in current use. State agencies are required by law
to have their records placed on retention and
disposal schedules. No public records can be
destroyed without scheduling and the prior ap-
proval of the State Archives.

All records that are in the courthouses of the
State and that were created prior to April 28, 1788,
the date of ratification of the U. S. Constitution by
Maryland, must be deposited at the State Archives.
The records of all State agencies, boards, and
commissions that are abolished or otherwise cease
to function must also be transferred to the custody
of the State Archives.

All current deeds, mortgages, and releases re-
corded in the courthouses of the State are micro-
filmed and preserved at the State Archives for
security purposes. Limited facilities are available
for the filming of records of State agencies.

In 1947 the State Archives began to collect
publications and reports of State agencies. By
Chapter 912, Acts of 1982, the State Archives
receives State publications and reports under the
State Publications Depository and Distribution
Program. It is also an official depository for county
charters, codes, and laws (Code 1957, Art. 25, sec.
32A; Art. 25A, secs. 3B(3), 7(b); Art. 25B, secs.
7(b)(3), 12(b)). Since 1983, the Department of
Legislative Reference annually deposits municipal
charter amendments and annexations, after publi-
cation, with the State Archives (Code 1957, Art.
23A, sec. 17C).

The State Archives compiles, edits, publishes,
and distributes the MARYLAND MANUAL. By
Chapter 119, Acts of 1981, the Archives also
prepares, edits, and publishes future volumes of the
Archives of Maryland series.

Chapter 488, Acts of 1966, transferred the
functions, records, responsibilities, and employees
of the Commissioner of the Land Office to the Hall
of Records Commission. Under the provisions of
Chapter 355, Acts of 1967, the State Archivist is
designated as the Commissioner of Land Patents
and assigned the responsibility of issuing land
patents and conducting court hearings. In perform-
ing these duties, he acts independently of the duties
imposed on him as State Archivist (Code Real
Property Article, secs. 13-101 through 13-504).

The land patent process is the mechanism for
granting land in Maryland. Land patents were
issued by the proprietors during the colonial
period, and later by the State. Virtually all land in
Maryland has been patented. Through survey
errors or because of the inaccessibility of a tract,
some land was, in fact, never included in a patent.

Independent Agencies/353

This land, when it is discovered, can be patented,
with title passing to the patentee upon payment of
the fair market value of the land to the State.

An applicant for a patent must present evidence
based on a title search of the property in question
proving that no former patent encompasses any
portion of the land. Information concerning the
land patent process and an application for a patent
can be obtained from the Commissioner of Land
Patents.

The State Archives also serves as the official
depository for the duplicate copies of subdivision
plats formerly sent to the Land Office as insurance
against the loss of the originals.

COMMISSION ON ARTISTIC
PROPERTY

Chairperson: Oden Bowie

Katharine Finney Baetjer; William V. Elder III;
Sara Barker Hanan; William S. James.

Secretary: Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, State
Archivist

Nancy M. Bramucci, Curator

State Archives
P. 0. Box 828
College Ave. and St. John's St.
Annapolis 21404 Telephone: 269-3915

Created by Chapter 111, Acts of 1969, the
Commission on Artistic Property was incorporated
into the State Archives by Chapter 286, Acts of
1984. The Commission keeps a continuing invento-
ry of valuable paintings and other decorative arts
in all State buildings in the Annapolis area. The
Commission also provides for the location, proper
care, custody, restoration, display, and preserva-
tion of these paintings and decorative arts. Every
person, agency, or organization desiring to acquire
a painting or other decorative art for the State, for
display in a State building or premises in the
Annapolis area, must secure from the Commission
both prior approval and final acceptance of the
painting or decorative art. In such instances, the
Commission considers the competence of the artist
or creator, the proposed location, and the quality,
historical significance, and appropriateness of the
work.

The Commission is empowered, with the approv-
al of the Governor and the State Archivist, to
receive and accept gifts and loans of paintings and
other decorative arts. With the approval of the
Governor, the State Archivist may accept gifts of