Biography

Al Feldstein

A multi-award-winning public historian, Albert Louis Feldstein has since 1980 successfully published or helped produce over thirty books, prints, videotapes, and websites depicting the history of all three western Maryland Counties - Allegany, Garrett and Washington, as well as nearby West Virginia. His works have focused upon such varied subjects as historic postcards, newspapers, floods, gravesites, coal mining, railroads, community histories, women's history, black history, political campaign items, and tour guides to historic sites. Over the past twenty-five years he has given hundreds of presentations throughout Maryland and adjoining states promoting an awareness and appreciation of our past. The majority of his books have gone into second and third printings. The websites, initiated in conjunction with the Western Maryland Regional Library, have gained national attention and have been linked to historical and educational institutions on the local, state, regional, and national levels.

A 2003 effort, a political history poster entitled Buttons of the Cause, 1960- 2003: The Events - The People - The Organizations - The Issues was accepted for exhibit and sale at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History in Washington from 2005 through 2013. His most recent work is a poster entitled A Black History of America in 110 Buttons: The Events, The Issues, The Organizations, The People. It has been accepted for exhibit and sale at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee and can be viewed at Black History Buttons.

In recent years Al Feldstein has also been preparing displays and exhibitions on American political history and movements for various educational institutions. These have focused upon presidential elections, civil rights, the women's movement, and more. These are based upon Al's collection of over 12,000 political campaign and "protest" buttons.

Al and his wife Angela reside in LaVale, Maryland and are the parents of three children, Natasha, Josinda, and a step-son, Michael Mulligan.