ANNAPOLIS (March 21, 2014)—On Thursday evening, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown joined Maryland Department of Human Resources Secretary Ted Dallas and Chair of the Maryland Commission for Women Patricia Cornish for the 2014 Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Six women were formally inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ceremony, coordinated by the Maryland Commission for Women in conjunction with the Women Legislators of the Maryland General Assembly. Two of the six have ties to the local tri-county area.
"During Women's History Month, we recognize significant roles Maryland women have played moving our state forward," said Ted Dallas, secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources. "These women have made unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural and social life of the state, and are role models of achievement for tomorrow's female leaders."
Created in 1965, The Maryland Commission for Women is a 25-member governor's advisory panel, charged with improving the status of women, advancing solutions and serving as a statewide resource to expand social, political and economic equality. The Maryland Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1985 and is housed in the Women's Heritage Center in Baltimore City.
The two 2014 inductees with ties to southern Maryland are:
Agnes Kane Callum, historian, genealogist and researcher, was born in Baltimore, the fifth child of 12 to the late Phillip Moten and Mary Kane (nee Gough) of St. Mary's County. She was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools. At age 44 she returned to school and earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Social Sciences degrees from Morgan State University in 1973 and 1975 respectively.
In 1973, she was designated as a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar and she studied at the University of Ghana at Legon. As an undergraduate, she wrote a paper for a Black History class titled "The Acquisition of Land by Free Blacks in St. Mary's County Maryland." The research enabled her to begin to investigate and document the genealogy of her family. In 1979, Dr. Callum published her first book, "Kane- Butler Genealogy - History of a Black Family." She founded edited and published a black genealogical journal for 25 years, "Flower of the Forest", named after a tract of St. Mary's County land that the Butler family members owned for nearly 125 years.
Ann Rees is known for her commitment to serving residents of the Charles County community who are in need. Ann encourages others to get involved, stay involved and make a difference. Married to Bill Rees for 47 years, her husband and three sons support her never ending itinerary of community service initiatives and awareness activities.
Her pioneer spirit led her to meet with Governor William Donald Schaefer and Senator Mac Middleton in the late 1980's to begin implementation planning for the construction of a shelter for battered and abused women, the first for Charles County. Ann consistently challenges her network of friends and local business and community leaders to respond to her calls for action. She has worked to champion her causes of community atonement for women and children.