The Historical Society of Charles County, Inc.

Mission Statement

The Historical Society of Charles County, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1961 to promote, research, and preserve the heritage of Charles County, Maryland.  This includes the maintenance of genealogical and historic sites files at the Southern Maryland Studies Center at the College of Southern Maryland, and to offer assistance and advice to those persons seeking information regarding genealogical services.

Through a partnership with the College of Southern Maryland, the Society preserves and provides tours of Historic Friendship House, an 18th century Maryland Tidewater dwelling located on its campus. It is also the organization under which the Friends of Rich Hill and Friends of Stagg Hall were established.  

In addition, the Historical Society, through its Friends of Rich Hill Committee, will be maintaining and providing tours of Historic Rich Hill, an early 18th century dwelling, built by Dr. Gustavus Brown and the site where John Wilkes Booth and David Herold hid for four days following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  

Long-term goals of the Historical Society of Charles County include the following:

• Preserve and promote our rich heritage.  This can be done through programs, presentations, research, and by providing tours of the rich history of our Southern Maryland heritage. 

• Continue to support and promote the programs of our partner organizations, as well as the interchanging of information. 

• Increase our membership.  Reach out to a variety of community members and encourage those with a variety of ethnicities including, but not limited to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, the Disabled, and/or LGBTQ communities, as well as our veterans and rural population, to join, participate and bring their shared history to our organization.