some others, like Calvert and St. Mary's, have suffered losses of records by fire; some others,
like Montgomery, are lacking in source materials for no clear reason. Whatever has survived
and come to our notice has been here gathered into one convenient place.

The time, the effort and the money spent on this task can be justified only if we have done
it well. For the opportunity to try, the writer is indebted to the Hall of Records Commission,
the General Assembly and the citizens of Maryland who have supported and encouraged this
and the other work of the Hall of Records for so many years.

Morris L. Radoff

Archivist and Records Administrator
Annapolis, Maryland
May 14, 1959

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