Baltimore City Archives

Baltimore

The Baltimore City Archives serve as the official repository for the City of Baltimore. Its holdings include some of the earliest municipal records for the city. These materials are organized into several Record Groups. Among these are the records of the Baltimore Town Commissioners, the Baltimore City Commissioners, the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, and the Appeal Tax Court. Other municipal records include Baltimore City Property Tax Records, Cartographic Records, Election Records, and Harbor Records, as well as War of 1812 Records and Civil War Records. Besides the municipal records, the City Archives also maintains several manuscript collections. These include private papers, photographs, organizational records, and more. Some highlights are the Bouldin Family Survey Records, the Chapman Family Papers, the Michael Tepper Ship Manifest Collection, the Whetstone Point Land Sale Records, and the business records of the Baltimore Equitable Society and Robinson & Cox, Insurance Brokers. A selection of Miscellaneous Microfilm contains federal census data, naturalization records, orderly books, and passenger lists. A Guide to Records at the Baltimore City Archives is available, as are other Guides and Indexes.

C. Burr Artz Public Library

Frederick

The C. Burr Artz Public Library maintains a growing collection of early Maryland materials. These are housed in the Artz Library’s Maryland Room. There are over 11,000 Books in the Maryland Room that document the history and culture of Maryland, with particular focus on genealogy, natural history, and Maryland cuisine. Also available are dozens of Personal Papers, Manuscripts & Archival Collections that date back to the 18th century. Several other History & Genealogy resources are available. Items held by the Artz Library may be searched with the Frederick County Public Libraries Online Catalog.

Enoch Pratt Free Library

Baltimore

The Enoch Pratt Free Library maintains a decent selection of early Maryland sources. Its Special Collections holds some 19th century materials. Among these are various Manuscripts & Personal Papers, such as the Cranwell & Crane Collection and the Edgar Allen Poe Collection. Also available are Maps, Ephemera & Sheet Music and several Visual Materials Collections. Early American sources can also be found in the Pratt Library’s African American Department, including an Ephemera Collection, a Photograph Collection, and a Microfilm/Microfiche Collection. There are also several Genealogy & Family History Resources and Research Guides available. Some of the Pratt Library’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed through Digital Maryland.

Historical Society of Baltimore County

Cockeysville

Located inside Baltimore’s Old Almshouse, the Historical Society of Baltimore County is home to a growing collection of early American sources. Its Historical Museum curates some 9,000 material objects related to the history of Baltimore County. The Society’s Library manages hundreds of archival collections, including business records, family papers, photographs, slave schedules, and various other manuscripts. There is also a robust selection of genealogical reference books and research materials available. A sizeable Map Collection features hundreds of cartographic images of Baltimore County. Items held by the Society may be searched with its Online Collections Database.

The Historical Society of Frederick County

Frederick

The Historical Society of Frederick County manages a solid selection of early Maryland sources. Its Museum features many material objects from Frederick County’s past, including artifacts, fine art, photographs, and more. The Historical Society’s Library collections and preserves several archival materials such as letters, diaries, Civil War records, maps, genealogies, reference books, and more. Besides the Museum and Library, the Historical Society also owns and operates Roger Brooke Taney House, the home of the fifth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries

Baltimore

The Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries manage a vast selection of early American sources. Much of these materials are housed within their Special Collections. A robust collection of Rare Books features over 400,000 volumes, with particular emphasis given to American literature, English literature, economic classics, and more. Rare imprints can also be found in the Historic Collection at George Peabody Library and in the Historic Collection at John Work Garrett Library. There is also a large selection of Manuscripts at the Special Collections, much of which focus on the early history of the Maryland and the rest of the Americas. Some highlights include the Anne Arundel County Court Records, Charles Carroll Collection, the Confiscation of Loyalists’ Holdings Documents, Hodson Family Papers, the Hopkins Family Collection, the Howard-Ridgely-Maynard Family Papers, the Johns Hopkins University Collection on Edgar Allan Poe, the Johns Hopkins University Latin American Collection, the Merchants Collection, the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection, and the Signers Collection. Also available are early materials on African American history, Black culture, and the history of slavery. Among these are the James G. Birney Collection of Anti-Slavery Pamphlets, the Johns Hopkins University Collection of Maryland African American History and Culture, the Johns Hopkins University Collection of Slavery Records, and the Walter Vincent Johnson Collection on Slavery. Online Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Sheridan Libraries may be searched with their online catalog, Catalyst. Several Special Collections Fellowships are offered each year.

Marion Burk Knott Library

Baltimore

The Marion Burk Knott Library serves as the main library for St. Mary’s Seminary and University. It is also home to The Associated Archives, one of the largest collections of early Catholic materials in the United States. Among the Archives’ Collections are the Archdiocese of Baltimore Archives. These holdings date back to the late 18th century and include the papers of Baltimore’s early archbishops, the records of individual parishes, and a large selection of 19th century photographs. The Associated Archives also maintain the Associated Sulpicians of the United States Archives. A large amount of 18th and 19th century material on the formation of the Catholic Church in the United States is available in these records. There are also several Genealogy resources at the Associated Archives.

Maryland Center for History and Culture

Annapolis

Formerly the Maryland Historical Society, the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) holds a large collection of early Maryland sources. Its Museum boasts some 350,000 material objects, including indigenous artifacts, fine art, furniture, glassware, textiles, and more. Archival and printed materials are kept at the MCHC’s H. Furlong Baldwin Library. These items consist of Architectural Drawings, Ephemera, Maps & Atlases, Photographs, Posters, Prints, & Broadsides, Rare Books & Pamphlets, Sheet Music. The Baldwin Library also manages a vast selection of over 5 million Manuscripts. These include the papers of some of Maryland’s most prominent (and lesser known) individuals, businesses, and organizations. Highlights include the Bank of Baltimore Collection, the Bordley-Calvert Collection, the Calvert Family Letters, the Charles Carroll Letter Book and Accounts, the Lloyd Papers, and the Tilghman Family Papers. Online Finding Aids and Research Guides are available. Items held by the Baldwin Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the MCHC’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections. Several Fellowships & Prizes are offered by the MCHC each year.

Maryland State Archives

Annapolis

Formerly the Maryland Hall of Records, the Maryland State Archives serves as the official repository for the State of Maryland. Its holdings date back to the 17th century and include African American Resources, Church Records, Court Records Before 1776, Criminal Records, Land Records, and Military Records. There is also a wide selection of vital records, such as Birth Records, Census Records, Death Records, Divorce Records, Immigration & Naturalization Records, Marriage Records, and more. Besides these public records, there are also hundreds of collections of private manuscripts at the State Archives. These are held by the Special Collections and include correspondence, diaries, maps, newspapers, organizational records, photographs, and other types of documents. A Guide to Government Records is available and features information on the State Archives’ various databases, indices, and research tools. Much of the State Archives’ material has been transcribed digitally and can be viewed through Archives of Maryland Online. Likewise, some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Historical Photographs of Maryland and Online Digitized Newspapers.

Montgomery History

Rockville

Montgomery History collects and preserves the documentary and material history of Montgomery County. It operates various Museums that feature 19th century material objects, including the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine and the Beall-Dawson House. Montgomery History’s archival materials are housed in its Jane C. Sween Research Library and Special Collections. Besides a sizeable selection of Books, the Research Library also holds Cemetery Records, Church Records, Family Records, Newspapers, and Photographs. The Special Collections consist of manuscript materials such as architectural drawings, business records, correspondence, diaries, legal papers, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, and more. There are also some early Montgomery County records that date back to 1776, including census records, insurance policies, land records, marriage licenses, probate records, and wills. Items held by Montgomery History may be searched using its Montgomery History Collections Catalog and its Montgomery History Artifacts Catalog. Some of Montgomery History’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through the Montgomery County History Digital Repository.

Nimitz Library

Annapolis

The Nimitz Library serves as the main library for the United States Naval Academy. Its Special Collections & Archives Department maintains a solid amount of early American sources. Several Book Collections feature early maritime prints utilized by the Naval Academy. Among its Archive Collections is the National Archives and Records Administration’s RG 405, the official records of the United States Naval Academy. Besides these public records, there are also several private Manuscript Collections. Most of these consist of ships’ logs and the personal papers of United States naval officers and sailors. While some of the archival material is from the 18th century, most of it stems from the 19th. Many items from the Special Collections have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

R. Lee Hornbake Library

College Park

The R. Lee Hornbake Library houses the University of Maryland Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives. Among the Special Collections are various materials related to early Maryland. Several Archival Collections date back to the 17th century. Some standouts include the Hepburn Family Papers, the Jacklin Bolton Stopp Collection of 19th-Century American Music, the Maryland Manuscripts Collection, the Preston Family Papers, the Thomas Bray Papers, and the Weems-Reynolds Family Papers. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with the University of Maryland Libraries’ Online Catalog. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through the University of Maryland Libraries Digital Collections.

United States Naval Academy Museum

Annapolis

The United States Naval Academy Museum curates a large selection of material objects and archival sources related to the naval and maritime histories of the United States. Its Collections date to the 16th century, but the majority of its holdings come from the 18th and 19th centuries. Artifacts include ship models, paintings, prints, flags, uniforms, weaponry, medals, ship instruments and tack, and more. There are also some notable manuscripts, including ships’ logs and correspondence from the United States’ most famous vessels and captains.

Other Maryland Archives & Sources

The Maryland State Archives maintains lists of local Libraries & Archives and Genealogical & Historical Societies with materials of interest related to Maryland research. Various Maryland counties still retain their earliest records; check with local county clerks’ offices to find what is available. Maryland Courts is a website operated by the state that provides information about the courts, including how to search and find court records. Those interested in historical space may find Visualizing Early Baltimore a useful research tool. The Enoch Pratt Free Library maintains two excellent research guides for early Maryland sources: Early Maryland History and Historic Maryland Newspapers. Another useful resource is Digital Maryland, a collaborative and statewide digital preservation program that provides free online access to 130 collections from across the state. Available collections can be searched here.

Early Maryland sources can also be found at several regional and national depositories. Nearby institutions include the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the American Philosophical Society, the Delaware Historical Society, the Library of Virginia, and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Maryland sources can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

As an English colony, there is no shortage of Maryland sources in the United Kingdom. The National Archives at Kew maintains various artifacts and records of Maryland. Limited sources can also be found at the British Library, the British Museum and the National Library of Wales.