The MARYLAND MANUAL is published every two years by the
State of Maryland, and copies are distributed without charge to the
libraries, schools, agencies of government, members of the General
Assembly and others as prescribed by law (Annotated Code of Mary-
land, 1957; 1961 Supp., Art. 41, Sec. 106). At the suggestion of the
Finance Committee of the Maryland Senate, additional copies are
being printed this year for the first time so that the public may pur-
chase them. Clothbound copies are available at the Hall of Records
for $4.50; paperbound, for $3.50.

The primary purpose of the MANUAL is to. present in concise form
to the citizens of Maryland a description of their government: how the
functions of modern government are distributed among its agencies;
what each agency demands in money and in manpower; and who is
responsible for the accomplishment of every facet of government. In
addition, the MANUAL provides a directory of county and municipal
officers; it contains the mainsprings of our political life, the Charter
of the Province and the Constitution of the State. In its historical
sections it recounts not only the events of the history of our State but
it also lists the names of those who participated in them. The reader
is cautioned to examine the Table of Contents and the General Index
for the store of miscellaneous information which cannot be noted here.

Since the MANUAL is for the most part a compilation rather than
original work, its quality—even its appearance in the first place—is
dependent upon the collaboration of many individuals and agencies.
Only a few of them can be mentioned here. We gladly acknowledge
our indebtedness to Carl N. Everstine for the text of the Constitution,
the Index and Amendments thereto and the essays on the General
Assembly of 1960 and 1961. Janet L. Hoffman kindly revised the
charts of State Government which she had prepared for previous
issues of the MANUAL. Chester F. Tucker made available the files
of executive appointments in the office of the Secretary of State, and
Margaret W. Lee in the Governor's Office solved all the difficult prob-
lems having to do with temporary committees and commissions. As in
the past, William H. Bayliff took responsibility for "Maryland At A
Glance" and James Benson for the roster of Baltimore City officials.
To the many Clerks of Court, Registers of Wills, Clerks to the Boards
of County Commissioners we extend special thanks for helping us
with the county sections.

Almost every member of the Hall of Records staff contributes in
some form to the MANUAL. For months at a time it is the full-time
concern of Frank F. White, who is responsible for collecting and
editing all the MANUAL copy. He must then see the whole book
through the press. He was assisted this year by Gust Skordas who has
again prepared the historical section and by Lois G. Clark who
helped read proof and who, because of her experience as former editor
of the MANUAL, was able to assist in other ways as well. The
exacting typing required was done by three MANUAL veterans:
Dorothy B. Cullinane, Rose M. DiStefano and Mary E. Martin, who
were helped by two new members of the staff, Martha Hardesty and
Ann Grigg. The proper-name index was prepared with the help of
Mrs. Cullinane, Mrs. DiStefano, Helen Kilborn and Mercedita Ramirez.

MORRIS L. RADOFF
Archivist and Records Administrator.