Image from “Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass” by Jeffrey C. McGuiness

The Bear Me Into Freedom Project is a collaboration of more than 100 Talbot County residents committed to honoring and promoting the legacy of Frederick Douglass. The project began with the 2022 publication of Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass by Jeffrey M. McGuiness—a 264-page photographic journey, seven years in the making, that vividly brings to life Douglass’ descriptions of the landscapes where he was enslaved on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Since its release, McGuiness and collaborator Lance Morris have shared the book’s key themes through dozens of presentations—highlighting Douglass’ life in Talbot County and Fell’s Point, his daring self-liberation, and his rise as one of the most influential abolitionists, writers, and orators of the 19th century. His tireless work helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Amendments to the U.S. Constitution following the Civil War.

The project’s next major initiative, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Chesapeake Odyssey of Frederick Douglass, will launch in July 2026. This immersive exhibit will use cutting-edge technology, sound, imagery, and Douglass’ own words to create a powerful experience, opening in museums and cultural venues across Baltimore and Talbot County as part of Maryland’s America250 celebration.

Project leaders Jeff McGuiness, Harriete Lowery, and fellow team members will share their work at an upcoming event hosted by the St. Michaels Community Center.

To attend, please RSVP via email: boardsecretary@stmichaelscc.org.