steve Castro
Honorary Members

Honorary Board Members

  • Betty Adams
  • Charles Coles
  • Doris Fredericks
  • W. Henry Griffith
  • Paul L. Miller
  • Consuelo Regan-Alexander
  • Phil Stackhouse
  • Gladys H. Wahlhapter
Past Presidents

Presidents of the Howard County Historical Society

Alda Hopkins Clark 1958-1964
Louis D. Clark 1964-?
S. Tracey Stackhouse ?
Charles Wehland ?-1973
Aelred D. Geis 1973-1975
Roberta Adams 1975-1977
Shirley Hobbs 1978-1980
Granville W. Wehland 1980-1982
Helen S. Jones 1982-1984
C. Edward Walter 1984-1987
Jim Holway 1987-1988
Barbara Warfield 1988-1990
Doris S. Thompson 1990-1991
Ann H. Ryder 1991-1993
Paul L. Miller 1993-1995
James Clark, Jr. 1995-1996
William A. Fralic 1996-1997
Charles M. Coles, Jr. 1997-1999
W. Henry Griffith, Jr. 1999-2003
Richard T. Clark 2003-2005
Constance Wehland 2005-2007
Philip Stackhouse 2007-2009
Shelley Wygant 2009-2011
Leonora Hoenes 2011-2013
Paulette Kelly Lutz 2013-2016
Theodore Mariani 2016-2017
Steve Castro 2017-2019
Tom Bower 2019-Present
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