MEET OUR SPEAKERS
JUDITH CHRISTENSEN
Judith Christensen has worked as an architectural historian and preservation planner for municipal and county governments, private clients and historical/preservation groups since 1985. As a contractor, she surveyed and wrote historic sites surveys and evaluations for over 400 historical sites in Maryland and Virginia. She has written newspaper articles and other publications on local history and architecture. She was a founder of the Gaithersburg Heritage Museum (now Gaithersburg Community Museum) and currently serves as museum historian and on the collections committee. She is Executive Director of Montgomery Preservation Inc. and is also on the board of the Montgomery County Alliance for Heritage Tourism and the Montgomery County MOOseum.
CLARENCE HICKEY
Clarence Hickey is a biologist and environmental protection specialist, recently retired from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science in Germantown. The author of Narrative History of the Families of Charles Edward Allen & Sarah Francis Berry, Clarence also compiled a first person oral history of Howard Tomlinson, his father-in-law who served as an Army Air Corps flyer during WWII. An Army hospital medic during the Vietnam era, Clarence has studied Civil War medicine at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland.
DON HOUSLEY
Don Housley retired in July, 2005, after 36 years teaching U.S. history and serving the last 25 years of his teaching career as chairman of the Social Studies Department at Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, Maryland. Currently, he volunteers in the Office of Archaeology for Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission-Montgomery County.
PATRICK LACEFIELD
Patrick Lacefield is the spokesman for the Montgomery County Executive and a Civil War reenactor who shares songs and stories from the War Between the States, wearing both blue and gray, accompanying himself on guitar. His maternal great-great-grandfather served in the Arkansas State Legislature during "independence" and his sons fought with the Arkansas cavalry. On his father's side, Patrick's ancestors served in the Tennessee infantry. Recently, he participated in the filming of the motion picture "Gods & Generals," portraying a soldier from the 20th Maine Regiment. He is a native of Arkansas who grew up in Missouri.
MARY LOU LUFF
A member and volunteer of the Montgomery County Historical Society since 1981, Mary Lou's special interest has been researching fashion, family life and home remedies. She brings to life two Rockville residents--Mrs. Upton Beall in 1815 and Mrs. Stonestreet in 1863. Her collection of artifacts and books dates as early as 1774.
MAUDE MCGOVERN
Maude McGovern is on the staff of Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation. In addition to researching and speaking on Rockville’s Underground Railroad, she has developed a exhibit on colonial Rockville on the Peerless Rockville website.
EILEEN MCGUCKIAN
Eileen McGuckian holds a BA degree from the University of Maryland, an MA from Western Maryland college, and a Master of Philosophy in American Studies from George Washington University. She is an accomplished historian, author, and recognized leader in historic preservation at the local, regional, and state levels. She is founder, past president, and immediate past Executive Director of Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation, Ltd. Her 2001 book, Rockville, Portrait of a City, is a signature project of Rockville's Millennium Celebration. Eileen has written numerous other articles and books on local and state history. She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Maryland Historical Trust, Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, Rockville Historic District Commission, Montgomery County History Consortium, and the Rotary Club of Rockville.
LORRAINE DUTCHER MINOR
A retired federal employee, Ms. Lorraine Dutcher Minor currently serves as the chair of the Education Committee of the Genealogy Club of MCHS. Ms. Minor has completed the National Genealogical Society home study course and several family history courses from Brigham Young University. She is a volunteer at the Washington D.C. Family History Center (FHC), and lectures on basic genealogical subjects and using the FHC. Ms. Minor is currently researching her ancestors from Maine, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.
WILLIAM OFFUTT
A native of Montgomery County, William Offutt is a retired public school and Montgomery College teacher. He is the author of Bethesda: A Social History and A History of Montgomery County as well as numerous articles for local newspapers and the Montgomery County Historical Society. He and his wife live in Bethesda.
ANTHONY PITCH
Anthony S. Pitch is the author of a number of books, the most recent being The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814. He is currently writing "They Have Killed Papa Dead!" - The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He lives with his wife in Potomac, MD.
SUSAN SODERBERG
Susan Soderberg is a Public Historian and Outreach Planner for the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission. She is in charge of interpretation and management of the Underground Railroad Trail, Oakley Cabin and Bussard Farmhouse at the Agricultural History Farm Park and is overseeing the preliminary work on the recently acquired Josiah Henson Site/Riley Plantation. She has written several historical documents including: A Guide to Civil War Sites in Maryland: Blue and Gray in a Border State; The Met: A History of the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O Railroad; Lest We Forget: A Guide to Civil War Monuments in Maryland; Who was Who of the Civil War Correspondents; and A History of Germantown, Maryland. Susan ia a Commissioner on the Governor's Commission of Military Monuments, on the Board of the Germantown Historical Society, and holds membership in numerous national and local historical associations.