Montgomery History

What Montgomery History does

Montgomery History (legally Montgomery County Historical Society Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit historical society founded in 1944 in Rockville, Maryland, that serves as the countywide historical organization for Montgomery County, Maryland. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected research and cultural-heritage assets, including the Jane C. Sween Research Library and Special Collections, the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, the Beall-Dawson Historic Park campus, and the Montgomery County Archives. Its collections comprise more than 10,000 museum artifacts, over 12,000 photographs spanning 130 years, more than 50 digitized newspaper titles dating to the early 19th century, and a continuous oral history collection initiated in the late 1960s.

The organization runs a Montgomery County History Digital Repository (MCHDR) that provides remote access to digitized photographs, oral histories, newspapers, maps, and business records, alongside in-person research services by appointment. Educational programming includes the weekly History Conversations virtual lecture series, a Speakers Bureau, the annual Montgomery County History Conference hosted at Montgomery College, and the National History Day competition integrated into the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum for 7th grade advanced learners. Revenue is generated primarily through individual donations, the Lilly Stone Circle major-donor program ($1,000+ annual giving and planned gifts), modest fee-for-service income (digital images, scanning, photocopies, remote research, Speakers Bureau engagements), conference registrations, and grants from entities including the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, Heritage Montgomery, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Matthew Logan (in role since November 2014), with a staff of approximately 15. In January 2025, Montgomery History acquired the historic Farmer's Banking and Trust building at 4 Courthouse Square in Rockville to establish the Montgomery History Center, planned to open in Fall 2026 in conjunction with Montgomery County's 250th anniversary. The Center is intended to consolidate the research library and special collections with exhibit space, lecture rooms, and the planned Connie Chung Oral History Studio.

Name

Montgomery History

Legal name

Montgomery County Historical Society Inc.

Website

https://montgomeryhistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montgomery History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit historical society founded in 1944 in Rockville, Maryland, serving Montgomery County residents and researchers through a research library, museum collections, oral histories, digital repository, and educational programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage and Historical Society Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), History Museums (THAJADAB)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Local history archives
• Museum collections
• Genealogical research library
• Educational history programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Primary revenue stream through individual donations via online platform, mail, and planned giving vehicles including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, life insurance donations, and QCDs from IRA owners.
2. Lilly Stone Circle Membership: Major donor recognition program at $1,000+ annual giving, with exclusive events and donor recognition benefits. Estate planned giving also encouraged.
3. Research and Scanning Services: Fees for digital image requests ($2/standard, $10/high-resolution), document scanning ($25 minimum hourly), photocopies ($0.50/page), and remote research services ($50 first hour, $30 each additional hour).
4. Speakers Bureau Fees: $75 fee per presentation for Speakers Bureau services to community organizations, schools, and civic groups.
5. Conference Revenue: Registration fees for annual Montgomery County History Conference with student discounts available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Montgomery History preserves, interprets, and provides public access to the history of Montgomery County, Maryland through a research library, physical museum collections, digitized archives (photographs, newspapers, oral histories, government records), and educational programming such as lectures, conferences, and a Speakers Bureau. The organization also operates historic sites including the Beall-Dawson Historic Park campus and is opening the new Montgomery History Center in Fall 2026 for the county's 250th anniversary.

Product overview

Montgomery History (formerly Montgomery County Historical Society) is a nonprofit historical society serving Montgomery County, Maryland since 1944. The organization operates as a unified historical institution offering multiple interconnected services including the Jane C. Sween Research Library and Special Collections, Museum Collections with over 10,000 artifacts, Oral History programs, Digital Collections accessible through the Montgomery County History Digital Repository, and physical museum facilities including the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine. Educational programming includes History Conversations virtual lectures, the Speakers Bureau, and the annual Montgomery County History Conference. The organization publishes The Montgomery County Story scholarly journal and maintains the Montgomery County Archives. A major initiative is the Montgomery History Center, a new headquarters being established in Fall 2026 at 4 Courthouse Square in Rockville, which will consolidate operations and feature the Connie Chung Oral History Studio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jane C. Sween Research Library and Special Collections Research library providing access to books, manuscripts, maps, audiovisual materials, and special collections related to Montgomery County history and genealogy; serves genealogists, researchers, students, and the general public.
• Museum Collections Curated physical artifact collection of 10,000+ objects spanning pre-contact era to present, including textiles, household goods, toys, weapons, agricultural tools, furniture, decorative arts, and 19th-century medical tools; available to researchers, educators, and museum visitors.
• Oral Histories Collection of oral history interviews with transcriptions and audio files, initiated in the late 1960s, capturing first-person accounts from politicians, community organizers, social activists, local artists, educators, and lifelong residents; serves researchers, students, and the public.
• Photograph Collection Digitized collection of more than 12,000 photographs (prints, snapshots, and slides) depicting places and people in Montgomery County over 130 years; browsable online through the digital repository.
• Montgomery County History Digital Repository (MCHDR) Online digital repository aggregating photographs, journal articles, newspapers, maps, business records, and oral histories about Montgomery County for remote public access.
• Montgomery County Newspapers Collection Digitized archive of 50+ newspaper titles spanning early 19th century through 21st century, including the Montgomery County Sentinel (1855-1969), The Gazette, Damascus Courier, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Tribune, and The Silver Spring Standard; searchable through the digital repository and Library of Congress Chronicling America.
• Montgomery County Archives Archival collection of Montgomery County government records from the 1950s to early 2000s, plus civic organization records, citizen-activist group records, personal papers of government leaders, and oral histories.
• Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine Physical museum exhibit featuring a large collection of 19th- and early 20th-century medical tools and books; open by appointment to the public.
• Beall-Dawson Historic Park Historic park campus in Rockville operated by Montgomery History that houses the Beall-Dawson House, Jane C. Sween Research Library, Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, and Medicinal Herb Garden; open to visitors.
• History Conversations Weekly virtual lecture series on Tuesday afternoons covering a wide variety of local history topics, live-streamed via Zoom and archived for limited post-event viewing.
• Speakers Bureau Fee-based presentation service offering virtual and in-person lectures, music, and re-enactments illuminating Montgomery County history; available to community organizations, schools, senior centers, civic groups, and clubs at $75 per presentation.
• Montgomery County History Conference Annual conference featuring keynote addresses, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking focused on Montgomery County history; held at Montgomery College Germantown campus with registration fees (student discount available).
• The Montgomery County Story Scholarly journal published by Montgomery History since 1957 featuring articles on local history topics; the only journal devoted to research on Montgomery County history.
• Research and Scanning Services Fee-based remote research and digitization services offering digital image requests ($2 standard / $10 high-resolution), document scanning ($25 minimum hourly), photocopies ($0.50/page), and remote research ($50 first hour, $30 each additional hour).
• Online Exhibits Online exhibitions hosted on Google Sites highlighting Montgomery History collections and exploring facets of county history, including community life, immigrant experience, LGBTQ+ heritage, women's history, segregated education, and suburbanization.
• Unfinished Revolution 250th anniversary project commissioning local historians to write articles on Montgomery County history from the 1960s forward or on underrepresented subjects; compiled into a physical book in 2026.
• Lilly Stone Circle Membership Annual major-donor membership program at the $1,000+ giving level, with exclusive events and donor recognition benefits; also includes members who provide 500+ volunteer hours annually or include Montgomery History in estate plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 students engaged annually through National History Day program integrated into MCPS curriculum
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• League of Women Voters of Montgomery CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Joint partnership for civics education programming, including the History Conversations program on the Fourteenth Amendment. Collaboration demonstrates commitment to shared educational mission.
• Montgomery CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Montgomery County History Conference at Bioscience Education Center Germantown campus. Partnership on digital exhibit 'Immigrant Experience in Montgomery County' with Department of Anthropology.
• Montgomery County Planning Department Historic Preservation OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership for historic preservation inquiries. Historic Preservation Office provides guidance on historic property renovations and designations.
• City of RockvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity owns Beall-Dawson Historic Park where Montgomery History operates campus facilities. Partnership enables preservation and operation of historic sites.
• Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational History Day program integrated into MCPS curriculum for 7th grade advanced learners. County competition held at Sligo Middle School with winners advancing to state and national competitions.
• Montgomery Parks Archaeology ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on archaeological resources and preservation efforts within Montgomery County park system.
• Save Our Voices CampaignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpring 2023 fundraising campaign that enabled digitization of oral history recordings, supporting preservation of interview collection.
• Peerless Rockville Historic PreservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning nonprofit community-based organization founded 1974 focused on Rockville heritage preservation. Listed as partner organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH): Professional association for state and local history organizations. Provides accreditation, training, and peer benchmarking for organizations like Montgomery History; not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem participant.
• Library of Congress: Hosts Chronicling America digitized newspaper platform that Montgomery History's newspaper collection integrates with. Not a peer in operations but a critical infrastructure partner and comparable as a federal history/archive institution.

Broad incumbents

• Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Virginia Historical Society): State-level historical society with larger footprint, library, museum, and publishing operations. Comparable operating model at a larger scale; relevant for understanding scaling potential and best practices.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit focused on historic preservation. Overlapping mission area where Montgomery History operates (Beall-Dawson Historic Park, Stonestreet Museum, Farmer's Banking and Trust building); provides funding, advocacy, and best-practice frameworks.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Federal museum with mission to interpret American history. Montgomery History's Director of Collections previously worked at Smithsonian; both share interest in local/national history narrative and similar collections management practices.

Direct peers

• DC History Center (Historical Society of Washington, D.C.): Washington-area historical society with museum, research library, and educational programming. Comparable in mission (preserving local history) and target audience (DMV residents), though serving a different political jurisdiction.
• Prince George's County Historical Society: Neighboring Maryland county historical society with comparable mission, scale, and program mix (research library, museum, oral histories, public programming). Direct competitor for regional donor attention and best comparable for operating-model benchmarking.
• Howard County Historical Society: Maryland county historical society with similar collection, exhibit, and educational programming model. Direct peer in both scale and program mix, useful for comparison of operating efficiency and community engagement.
• Maryland Center for History and Culture (formerly Maryland Historical Society): State-level historical society serving Maryland with museum, library, and educational programs. Operates a similar combination of research library, museum collections, and educational programming; the most direct state-level counterpart to Montgomery History's countywide mandate.

Regional players

• Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation: Local Rockville preservation nonprofit founded 1974 and listed as a partner organization. Operates in the same geographic footprint with overlapping preservation mission; smaller than Montgomery History and more geographically focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/mocohistory
• Facebookfacebook.com/MoCoHistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/mocomdhistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montgomery-history-montgomery-county-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Montgomery History