6 THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Scharf (with a reversion provision) in 1891 to The Johns Hop-
kins University Library so that it (The Johns Hopkins Library)
might "become the great repository for Southern History."

Scharf who was at that time (1884-1892) Commissioner of
the Land Office of Maryland had gathered a tremendous mis-
cellaneous collection of materials both printed and manuscript
in the course of writing his three-volume history of Maryland,
his history of Western Maryland, and his history of the Con-
federacy in whose service he had been a military officer. How-
ever, Scharf was a collector and not an archivist. As collector
and/or custodian of many of the records of the State while he
remained in the Land Office, he was apt to confuse his two roles.
In the Report of the Public Archives Commission in Volume II
of the Annual Report of the American Historical Association for
the year 1900 it is stated that "Many early Maryland Documents
seem to have disappeared in connection with the research of
Scharf, the historian of the State. The notable collections of Peter
Force and Joseph (sic) Sparkes appear to have been enriched
in the same way. Many of the Maryland papers are now in the
Library of Congress." We know in addition to his confusion in
ownership, — de mortuis nihil nisi bonum — that he actively
peddled State Records to private individuals, lost others through
inattention — malfeasance we call it today — gave others away,
and finally took what he wanted. That is the reason why there
are so many state government records in his collection.

The Johns Hopkins University never achieved the center for
Southern Studies which was contemplated by Scharf. After keep-
ing the records thirty years without arrangement or supple-
menting them further, The Johns Hopkins deposited them in the
Maryland Historical Society, where they have been ever since.
It is only in the last year or two that any real attention has been
given them, in the meanwhile items have been lost or misplaced.
I feel, therefore, that the time has come to return them to
the custody of the State. I should like at least to have the matter
discussed at the next meeting of the Hall of Records Commission,
or perhaps only the records, obviously fugitive from the State,
should be returned.

MORRIS L. RADOFF
March 18, 1971
Annapolis