Our Mission
The mission of the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Society is to preserve and interpret the history of St. Catharine, the historic home of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, on the outskirts of Waldorf, Maryland. We seek to educate the public through interpretation of the life of Dr. Mudd, his family, the inhabitants of the farm, their connections to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and the legacy of the assassination in American History. The Society strives to interpret the story in a balanced manner by adhering to the moral and ethical guidelines practiced by historians.
The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Society achieves this by:
Conducting Tours of the House and Farm
Annually, Society volunteers conduct hundreds of tours of the historic house and farm. The volunteer guides focus on interpreting the events of November 1864 through the arrival of John Wilkes Booth and David Herold on April 15, 1865. Visitors hear the story of the Mudd family and the assassination while being surrounded by Mudd family artifacts, many of which were present during Booth’s stay at the house. The volunteers strive to bring to life the voices of all inhabitants of the farm throughout their tours.
Continuing Research
The Society is dedicated to constantly evolving its understanding of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, his family, and his farm. We do this by collecting and preserving papers, books, documents, and other matters pertaining to Dr. Samuel A. Mudd and his residence. It is fortunate in that many of the artifacts in its collection are original to Doctor and Mrs. Mudd. Many of the other artifacts belonged to descendants of the family. Additionally, the Society strives to interpret the voices of all inhabitants of the farm, both free and unfree. The Society is also dedicated to the continued study of the assassination of President Lincoln to develop a clear understanding of the causes and effects of that tragic event.
Hosting Special Events
Throughout the year, the Society hosts special events as a way to stimulate public interest and to raise funds to perpetuate its ability to preserve the history of its unique site. These events include monthly speakers that discuss a wide variety of topics related to the American Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. Other events include specialty tours that give visitors access to the route used by John Wilkes Booth and David Herold as they exited the property on April 15, 1865 and hosting school field trips.
Conducting Outreach
Society volunteers stimulate public interest through outreach programs at historic sites and venues. Several volunteers travel to historic sites across the country to interpret on behalf of the Society.
The Society maintains a web presence through its website and through social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Through these outlets, the Society reaches thousands of people virtually on a weekly basis.
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum 