FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts
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410-576-7009
Families of Children Buried at Cheltenham Site Encouraged to Connect with Commission
BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is pleased to announce appointments to the Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children following the passage of Senate Bill 776/House Bill 552 during the 2026 General Assembly.
Between the 1870s and 1941, hundreds of Black children, some as young as five years old, died while confined at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a state-supported facility in Cheltenham, Prince George's County. Their graves remain largely unmarked on the grounds of the former institution, adjacent to the manicured Cheltenham State Veterans Cemetery.
“For decades, the remains of hundreds of Black children have lain in unmarked graves on the grounds of a shuttered institution that was supposed to keep them safe," said Attorney General Brown. “We will not let these children be lost to history. This commission reflects Maryland's commitment to confronting its painful history honestly and ensuring that those who were failed by this State are not forgotten by it."
The Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children was established by the Maryland General Assembly to ensure this painful chapter of Maryland's history is investigated and memorialized. The Commission is charged with conducting forensic, archaeological, and historical research; engaging descendants and affected communities throughout the process; and developing recommendations for acknowledgment, memorialization, education, and systemic reform.
The Attorney General of Maryland serves as Chair to the Commission with staff support provided by the Office of the Attorney General. The Commission is required to submit an initial report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2027, and a final report by December 31, 2029. The Commission's website, including information on membership, meeting schedules, and public participation, is available here. The Commission will hold its inaugural public meeting in August, with additional details to be updated on the website. The Commission terminates on June 30, 2030.
The Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children is comprised of the following members:
Ex Officio Members
The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee
Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General of Maryland, Chair
One member appointed by the President of the Senate of Maryland
Senator William C. Smith, Jr.
One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates
Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr.
The Director of the Maryland Historical Trust, or the Director's designee
Elizabeth Hughes, Director, Maryland Historical Trust
The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families, or the Secretary's designee
Deputy Secretary Jimmy Anderson
The Chair of the Prince George's County Planning Board of the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission, or the Chair's designee
Vacant/To be Filled
The Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary's designee
Tiana Davis, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Department of Juvenile Services
The Chief Archaeologist of the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration, or the Chief Archaeologist's designee
Dr. Julie M. Schablitsky, SHA Chief Archaeologist
The State Archivist, or the State Archivist's designee
Elaine Rice Bachmann, State Archivist
The Secretary of General Services, or the Secretary's designee
Deputy Secretary Joh Sedtal
The Chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, or the Chair's designee
Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen, Chair, Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture
The Executive Director of the Gibson–Banks Center for Race and the Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, or the Executive Director's designee
Professor Michael Pinard, Francis & Harriet Iglehart Professor of Law; The Honorable William H. Murphy Jr. Faculty Director, Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law; and Director, Clinical Law Program
The Prince George's County Executive, or the County Executive's designee
The Honorable Aisha Braveboy, County Executive, Prince George's County
The Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary's designee
Gloria Brown Burnett, Deputy Secretary for Operations, Department of Human Services
The State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent's designee
Peter Ramsey, Director of Social Studies, Division of Instructional Programs, Maryland State Department of Education
“For far too long, the stories of the young boys who suffered at the House of Reformation were buried beneath silence and forgotten history. This Commission is about finally telling the truth out loud and making sure those children are seen, heard, and remembered with the dignity they were denied for generations. I am deeply honored to serve on this Commission led by Attorney General Brown, alongside fellow Commission members who are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring this history is never forgotten. I want to thank Governor Moore for his leadership, dedication, and commitment to making this Commission possible through the signing of HB552, legislation I was proud to sponsor to help bring accountability, transparency, and healing to this process. Together, this work is not simply about examining the past, but about helping set a higher standard for how Maryland cares for and values every child moving forward. The significance of this work will not be measured only by what we uncover, but by the accountability, compassion, and action we choose going forward," said Delegate Jeffrie E. Long Jr.
“The Commission offers our state the opportunity to reckon with past injustices and the hope of securing a more equitable future for every Marylander," said Senator William C. Smith, Jr. “The work of this Commission is ever more important in a time when so much of our complicated history is being erased and actively forgotten. Marylanders deserve to know of our oftentimes tragic history with the understanding that we must use those lessons to live up to our highest ideals and aspirations."
Public Members
The following public member positions are currently being filled. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply:
- One descendant of a child buried at the site, a former resident of the House of Reformation, or a former justice-involved youth. This member helps ensure the Commission centers the voices and lived experiences of those most directly affected, including families of children who died in State custody and individuals who experienced the juvenile justice system firsthand.
- One academic expert in forensic anthropology, archaeology, African American history, or other related disciplines. This member brings specialized scholarly expertise to support the Commission's investigation into burial site identification, historical records research, and documentation of institutional conditions and deaths.
- One representative from a historically Black college or university in the State. This member connects the Commission to Maryland's HBCU community, which has a longstanding stake in preserving and advancing African American history and may contribute research capacity, institutional knowledge, and community trust.
- One representative from a civil rights organization. This member brings an organizational perspective rooted in racial justice advocacy to inform the Commission's work on reconciliation, systemic reform recommendations, and engagement with affected communities.
- Two individuals with experience in civil rights advocacy and litigation. These members contribute legal expertise in civil rights to support the Commission's analysis of institutional failures, reconciliation, and recommendations for systemic reforms to juvenile justice policy and practice.
Connect with the Commission
To apply for a public member position or to share information about a loved one you believe may be buried at the site, please contact the Office of the Attorney General's Office of Equity, Policy, and Engagement at [email protected] or 410-230-1700.
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