• UB Home
  • Magazine Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • UB Links

  • Current Issue
  • Archive
Summer 2014
Filter By: Filter By:
share this page

Hands on History

by Andrew Clark

Category: Alumni

diggs article lg 

Diggs in front of the historic building slated to house the Louis S. Diggs Research Center for African-American History; photography: Chris Hartlove

Louis Diggs, B.A. ’79, M.P.A. ’82

 

While he was working as a substitute teacher in Catonsville, Maryland, more than two decades ago, Louis Diggs, B.A. ’79, M.P.A. ’82, taught students at Catonsville High School how to research their roots in the local community. But the assignment upset some of the African-American students because they couldn’t find any information.

“They were disappointed,” Diggs recalls. “They asked‚ ‘Can you help us find our history?’

“That’s when I began my quest.”

Over the past 20 years, the Baltimore city native has become one of the most authoritative voices on Baltimore County’s African-American history. The author of nine books—with a 10th on the way—Diggs has aimed to help the African-American community know and understand its roots. He has made it his mission to tell the story of the 40 African-American communities within Baltimore County.

“People need to know their history,” he says, simply.

Through his years of research, Diggs became an authority on local African-American history and amassed a collection of roughly 8,000 photographs—some dating as far back as the days of slavery. In past years, Diggs has taken his photo collection on the road and put it on display for the public at a number of locations, from local malls to nursing homes. He’s even had people recognize old photos of relatives.

“It’s such a thrill to listen to someone who is 90 or 100 years old, to have them sit with me and bare their lives.”

These days, Diggs is largely focused on his biggest project to date: the Louis S. Diggs Research Center for African-American History. While the center—which offers monthly genealogy classes—currently is housed within the Historical Society of Baltimore County’s Cockeysville, Maryland, headquarters, Diggs is working to raise funds to renovate and repair an adjacent historic building donated by the society. Once completed, the building will serve as the new home for the center and will enable Diggs to share his research know-how more thoroughly with the community.

He says this research has offered him experiences that will stick with him forever.

“It’s such a thrill to listen to someone who is 90 or 100 years old, to have them sit with me and bare their lives,” says Diggs, whose most recent interviews include Baltimore County residents with ancestors who served in the Civil War.

The longtime historian estimates that he’s conducted hundreds of interviews over the past two decades.

“Every time I [do] an interview, I [can’t] wait to go do another one.”

WebExtras

Hands on History

Browse an expertly curated collection of photos documenting Baltimore County’s African-American history.

More articles in Alumni

The State of UB Alumni

The State of UB Alumni

See the full state-by-state breakdown of where your fellow UB Bees call home.

UB Around the Globe: A Ruin With a View

UB Around the Globe: A Ruin With a View

Rodrigo Figueroa, B.A. ’13, trekked the Peruvian Andes to experience the famed ancient sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

And the Story Behind the Last Photo Is …

And the Story Behind the Last Photo Is …

The photo in our last issue generated various takes on a UB alumni event several decades ago.

Where Are They Now? H. Wayne Norman Jr., B.A. ’76, J.D. ’80

Where Are They Now? H. Wayne Norman Jr., B.A. ’76, J.D. ’80

H. Wayne Norman Jr., B.A. ’76, J.D. ’80, served as UB’s unofficial first school “nurse.”

Events and Photos

Events and Photos

View photos featuring UB alumni at recent University events.

blog comments powered by Disqus
University of Balitmore
Office of Alumni Relations
1420 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201-5779
410.837.6131
alumni@ubalt.edu
© 2023 University of Baltimore
Email the editor with comments on the current issue or ideas for future issues. We want to hear from you!

2012 IMA winner
Last Published 6/27/14