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Maryland Historical Society Celebrates JFK's Life Through Photos

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—While the country remembers the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the Maryland Historical Society is celebrating his life.

Christie Ileto shows us the historical Kennedy photos and documents on display for Marylanders.

Kennedy campaign posters, inauguration programs and White House photos. Keepers of Kennedy history at the Maryland Historical Society used gloves to display the items Friday.

Nov. 22 marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas.

Burt Kummerow with the Historical Society remembers it like yesterday.

"I was at a gas station when I heard it on the radio," he said. "You begin to think the rails are coming off the country because it's so bizarre. It's so weird."

Now photos and programs show a happier time during Kennedy's presidency: moments captured at White House galas to political events in Maryland.

One photo shows him posed with then Baltimore Mayor Phillip Goodman.

Kennedy was a regular in the Old Line State, even helping to open I-95 near Delaware in 1963.

The Kennedy collection at the Maryland Historical Society doubled just a couple of months ago.

Following a highly publicized library theft, Pat Anderson says they received orphaned historical Kennedy documents.

"The National Archives recovery team confiscated almost 10,000 documents out of Barry Landau's apartment and some of these Kennedy documents were there," Anderson said.

Those photos and programs today are pristinely preserved and give Marylanders a snapshot of a special era tragically cut short.

There's more Kennedy photos and documents at the Historical Society. You can go downtown and check them out.

Along with collecting Maryland's history, the Historical Society has been collecting presidential materials since it first organized in 1844.

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