Carroll 250 Event: Mary Shellman: Civil War to Suffrage Exhibit Opening

On May 26, 2025, the Historical Society of Carroll County will open its new exhibit Mary Shellman: Civil War to Suffrage in the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House. HSCC will invite visitors up to the second-floor bedroom of the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House where they will leave the 19th century behind and encounter Mary Bostwick Shellman’s life in her bedroom in1920. A poet, activist, and suffragist, Shellman challenged 19th-century gender norms, fought for the poor, honored Civil War memory, and championed women’s voting rights. Her story invites visitors to explore the enduring themes of civic duty, post-war black experiences, and the evolving fight for equality. The room will feature artifacts and manuscripts from Mary Shellman’s life. The exhibit will highlight her remarkable story as a young woman witnessing the impacts of the Civil War and becoming a leader of the suffragist movement in Maryland in the 1920s. A virtual exhibit experience will also be available for visitors on the first floor to make the exhibit accessible to all. The exhibit is generously funded through a grant from the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.