The functions, records, responsibilities, and em-
ployees of the Commissioner of the Land Office
were transferred to the Hall of Records Commis-
sion in 1966 (Chapter 488, Acts of 1966). The
State Archivist is designated as the Commissioner
of Land Patents and assigned the responsibility of
issuing land patents and conducting court hear-
ings (Chapter 355, Acts of 1967). In performing
these duties, the State Archivist acts independent-
ly of the duties imposed as State Archivist (Code
Real Property Article, sees. 13-101 through
13-504).

The land patent process is the mechanism for
granting land in Maryland. Land patents were is-
sued by the proprietors during the colonial period,
and later by the State. Virtually all land in Mary-
land has been patented. Through survey errors or
due to the inaccessibility of a tract, some land,
however, may never have been included in a pat-
ent. This land, when it is discovered, can be pat-
ented, with title passing to the patentee upon pay-
ment 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 pat-
ent can be obtained from the Commissioner of
Land Patents.

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

The State Archives produces a variety of finding
aids and guides to records, as well as historical
monographs, essays, and directories. In addition,
the State Archives compiles, edits, publishes, and
distributes the MARYLAND MANUAL . The Ar-
chives also prepares, edits, and publishes future
volumes of the Archives of Maryland series (Chap-
ter 119, Acts of 1981). A brochure describing
publications and providing guidance for research
in the public search room, or by mail, is available
on request.

COMMISSION ON ARTISTIC
PROPERTY

Chairperson: Oden Bowie

Nancy Brennan; William Voss Elder III; Sara
Barker Hanan; Dorothy Mcllvain Scott.

Ex officio: Winfield M. Kelly, Jr., Secretary of
State; Pringle Symonds, President, Historic
Annapolis. Inc.; Dr. Kenneth N. Weaver, Director,
Maryland Geological Survey

Secretary: Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, State
Archivist

Nancy M. Bramucci, Curator

State Archives
350 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 974-3915

The Commission on Artistic Property was cre-
ated in 1969 (Chapter 111, Acts of 1969). It was
incorporated into the State Archives in 1984
(Chapter 286, Acts of 1984).

The Commission keeps a continuing inventory
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 ac-
quire a painting or other decorative art work for
the State, for display in a State building or prem-
ises in the Annapolis area, must secure from the
Commission both prior approval and final accept-
ance of the painting or decorative art work. 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 ap-
proval of the Governor and the State Archivist, to
receive and accept gifts and loans of paintings and
decorative art works. With the approval of the
Governor, the State Archivist may accept gifts of
money for the Commission from any source, pub-
lic or private, and thereafter administer and ex-
pend the funds according to the conditions and
terms of the gift.

The Commission consists of eight members ap-
pointed by the State Archivist, with the approval
of the Governor. At least one of the eight mem-
bers must represent a cultural institution in Mary-
land. Three members serve ex officio. The State
Archivist, with the approval of the Governor,
designates the chairperson (Code State Govern-
ment Article, sees. 9-1016 through 9-1023).