J. Rodney Little, director of the Maryland Historical Trust, dies at 78

When J. Rodney Little wasn’t advancing his work as the director of the Maryland Historical Trust and Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer for over 30 years, he also enjoyed experimenting with new recipes for his friends and colleagues.

Louise Hayman, who worked with Rodney at the Maryland Historical Trust in the 1970s and lived two houses down from him in Annapolis, recalled that he was a great chef who loved to share his recipes.

“To this day, I use his gazpacho recipe,” she said.

Elizabeth Hughes, director and state historic preservation officer of the Maryland Historical Trust, also enjoyed the cooking of Little, who was also a musician who played the mandolin.

“One of the favorite recipes that he shared with me was his version of Pascal Manale’s New Orleans barbequed shrimp — a true classic, just like Rodney!” Hughes said.

But Little is best known for the impact of his work on the field of preservation. He died June 24 at age 78 from heart failure, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly shaped the state’s historical landscape, those who know him said.

Rodney served as the director of the Maryland Historical Trust from 1978 to 2014, when he spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the Maryland Heritage Preservation program. This program fostered collaboration among businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to preserve Maryland’s historic sites, towns, natural landscapes and traditions.

The Heritage Preservation legislation introduced the Maryland Rehabilitation Tax Credit, which allows qualified property owners to earn a state income tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, which helped encourage a new wave of historic preservation.

The program has allocated more than $321 million and generated over $1.1 billion in private investment, according to Preservation Maryland.

Under Little’s leadership, the Maryland Historic Trust also established the Jefferson Patterson Historical Park and Museum and built the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. With the lab, Maryland reasserted its leadership, particularly in archaeological conservation and high-quality museum collections care, according to Preservation Maryland.

In 2015, Preservation Maryland honored Rodney with the President’s Award, acknowledging his exceptional leadership and dedication to preserving the state’s heritage.

Joe Coale, who was a member of Governor Harry Hughes’ staff and served as a liaison for historic groups, first met Rodney through his work in historic preservation.

“Rodney set out early to establish the cultural and economic value of historic preservation for all Marylanders by applying his knowledge and political skills,” Coale said.

Nancy Schamu, a former Maryland Historical Trust employee, said that Rodney was “very good at figuring out ways to get things done within a government structure.”

While Rodney made a significant impact on Maryland’s historic preservation scene, his former colleagues and friends also remember him as kind, witty and a strategic thinker.

Hayman and Rodney would often stop on the sidewalk to discuss current events and politics. “He was an amazing conversationalist,” she added.

“He was very smart and very astute about people,” Schamu said.

Hayman further praised Rodney as a great strategic thinker who always sought the right outcome.

“He was not a trained historian, yet he was extremely knowledgeable about Maryland history. He was not just a bureaucrat; he truly loved Maryland history,” she said.

Coale echoed those sentiments: “He was always mild-mannered, patient and nonconfrontational, but driven to achieve the mission, which, over time, developed and broadened public support.”

“He was also a skilled political strategist who was deeply committed to a life of public service,” Hughes said.

Little is survived by his wife Sherry, one daughter, a stepdaughter and grandchildren.

The article has been updated to correct J. Rodney Little's age at the time of his passing. He was 78.