FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2024
Media Contact: Angel Waldron, 301-446-3311
Program Contact: Samantha Ferris, 301-864-5315
Riverdale, MD – The Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, part of M-NCPPC, is proud to announce its College Park Aviation Museum (CPAM) has been awarded a $20k Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) Miller History Fund grant. The award will aid the museum in continuing the intensive cataloging and digitizing of its collections.
The Miller History Fund is made possible by an annually recurring allocation from the State’s Preservation of Cultural Arts Fund, proposed by late Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr., for which the fund was renamed in 2021. Over five years, the grant program has invested a total of $1,000,000 to 53 historical organizations throughout Maryland.
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence in 2026, now is the time to invest in our historical collections and empower organizations to tell all the diverse stories that make Maryland unique. This commemoration is an opportunity to explore our state and country’s expansive and complex history in forward-thinking and inclusive ways. The breadth and depth of Maryland’s story is so apparent in this round of grantees,” said Katie Caljean, MCHC President and CEO.
Upon receipt of the award, The Field of Firsts Foundation, Inc., the 501(c)3 non-profit arm of the museum, will hire a part-time cataloguer to assist the CPAM curator. This stewardship project has already unveiled a forgotten story of the first female Airmail Office employee who was married to the first Airmail pilot, in 1918. With a collection spanning the entire history of powered flight, there are many similar impactful stories to tell. The duties of the new hire will include cataloging, digitization, database record creation, rehousing objects, updating locations, and completing condition reports.
“By performing this inventory, the collection will be more accessible to staff to craft relevant exhibits catered to our diverse, local community”, states CPAM Curator of Collections Luke Perez. “We will also be able to begin putting our collections online for public use and research. We are grateful to MCHC for this significant award.”
About the Department
With over 28,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for residents in Prince George’s County and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.
