Nanny Jack & Co.

Philip J. Merrill is a nationally recognized expert in African American memorabilia and history.  His specialties include African American historical research, oral history and collecting and interpreting cultural artifacts.  He was an appraiser with the PBS television show Antiques Roadshow  from 1996-2001, where he created the category for Black Memorabilia.  He has lectured extensively on African American history and collectibles. 

 The owner of an extensive and eclectic collection of Black memorabilia comprised of over 30,000 items, Merrill has exhibited his collection widely at museums, universities and schools, national conferences and a variety of other settings.  In his presentations he uses items from his collection to emphasize the accomplishments and positive contributions that African Americans have made to American society over the course of its history.

 Merrill has authored two books, The Black America Series: Baltimore and The Art of Collecting Black Memorabilia, and he is editor of The World War II Black Regiment That Built the Alaska Military Highway, a photo essay by William E. Griggs, a WWII Army photographer.   He also has been a frequent contributor to a variety of publications, including Jubilee Magazine, Warman’s Today Collector, the Baltimore Sun and the Antiques Roadshow Insider. 

 He has been a segment producer for the television show American Legacy (produced by Tim Reid of New Millennium Studios Television), which focuses on African-American history, and a frequent guest on a number of TV and radio shows.  He has also served as a consultant to the Discovery Channel, serving as an online expert resource for schoolchildren across the nation on the subject of slavery.  He is currently a consultant to the Smithsonian Institute’s Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture.

 Merrill founded and is the Owner of Nanny Jack & Co., a premier resource for information, images and artifacts related to Black history.  Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Nanny Jack is national in scope, having served as a primary resource for such organizations as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., DiscoveryChannel.com, and the History Channel.

To book Merrill for a speaking engagement, seminar or exhibit, click here for his booking agency, Voices of Diversity.

What People Say About Philip J. Merrill:

“Philip brings to Antiques Roadshow not only his considerable experience in handling African American memorabilia, but apparently limitless enthusiasm for the material and the stories behind them.”

-Peter Cook, Former Executive Producer of PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow”

“He is so insightful.  He is able to see what is important to save, to look at and investigate.  He is able to ferret out the very important aspects of life here in Maryland and beyond.”

-Nancy Davis, Chief Curator of the Maryland Historical Society Museum 

“What Philip brings is a wonderful look at not only spoken history, but the authenticity of what we’re looking at.  Hopefully, he will be our eyes and ears in that way, as well as producing and consulting.”

-Tim Reid, Executive Producer of  “American Legacy Television” and President of Millennium Studios 

“He is quite knowledgeable.  So much of African American history has been lost.  What Philip is doing gives me hope.”

-Sonia Bontemps, Member of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.

Last modified: 09/22/05