|
ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 17
both a Historical Commission and a Publicity Commission, the
Hall of Records is called upon more often each year to supply
materials little related to its primary function and for which it
is ill-equipped.
There is listed below the record series most in demand by
visitors.
|
|
1944-45
|
1943-44
|
|
Wills...................................
|
601
|
700
|
|
Testamentary Proceedings...................................
|
434
|
504
|
|
Accounts...................................
|
409
|
462
|
|
Inventories...................................
|
256
|
301
|
|
Deeds, Baltimore County...................................
|
230
|
301
|
|
Deeds, Anne Arundel County..............................
|
197
|
195
|
|
Testamentary Papers, Anne Arundel County....
|
155
|
58
|
|
Deeds, Prince George's County.....................
|
132
|
127
|
|
Inventories and Accounts..........................
|
118
|
216
|
|
Wills, Charles County ..........................
|
80
|
38
|
|
Judgments, Provincial Court....................................
|
79
|
66
|
|
Testamentary Papers ........................
|
75
|
39
|
|
Deeds, Frederick County......................
|
68
|
13
|
|
Balance Books ...................................
|
60
|
47
|
|
Wills, Original .............................
|
46
|
58
|
|
Wills, Anne Arundel County....................
|
38
|
57
|
|
Wills, Original, Anne Arundel County ..........
|
35
|
30
|
|
Minutes, Frederick County Court..........................
|
29
|
....
|
|
Court Records, Prince George's County ..........
|
20
|
...
|
|
Judgments, Frederick County..............
|
19
|
|
It will be noted from the above list that genealogical
materials still compose the bulk of the items used by researchers
who come in person. Moreover, the same series appear on this
list every year and they vary only slightly in order. A new
index or an improved index will always be reflected in an in-
crease in use of a series. This year, for example, an improved
index was completed for Charles County Wills. As a result,
this series moved up from fifteenth to tenth in popularity. There
are, of course, certain exceptions. In my last annual report I
predicted that the acquisition of the Somerset County Land
Record Series with a usable index would increase the use of that
series. This prediction was not fulfilled for reasons not imme-
diately obvious.
For the first time this year an effort was made to tabulate
the materials used in the replies to queries involving genealogical
matters. The results indicate that the same materials are in
|
 |
