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RG 29 Department of Legislative Reference (1906-present)
History
The municipality established a city library in 1874 to maintain
the city's records and printed reference materials. For the next 50
years, the library's chief activites consisted of collecting
information for the municipal government and keeping track of various
official documentation. There were also some sporadic attempts to
preserve records judged to be of historical value.
In 1906, the state and city created a joint Department of
Legislative Reference to assist with legislative activity.
Responsibilities of the new body included legal research; preparation
of legislation; and the maintenance of reference information.
In 1932, the municipality abolished the city library and
transferred its functions to the Department of Legislative Reference.
A separate Bureau of Archives, created in 1927, was also placed under
the administrative control of the department. The legislative
reference library focused its attention on collecting published
material relating to Baltimore government, such as newspaper
clippings, annual reports, proceedings, and secondary sources. The
Bureau of Archives, later renamed the Baltimore City Archvies and
Records Management Office, assumed responsibility for the city's
official records. The joint nature of the department ended in 1966
with establishment of separate legislative reference agencies for the
state and city.
Records Summary
These records consist of materials generated through daily
administrative activities and also of materials gathered for research
purposes. The bulk of the former records date from the mid-1950s and
relate for the most part to the City Archives and Records Management
Office. Most aspects of the agency's activities are covered,
including microfilming, records scheduling and disposition,
administration of historical records, and professional organization
activities. Record types include correspondence, reports, and
financial documentation.
The research materials in this record group consist of a
subject file originally maintained by the city library, and later the
legislative reference library, from 1906 to 1980. A wide variety of
subjects relating to Baltimore history are covered by the materials,
which include pamphlets, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and
manuscript and typescript accounts.
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