This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me and I will update the file. Bill Green bill90@Delphi.Com billusps@aol.com Date of last update: 28 March 1995 ************************************************************************** GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF MARYLAND 5 March 1989 Robert McLaren 7810 Kincardine Ct. Alexandria, VA 22310-4025 The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical societies in Maryland. Included in the listing, where known, are telephone numbers and yearly dues. This listing is donated to the public domain and may be freely copied. Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used in any other commercial fashion. If you think this list has any value, then donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National Genealogical Society). If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE). Many of these societies work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to respond unless a SASE is included in your letter. Maryland Genealogical Society 201 West Monument St. Baltimore, MD 21201 Dues: Maryland Historical Society 201 West Monument St. Baltimore, MD 21201 (301) 685-3750 Dues: Entrance Fee: $4.00 to public; free to MHS Members Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10-4:30; Sat 9-4:30 MHS Membership about $18-20 dollars a years. Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society 347 Scott Drive Silver Spring, MD 20904 Dues: Jeweish Genealogical Society of Maryland c/o Allan T. Hirsh Jr. 11 Slade Avenue Pasadena, MD 21122 Dues: Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel Genealogical Society P.O. Box 221 Pasadena, MD 21122 Dues: $10 Individual $15 Family $100 Life Member Meetings first Thursday of the month (ex june, July, August) at Severna Park Methodist Church, 651 Benfield Road. (Oct and May meetings second Thursday) Reference material is located at Anne Arundel Historical and Genealogical Society Research Center at 7 Crain Hwy, SE, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Ph 410-760-9679. Baltimore County Baltimore County Historical Society Agriculture Bldg. 9811 Van Buren Lane Cockeysville, MD 21030 Dues: Catonsville Historical and Genealogical Section P.O. Box 9311 Catonsville, MD 21228 Dues: Dundalk Patapsco Neck Historical Society P.O. Box 9235 Dundalk, MD 21222 Dues: Calvert County Calvert County Genealogy Society P.O. Box 9 Sunderland, MD 20689 Dues: $10.00 per year Calvert County Historical Society Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Dues: Caroline County Caroline County Historical Society c/o Miss Dora W. Mitchell Preston, MD 21655 Dues: Upper Shore Genealogical Society P.O. Box 275 Easton, MD 21601 Dues: Carroll County Carroll County Genealogical Society c/o Carroll County Public Library P.O. Box 1752 Westminster, MD 21158 Dues: $10 Historical Society of Carroll County 210 East Main Street Westminster, MD 21157 (301) 848-6494 Dues: Cecil County Cecil County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 11 Charlestown, MD 21914 Dues: Historical Society of Cecil County 135 East Main Street Elkton, MD 21921 (301) 398-0914 Dues: Old Bohemia Historical Society Warwick, MD 21912 Dues: Charles County Charles County Historical Society c/o Mrs. Roger B. Merrick Route 3, Box 65 LaPlata, MD 20646 Dues: Dorchester County Dorchester County Historical Society Meredith House 904 LaGrange Street Cambridge, MD 21613 Dues: Upper Shore Genealogical Society P.O. Box 275 Easton, MD 21601 Dues: Frederick County The Historical Society of Frederick County 24 East Church Street Frederick, MD 21701 (301) 663-1188 Dues: Emmitsburg Historical Society Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Dues: Middletown Valley Historical Society c/o Mr. George Ely Russell Rt. 3, Box 187 Middletown, MD 21769 Dues: Garrett County Garrett County Historical Society County Courthouse Oakland, MD 21550 Dues: Harford County Historical Society of Harford County 33 Courtland West Bel Air, MD 21014 (301) 838-7691 (Thursdays: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm) Dues: $15.00 per year Howard County Howard County Genealogical Society Box 274 Columbia, MD 21045 Dues: $7.00 per year Howard County Historical Society 8328 Court Avenue P.O. Box 109 Ellicott City, MD 21043 (301) 461-1050 Dues: Kent County Kent County Historical Society Church Alley Chestertown, MD 21620 Dues: Upper Shore Genealogical Society P.O. Box 275 Easton, MD 21601 Dues: Montgomery County Genealogical Club of the Montgomery County Historical Socierty 103 West Montgomery Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 Dues: Montgomery County Historical Society 111 West Montgomery Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 Dues: Prince George's County Prince George's County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 819 Bowie, MD 20715 Dues: Prince George's County Historical Society Montpelier Mansion Laurel, MD 20810 Dues: Queen Anne's County Queen Anne's County Historical Society Wright's Chance Commerce Street Centreville, MD 21617 Dues: Upper Shore Genealogical Society P.O. Box 275 Easton, MD 21601 Dues: Saint Mary's County Saint Mary's County Genealogical Society General Delivery Callaway, MD 20620 Dues: Saint Mary's County Historical Society Leonardtown, MD 20650 Dues: Somerset County Somerset County Historical Society Treackle Mansion Princess Anne, MD 21853 Dues: Talbot County Talbot County Historical Society 25 South Washington Street P.O. Box 964 Easton, MD 21601 (301) 822-0773 Dues: Upper Shore Genealogical Society P.O. Box 275 Easton, MD 21601 Dues: Washington County Washington County Genealogical Society c/o H. Daniel Boon Route 1, Box 77-A Keedysville, MD 21756 (301) 432-6619 Dues: $5.00 per year Washington County Historical Society The Miller House 135 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Dues: Wicomico County Lower Del-Mar-VA Genealogical Society P.O. Box 3602 Salisbury, MD 21801 Dues: Worcester County Worcester County Historical Society c/o Miss Julia Robertson 3 East 2nd Street Pocomoke City, MD 21851 Dues: ************************************************************************** VITAL RECORDS A few counties recorded births and deaths before 1720 in the county land records. The information has been indexed and is available at the Maryland State Archives. >From 1865 to 1899 some county clerks and the Secretary of the Senate maintained birth and death records. These are incomplete and the exact dates of the records vary from county to county. These records are available at the Maryland State Archives. State Records of Births and Deaths Although Baltimore City began recording births and deaths in 1875, all Maryland counties began civil registration of births and deaths in 1898. These records and accompanying indexes are at the Division of Vital Records (see address below). There are restrictions on who may obtain copies of these records. Birth records within the last 100 years may be obtained only by the individual named on the certificate, or a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative. Authorized representatives must submit a court order or a notarized statement signed by either parent or the person named on the certificate. Records of deaths within the last 20 years are restricted to surviving relatives or authorized representatives. The Maryland State Archives has microfilm copies of the records and most of the indexes. For genealogical purposes, you can obtain the information in the restricted records from the Archives. Obtaining official copies. Official (certified) copies of all birth records and death records since 1968 (since 1875 for Baltimore City) can be requested by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope and a fee of $3.00 to: Division of Vital Records P.O. Box 68760 Baltimore, MD 21215-0020 (301) 764-3038 or (800)832-3277 outside Baltimore area. Obtaining records for genealogical use. For a fee of $5.00, the Maryland State Archives will provide: -Copies of death records through 1968 (through 1942 for Baltimore City). The archives will certify county death records if requested. -Extracts (unofficial transcripts) of restricted birth and death records for genealogical purposes. The archives does not have county birth records for 1898 to 1913, but the card index to births gives the birthdate of the child and his race, sex, and names of parents. -Copies of restricted death records for surviving relatives and restricted birth records if you present evidence of the death of the person named in the birth record. When writing to the archives, you will need to provide the exact date of birth or death to request copies of birth and death records since 1951 (since 1942 for Baltimore City records). Marriage Records Beginning in 1640 the Maryland General Assembly required the clergy to post marriage banns and keep registers of marriages. Since 1777, county clerks have been required to issue marriage licenses and, since 1865, to keep ministers' returns. For copies of marriage records from 1777 through 1950, write to the Maryland State Archives. The fee is $5.00 and there are no restrictions on who may obtain copies of the records. The Archives has the following indexes which they will search. The indexes are also open to the public. -Card indexes of marriages from 1650 to 1695 and from 1777 to 1886. -A series of card indexes to Baltimore marriage records for 1777 to 1851. -A statewide soundex index to the records of 1914 to 1930. (There is no statewide index of marriage records from 1930 to 1950.) You can also write to the county clerk or the Baltimore City clerk for marriage records. The records from 1777 to the present are open to the public without restrictions. However, these offices do not have the statewide indexes that are available at the Maryland State Archives. They often have only microfilm copies of the early records. Or, you can contact the Division of Vital Records for marriage records after 1950. Divorce Records The Maryland legislature had jurisdiction over divorce proceedings until an 1829 law gave some authority to the chancery court and the county courts. Since 1853 divorce records have been kept by the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted. Baltimore records are kept by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City. Many records from Baltimore City and metropolitan counties have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives. (Source: FHC Research Guide) Phone numbers: Maryland State Archives Maryland Historical Society (301) 685-3750 Enoch Pratt Free Library (301) 396-5468 George Peabody Library (301) 659-8179 Maryland State Law Library (301) 974-3395 Updates: Maryland State Archives : "For a $15.00 fee, we will undertake a search for you if you can provide four pieces of information: full name of the individual, county of residence, type of information or record sought, and approximate date of the record. If you have that information, we will search our indexes for up to one hour. Unless you can provide exact volume and page references to records in our custody, the $15.00 non-refundable search fee must accompany your request. We cannot guarantee success, and any photocopies ordered are additional. Send only one $15.00 search fee per letter, even if you are asking us to look for more than one record. Be clear and concise in explaining what you want us to do. Limit yourself to two or three questions. Remember, we can only spend one hour working on your request. When we respond to your letter, we will summarize the results of our research and include the photoduplication cost for any relevant records we have located." Re: Vitals : You can obtain specific information on access, availability, and requst procedures by writing for our _Vital Records Order Form_. Maryland Historical Society: Basic Service - For $8, plus $1.50 postage and handling, we will handle _one_ inquiry (e.g. search for one marriage record) by searching the following resources: ..Dielman-Hayward file: our index to Maryland biographical information in newspapers. ..Maryland Historical Magazine: cumulative index to all volumes. ..Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving in Baltimore, 1820-1897. ..Norris Harris Church register index: covering many of the Maryland registers in our collection. Extended Service - For $20 per hour (payable in advance), a professional genealogist associated with us can be assigned to do research for you. He will search any and every source here at the Maryland Historical Society which holds the kind of information you request. As with the Basic Service, however, we cannot guarantee results or make refunds. I have dealt with both the Maryland State Archives and the Maryland Historical Society on occasion. Perhaps because of budget cuts or staff cuts, the State Archives takes quite a while to respond to requests - about 5 weeks to answer a question and then another _9_ weeks to send a photcopy. The Historical Society on the other hand responded within 4 weeks with the information. (unfortunately, in my case, it was sorry, we were unable to locate...) From: colaianc@rimail.interlan.com (CAROL COLAIANNI) ************************************************************************** STATE ARCHIVES Maryland State Archives Hall of Records 350 Rowe Boulevard Annapolis, MD 21401 The Maryland State Archives has nearly all available public records from 1634 to 1789; most state and county records through the mid-twentieth century; microfilm copies of land, probate, and vital records to the present; and an extensive number of volume and card indexes. The microfilmed records can be borrowed through interlibrary loan and a mail inquiry reference service is provided. For a fee of $5.00, an archivist will search all indexes that are appropriate for a specific search. Photocopies can be made for an additional fee. The archives staff will also make photocopies and search specific records and general indexes for a $5.00 fee. The Archives offers quick and convenient access to records in its custody through its research and copying services. Requests can be phoned in from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Orders also can be placed via a 24 hour fax service. In most instances, requests for copies can be fulfilled within 24 hours. To place an order or to obtain further information please call (410) 974-3914, MD toll free (800) 235-4045, or FAX (410) 974-2525. If you prefer to do research in person the search room is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. On weekdays the Search Room remains open at lunchtime, but no records are retrieved from the stacks. Please call ahead for information on State holiday closings. The Maryland State Archives is located at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. The Maryland State Archives maintains many records that are invaluable for protecting individual rights. These include birth records, adoption records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records. Copies of original documents and microfilm of many records can be obtained from the Archives. The Archives also has a number of finding aids to assist in the use of these records. Fees vary depending upon the request, see Fee Schedule and Shipping Information for details. Birth Records. The Archives has birth records for the 23 counties from 1914-1984, and for Baltimore City from 1875-1984. Adoption Records. All adoptions occurring after June 30, 1947 are sealed and can be opened only with a court order. Most adoptions prior to July 1, 1947 are open and available to anyone. Many of these files are available at the Archives. Marriage Records. The Archives has marriage records from most jurisdictions prior to 1914. These usually consist of a single-line entry indicating name, age, occupation, and race of the individuals being married, and the marriage date. Divorce Records. Divorce proceedings are one form of equity case. The most commonly needed documents from a divorce case are the decree of divorce and any associated separation agreement. Death Records. The Archives is custodian of death records for Maryland's 23 counties from 1898-1988, and for Baltimore City from 1875-1988 The World Wide Web address of the Maryland Archives home page is http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/ ___________________________________ The Maryland State Archives is the historical agency for Maryland and serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value. Records date from the founding of the colony in 1634 to the 1990s. Included in the Archives' holdings are colonial and state executive, legislative, and judicial records; county probate, land and court records; church records; business records; publications and reports of state, county and municipal governments; and special collections of private papers, maps, photographs, and newspapers. The Archives' search room is open to the public five days a week. There, professional archivists are on duty to assist researchers. The Maryland State Archives home page was made possible by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education, Division of Library Development and Services. This grant is part of the Division's sponsorship of Maryland's SAILOR project in which the Archives is a participant. SAILOR is Maryland's online information system that provides Marylanders with access to Internet resources. For more information on SAILOR, use the gopher to reach sailor.lib.md.us. The Maryland State Archives WEB is updated regularly. Direct any comments and suggestions to sallie@access.digex.net or contact us at 350 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401. MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES, Hall of Records 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, Md 21401 *vital records are open, copies available $.25/page. *Have cemetery info on film, available on interlibrary loan to your hometown library if you have the film 's. *easy to park, 1/2 hr to 45 min. drive from Baltimore. There is much, much more available at the Md. State Archives. I have a 45 page booklet entitled "Guide to the Index Holdings at the Hall of Records". Nothing beats contacting an organization before visiting. MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY library: 9811 Van Buren Pl 201 W. Monument St, Balto,Md 21201 Cockeysville, Md 21030 (410) 685-3750 (301)666-1876 Tues-Fri. 10-4:45pm; Sat. 9-4:45pm contact: Elmer Haile fee = $2.50/day *early phone books *City Directories on film since the beginning. *photo and prints collection - need appointment for these. BALTIMORE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ARCHIVES 1227 Maple St, Baltimore, MD 21227 PEALE MUSEUM - "best photograph collection in town" 225 Holliday St., Baltimore, Md 21202 contact: Mary Markey BALTIMORE CITY ARCHIVES, Pleasant St., Baltimore *Original passenger lists & index for port of Baltimore ( also available at National Archives on microfilm) *not too friendly to genealogists so know specifically what you want. PEABODY LIBRARY, 1 Mt. Vernon Place, Baltimore *Has all the genealogy material formerly with the Enoch Pratt Free Library. *City directories as far bacck as they go. (published annually) 9-3pm weekdays; 9-12noon Saturday; (410) 659-8179. MARYLAND LAW LIBRARY, across the street from State Archives. *Houses the library of Prince George's Genealogical Society. ENOCH PRATT LIBRARY, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore (410)396-5468 *City directories *Lots of Maps *The Baltimore Sun newspaper on microfilm from the beginning (dates back before the Civil Way) From: colaianc@RIMAIL.INTERLAN.COM (CAROL COLAIANNI) -Genealogical Council of Maryland c/o Susan Johnston, Secretary 104 Park Drive Catonsville, MD 21228 -Baltimore City Archives 211 East Pleasant Street, Room 201 Baltimore, MD 21202 -Enoch Pratt Free Library 400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201-4484 -George Peabody Library Johns Hopkins University 17 East Mount Vernon Place Baltimore, MD 21202 -McKeldin Library University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 -Maryland State Law Library Courts of Appeal Building 361 Rowe Boulevard Annapolis, MD 21401-1697 (Source: FHC Research Guide) ************************************************************************** NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS **************************************************************************** * Bill Green Minot, North Dakota 58701 * Home of the * * BillUSPS@AOL.Com * NORSK H0STFEST * * Bill90@Delphi.Com * Velkommen! * ****************************************************************************