From the first national strike in 1877 to the nation’s first unionized Apple store, Maryland workers have long been at the center of labor history, fighting in the name of a better, more just life for all. As the state of Maryland celebrates its 250th anniversary, Maryland250 Labor History aims to ensure that we not only remember and celebrate this legacy, but treat it as a guide for our future. 

A collaborative and volunteer-run project, MD250 Labor History is bringing this history to life through historical documents, podcasts, walking tours, videos, and more. We hope it will serve as a robust resource for generations of workers to come. 

Join our project!

Making Maryland’s labor history accessible, engaging, and inclusive is a collective effort, and we encourage you to participate. We invite historians, educators, unions, cultural institutions, students, community groups, activists, former union members, and all who are interested to contribute their talents, skills, and stories to this project. 

Some ways to contribute:

• Share archival materials

• Propose a public program

• Host a walking tour

• Conduct an interview (or be interviewed) for a podcast

• Assist in website maintenance (or expansion)

• Donate to help fund the web hosting

• Tell us your story

To get involved, fill out the form below.

Behind the project:

Inspired by Maryland’s semiquincentennial, Bill Barry, a labor historian and former union organizer based in Baltimore, started MD250 Labor History in the summer of 2025 and quickly invited friends to collaborate. Dozens of Marylanders have since contributed! 

You can reach Bill directly at: billbarry21214@gmail.com.