On September 17, 2025, nearly 100 faculty, staff, and community members gathered at the College of Southern Maryland’s Dr. Elaine Ryan Library in the Learning Resource Building on the La Plata Campus to celebrate the reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center. The event, coinciding with the college’s 67th anniversary, marked a significant milestone in preserving the region’s history and culture. The center, a vital archival repository, serves Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties, as well as southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, housing over 200 collections of manuscripts, photographs, rare books, maps, oral histories, and microfilmed records dating from the 18th century to the present.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted the community effort behind the center’s renovation. CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson opened the event, emphasizing the center’s role in safeguarding Southern Maryland’s heritage. She credited a $500,000 legislative bond initiative, introduced by the late Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr., and a donation from community leader Marianne Harms for funding the project. “Senator Miller’s leadership, paired with Marianne’s generosity, provided the resources necessary to complete the renovation and ensure that Southern Maryland’s stories, records, and cultural treasures remain accessible for generations to come,” Wilson said. She also acknowledged Melanie Miller, the senator’s daughter, who attended the event, and Dr. Stephanie McCaslin, dean of Learning Resources, for her leadership in the project.
The Southern Maryland Studies Center, established in 1976, has long been a cornerstone for researchers, students, and community members seeking to explore the region’s history. Its collections include county records, church documents, local newspapers, and oral histories that capture the diverse narratives of Southern Maryland. The renovated facility, now located on the lower level of the Learning Resource Building, features modern amenities such as climate control and enhanced ventilation to protect its materials. These upgrades ensure the preservation of delicate artifacts and provide a welcoming space for public access.
Wilson also honored Sally Barley, the center’s first archivist and a former CSM trustee, whose dedication shaped its early development. Barley, who passed away in 2022, left a legacy gift to the college that supported the renovation. “Sally served as the center’s very first archivist, laying the foundation for the treasured collections we preserve and share today,” Wilson noted. Her contributions were echoed by other speakers, including Delegate Edith Patterson, chair of the Southern Maryland Delegation. Patterson, who worked at CSM from 1974 to 2012 as a counselor and director of Educational Talent Search, recalled Barley’s commitment to keeping the region’s history relevant. She described the original center as a small, overcrowded room in the library, underscoring the significance of the new, purpose-built space.
Trustee Emeritus Wm. Daniel Mayer shared a personal perspective, reflecting on his journey as a student in the college’s second class in 1959, when it was known as Charles County Junior College. Mayer, who later served as a county commissioner and state delegate, emphasized CSM’s mission of accessibility since its founding in 1958. “This college from its very first day of classes has been all about providing access for our local communities,” he said. His remarks highlighted the center’s role in making historical resources available to residents across Southern Maryland.
Trustee Emeritus Dorothea Smith described the renovated center as a “dream come true,” noting its capacity to house research from organizations like the African-American Heritage Society, Charles County Retired School Personnel Association, and Southern Maryland National Heritage. She emphasized the improved facilities, which address previous limitations like inadequate storage and lack of climate control. The new space, she said, ensures that materials are preserved and accessible, allowing researchers to delve into the region’s rich heritage.
Dr. Janice Talbert Walthour, a former trustee and past president of the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), spoke about the center’s role in preserving African-American history. In 2008, UCAC donated its oral history collection to the center under the leadership of former CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “We were thrilled to be able to provide greater public access to the oral histories and the associated documentation that our UCAC had compiled at that time,” Walthour said. Alma Jordan, chair of UCAC’s History and Research Committee, added, “As this archive reopens its reading room today, it will be a tremendous resource for students, educators, historians, and community members alike to hear these histories.”
Mark Wilkins, curator of maritime history at the Calvert Marine Museum, underscored the value of organized archival spaces. He cited the museum’s Bernie Fowler collection, which includes oral histories recorded in 2014 with Maryland Sea Grant College and Watershed Productions, as well as Fowler’s iconic white shoe, symbolizing his environmental advocacy. “Research is a treasure, it’s magical,” Wilkins said. “You never know where it’s going to lead you, and you really cannot find that treasure unless it’s well-organized like in a facility such as this.” The Southern Maryland Studies Center holds several of Fowler’s manuscripts, further connecting it to the region’s environmental history.
The event concluded with CSM Library Director Mary Johnson introducing Mallory Haselberger, the center’s archivist and a 2016 CSM alumna. Haselberger curated an exhibit tracing the center’s history from its founding to the present, which attendees viewed after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new reading room, now open to the public, offers a space for researchers to explore the center’s extensive collections, from rare books to oral histories that capture the voices of Southern Maryland’s past.
The reopening of the Southern Maryland Studies Center reflects a collective commitment to preserving the region’s heritage. Since its inception, CSM has grown from a small junior college to a vital institution serving Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. The center’s relocation to a modernized facility ensures that its resources will remain available for future generations, supporting education, research, and community engagement. Local historians and residents alike can now access a wealth of materials that illuminate Southern Maryland’s cultural and historical landscape, from its colonial roots to its modern-day contributions.
