Seventy-four-year-old African-American historian and lifelong Frederick, Maryland resident, Belva King, has a remarkable legacy of community dedication and cultural preservation. King has spent much of her life documenting and researching the historical and ongoing contributions of Black Americans in Frederick. Her passion for preserving Black history led her, in 2012, to create “Belva’s Museum Artifacts”, a newsletter dedicated to Frederick’s Black history.
During its publication, King uncovered numerous historical sources, including archives from *The Frederick News-Post* and various historical societies. Recently, her extensive work, amounting to nearly 2,300 pages, was published as a seven-volume set. Through her research, King also discovered deeper connections to her own family history, further enriching her work and dedication to local history. In 2019, her efforts were recognized with an Outstanding Individual Award from the Maryland Historical Trust.
A Maryland Department of Planning spokesperson noted that “King was able to reach hundreds of people who otherwise may not have engaged with historic preservation or cultural activities.” King now encourages younger African-Americans to continue her work, as she has retired from her active research role. Recently, her contributions earned her a nomination for the 2024 Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture Harriet Tubman Award.