Calvert County has secured $250,000 in state funding from Gov. Wes Moore, backed by advocacy from Delegate Jeffrie Long Jr., to build a statue honoring Harriet E. Brown, a pioneering educator and civil rights figure. The announcement came Jan. 21, 2026, from Calvert County officials. The bronze statue will stand in front of the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse at 175 Main St. in Prince Frederick.
The funding supports construction and installation of the tribute to Brown, who challenged racial pay disparities in education during segregation. Her 1937 lawsuit against the Calvert County Board of Education sought equal salaries for Black and white teachers. The case settled Dec. 27, 1937, with the board agreeing to equalize pay, setting a precedent that influenced teacher salary policies across Maryland and contributed to broader civil rights progress.
Born Feb. 10, 1907, in Baltimore, Brown earned degrees from Morgan State College and the University of Maryland. She taught in Calvert County schools for more than 30 years, earning recognition for her dignity, humility and resolve amid discrimination. She retired after decades of service and lived to age 101, dying Jan. 1, 2009.
The statue project highlights Brown’s legacy in advancing equal pay, educational equity and civil rights. It also underscores Calvert County’s role in Maryland’s civil rights history. Placement at the courthouse, a central government building, ensures the tribute remains visible to residents, visitors and future generations as a symbol of justice and perseverance.
No additional details on timeline, artist selection, design or groundbreaking date appeared in the announcement. The initiative aligns with efforts to commemorate underrepresented figures in local and state history.
