Artifacts of Outlander exhibit in the Prince Frederick library.NASHVILLE, TN (Aug. 28, 2016)—The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announced that the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is the recipient of an Award of Merit for the project "Artifacts of Outlander: Connecting the Public to History and Archaeology Using Popular Culture." The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 71st year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
The MAC lab was one of the first facilities in the United States built as an archaeological repository. It has emerged as one of the premier public archaeology institutions in the entire mid-Atlantic, housing some eight million artifacts from more than 5,500 archaeological sites.
Since its opening in 1998, the lab has made 150 artifact loans to institutions throughout Maryland and the US and developed numerous small exhibits for off-site display. One of the most popular has been a traveling exhibit built around the Outlander TV show. The "Artifacts of Outlander " exhibit includes weaponry, horse tack, items associated with clothing, apothecary-related artifacts and pottery and glass, displayed against stills from the miniseries that show similar items used to recreate eighteenth-century Scotland . The exhibit is in high demand and has been on display at four public libraries. The exhibit has even captured the interest of the show's director and costume designer and an online exhibit is in the works in conjunction with the airing of the show's second season.
This year, AASLH is proud to confer sixty-three national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. Presentation of the awards will be made at a special banquet during the 2016 AASLH/MMA Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, September 16. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.
The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, a monthly newsletter, and maintains numerous affinity groups and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, a state museum of archaeology and home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, is a program of the Maryland Historical Trust, a division of the Maryland Department of Planning. It is located on 560 scenic acres along the Patuxent River and the St. Leonard Creek in St. Leonard, Maryland.