CHESTERTOWN — An unnamed benefactor has gifted $40,000 to the Historical Society of Kent County to establish the Joan Horsey Library/Archives Fund, dedicated to strengthening its research library and archival collections.
The donor calls it “seed money” to grow more donations to meet the historical society’s mission of making Kent County history easily accessible to all — from serious researchers to beginner genealogists.
According to a historical society spokesperson, the new endowed fund will be a continuing tribute to Horsey’s many contributions, especially her dedicated volunteer work with the research library.
The Joan Horsey Library/Archives Fund is envisioned as a lasting investment in the care, accessibility and growth of the historical society’s collections, according to a news release.
Income generated by the fund will support critical archival work, including organizing and updating collections, expanding digitization efforts and preserving valuable materials such as genealogical records — resources that are in high demand among researchers and the broader public.
As the fund grows, the Historical Society of Kent County hopes it will eventually support a part-time archivist and research staff position, enabling more consistent stewardship of the collections and enhanced assistance for visitors, scholars and community members seeking to connect with Kent County’s history.
“We are thrilled to establish this endowment fund in honor of Joan Horsey,” historical society board President Vicky Smith said in the news release. “It is a dream come true to have a self-sustaining fund that will grow to support our important responsibility to preserve and provide access to Kent County history for generations to come.”
Executive Director Maria Wood said the donation is both a tribute and an investment.
“It honors Joan Horsey’s lasting impact on our community while creating a lasting opportunity for the Historical Society to become a better steward of our unique and growing archival collections,” Wood said in a written statement.
A lifelong connection to Kent County and her hometown of Chestertown has shaped Horsey’s remarkable record of service.
Over the course of her career, Horsey’s professional life and public service have touched nearly every facet of the community. Horsey has played a vital role in the life of Kent County as a business owner, author of books exploring the region’s past and more. She has worked at the District Court, Washington College and the Chester River Press.
She has led and served numerous organizations, including the Kent County Tourism Board, County Community Health Coalition, Kent County Public Library Foundation, Maryland Commission on Aging, the local hospital board, Kent County Hospice Foundation and the Downtown Chestertown Association.
She also has served on the Kent County Zoning Board of Appeals, Kent County Police Accountability Board, as a director of The Peoples Bank and board chair of the Chestertown Library Inc.
Her civic and cultural commitments extend to membership in organizations including the Woman’s Literary Club of Chestertown, Old Kent Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Kitty Knight Chapter of the Daughters of 1812.
Horsey expressed both gratitude and enthusiasm for the initiative.
“I think it’s a great idea,” she said. “It certainly is an honor for me, and it’s an opportunity for the historical society.”
“I love local history,” she said, “and I think it’s important because you don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.”
She also has chosen to direct her share of the royalties from the history books she has co-authored to support the fund, further contributing to its growth.
The Historical Society of Kent County invites others who share a commitment to local history to contribute to the Joan Horsey Library/Archives Fund and help strengthen its support of the organization’s mission to protect, preserve and share Kent County history.
For more information or to make a contribution, email director@kentcountyhistory.org.