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Hall of Records Commission
Minutes
for a Meeting
at the Maryland State Archives
Electronic Classroom
12 Noon
November 22, 2004
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Call to Order by the Chairman
Chairman Bell called the meeting to order at 12:19 p.m.
Attendees
and Introduction of Special Guests
The following Commission Members, Alternates, and staff of the Archives
were present:
The Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge, Court
of Appeals, and Chairman of the Hall of Records Commission
Ms. Vicki Fretwell, representing The Honorable Thomas
V. Mike Miller, President of the Senate
Ms. Pat Bruce, representing The Honorable Mary A.
Conroy,
House of Delegates
Mr. Howard Freedlander, representing The Honorable
Nancy K. Kopp, Treasurer
Mr. Dennis Fiori, representing Barbara Katz, President,
Maryland Historical Society
Mr. Boyd Rutherford, Secretary, Department of
General Services
Mr. Christopher B. Nelson, President, St. John's
College
Dr. Glenn Phillips, representing Dr. Earl S. Richardson,
President, Morgan State University
Dr. Whitman H. Ridgway, representing Dr. William
E. Kirwan,Chancellor, University of Maryland
Mr. Bret Schreiber, representing Dr. William R.
Brody,
President, The Johns Hopkins University
Staff:
Mr. Timothy D. Baker, Deputy State Archivist
Ms. Kathy Beard, Recording Secretary, Maryland State
Archives
Mr. John Gartrell, Archivist II, Maryland State
Archives
Ms. Jennifer Hafner, Archivist III, Maryland State
Archives
Mr. Chris Haley, Archivist V, Maryland State Archives
Ms. Lynne MacAdam, Computer Network Specialist Manager,
Maryland State Archives
Ms. Pat Melville, Archivist V, Maryland State Archives
Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist and Secretary,
Hall of Records Commission
Mr. Richard H. Richardson, Personnel Officer and
Deputy Commissioner of Land Patents
Mr. Rob Schoeberlein, Archivist III, Maryland State
Archives
Ms. Emily Oland Squires, Archivist V, Maryland State
Archives
Special Guests:
Mr. Christopher N. Allan
The Honorable Dale R. Cathell
Mr. William G. Kerbin, Jr.
Miss Lauren Rutherford, daughter of Secretary Rutherford
Chairman Bell welcomed Chris Allan,
Judge Dale Cathell (a former colleague from the Court of Appeals), and
William Kerbin (Judge Cathell's father-in-law) who has been practicing
law in Maryland for 71 years and one month. Mr. Kerbin is over 94
years old and still goes into his office every day.
Special Announcements
Dr. Papenfuse reported that on November 5, Jim Hefelfinger,
a faithful member of the Archives' staff, passed away. He called
the Commission's attention to a fine article in the Bulldog written
by Rob Schoeberlein paying tribute to Mr. Hefelfinger. In Mr. Hefelfinger's
memory, Dr. Papenfuse displayed on the screen Mr. Hefelfinger's favorite
photograph of the State House that he colorized and presented to the Archives.
A
moment to remember Judge Harry Cole and the 50th
anniversary of his election to the Maryland Senate:
Dr. Papenfuse also asked the Commission to remember Harry Cole.
Fifty years ago, Harry Cole was the first African American elected to the
Senate. Dr. Phillips has an article coming out shortly about Harry
Cole's life. Dr. Papenfuse advised that the Archives has posted information
about Harry Cole on its biographical web site at: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012000/012087/html/msa12087.html
(user name: aaco password: aaco#).
Formation of Friends of the Archives:
Dr. Papenfuse announced that Chris Allan has taken on the job
of being President and Resident Agent for the formation of the Friends
of the Archives. Mr. Allan advised that with the assistance of
the Archives' former counsel, Dick Israel, he was able to put together
Articles of Incorporation for a non-stock company with the Department of
Assessments and Taxation. David C. Troy, who was active in preparing
a web site on the 15th Amendment, has agreed to be a director.
Reports and Minutes of Previous Meetings
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Minutes of meeting of April 28, 2004
Dr. Phillips offered a motion of approval of the minutes as amended
by Chairman Bell, seconded by Mr. Freedlander and unanimously approved,
the Chairman concurring.
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Special Meetings and Celebratory Events
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June 24: Unveiling of portrait of Frances Hughes
Glendening at Government House:
Dr. Papenfuse stated that the portrait of Frances Hughes
Glendening has been added to the Artistic Property and all of the members
of the Hall of Records Commission were invited to the unveiling.
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November 9: Talk
and reception for Judge Bell at the University of Maryland School of Law;
Dr. Papenfuse had the privilege of attending a talk at
the University of Maryland Law School, organized by Larry Gibson and one
of the most enervating and interesting programs Dr. Papenfuse has attended
in a long time. This program was intended to look at the efforts
to to change the segregated accommodation policies of the late-1940s.
The highlight was the recognition of Judge Bell in Bell vs. Maryland.
Judge Bell identified the people in the picture displayed on the screen.
The gentleman right opposite Judge Bell is Richard McCoy who was a 17 year
old high school student (Judge Bell was 16). Judge Bell and Mr. McCoy
were both classmates of Dunbar High School and were both arrested on June
17, 1960 when they sat-in at Hooper's Restaurant. On the left (beside
Richard) is Clarence Logan and beside Judge Bell is Doug Sands. Mr.
Sands was the first student leader of what soon became known as the civic
interest group. He was the first president who got started along
the road to trying to integrate the Northwood Movie Theatre and various
other eating accommodations, as well as starting the integrating effort
against Northwood Movie Theatre. Clarence Logan was his successor
and remained in charge of that movement through the integration of the
restaurants in downtown Baltimore. He carried the weight for most
of the period coordinating the effort to boycott and sit-in in an effort
to desegregate the various places, including he was there when Northwood
Movie Theatre was finally opened. They spoke about their reminiscences
and visions. Logan in particular is an historian who has been keeping
a record of what happened. He has made it clear that what popular
opinion holds true is not correct, i.e., the sit-in demonstrations, civil
rights movement began in March or April of 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
That is not true because Morgan students had been at it from at least the
early 50s, and Logan points out that there was a march on Annapolis in
1947 or 1948. His position is that that whole movement started at
Morgan State College.
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November 18: Unveiling
of the Wye Oak Desk in the Rotunda of the State House. Speech
by Dr. Papenfuse.
Dr. Papenfuse reported on the wonderful ceremony that
took place at that the unveiling of the Wye Oak desk in the Rotunda of
the State House. He referred to the picture on the screen and pointed
out the acapella choir from Easton, children from the Naval Academy School,
third graders from West Annapolis Elementary School and, of course, the
spectacular desk. A yellow ribbon was placed around the desk in memory
of the troops and those fighting abroad. The desk has a piece that
pulls out in front with the reverse of the seal on it. The desk also
opens up in the front (similar to the Kennedy desk) with a plaque on the
inside noting the Governor’s name from Robert Ehrlich on. Dr. Papenfuse
pointed out Henry Rosenberg who paid for the desk and the ceremony and
thus no cost to the State. Dr. Papenfuse called the Commission’s
attention to the pamphlet about the desk along with a program about the
ceremony in their packet. Mr. Rosenberg also paid for the pamphlet.
Mr. Freedlander commented that the desk was built in St. Michael’s, and
Dr. Papenfuse added that it was built by craftsmen on the Eastern Shore.
Chairman Bell added that he ran into Henry Rosenberg at a reception at
the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He asked Mr. Rosenberg
when he was planning to do a desk for the Judiciary.
Mr. Nelson offered a motion of approval in recognition of the special
meetings of the Commission as defined by standing resolution, seconded
by Dr. Phillips and unanimously approved, the Chairman concurring.
Records Retention and Disposal
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Retention
Schedules
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Disposals
Dr. Papenfuse stated that records retention and disposal
schedules are listings of everything received at the Archives in the way
of records and a list of disposals that have been approved. He pointed
out that the courts are in the midst of revising all of its retention and
disposal schedules, and Pat Melville of the Archives’ staff is active on
the committee. There will be quite a comprehensive revision of these
schedules. It is proving to be important, because criminal court
records can be destroyed after 12 years. Dr. Papenfuse said an awful
lot of criminal court cases are coming back to the fore because of evidentiary
material and perhaps concern about performance of lawyers as well, long
after 12 years. Chairman Bell reported that a couple of committees
met last week and one of the issues they are trying to make consistent
is the work of the Conference of Circuit Judges and the work of the committee
that is from the Administrative Office of the Courts which is trying to
put together a similar schedule.
Secretary Rutherford offered a motion of approval of the Records
Retention and Disposal Schedules as presented, seconded by Mr. Nelson and
unanimously approved, the Chairman concurring.
Old Business
Archivist's Report and Staff Activities
(see the Maryland State Archives' Bulldog
for additional details)
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May 6: Dr. Papenfuse addressed the Women's Club of Roland Park;
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May 10: Celebration in the search room for Kim Moreno, Sasha Lourie,
and Ryan Polk receiving their MA degrees in May; Salvador Barragan getting
married; Thriveni Palanivelu becoming an American citizen; and saying goodbye
to the spring interns and to Underground Railroad researcher Ellen Loll;
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May 11: Mr. Baker and Ms. Moreno spoke briefly re: mdlandrec.net
at Maryland Land Title Association Annual Meeting, Columbia Hilton;
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May 13: Mr. Swanson attended the Land Record Improvement Oversight
Committee meeting at Sentinel Title;
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May 18: Dr. Papenfuse attended Governor's Consulting Committee Meeting
on Historic Sites;
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May 21: Chip DiPaula, Secretary of Budget and Management, visited
and toured the Archives;
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May 22: Dr. Papenfuse addressed the Society of Colonial Wars General
Delegates in the 1st floor conference room, West, of the Miller Building;
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May 25: Dr. Papenfuse addressed the Ft. Garrison Chapter of the Colonial
Dames of the 17th Century at the home of Mary Parks in Homeland in Baltimore
City;
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May 25: Dr. Terry was a guest on the Marc Steiner Show panel discussion
on Harriet Tubman;
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May 26: Dr. Papenfuse and Ms. Calver met with Delegate Petzold and
Dorey Stacks re: Women's Hall of Fame display;
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June 2: Ms. Squires attended Celebration of the Maryland Women's
Heritage Center at Government House;
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July 14: Mr. McCormick met with Maurice Possley, reporter from the
Chicago Tribune;
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July 21: Mr. McCormick represented Dr. Papenfuse at the Maryland
Historical Society Library Committee meeting;
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July 22: Messrs. Baker and McCormick hosted Taiwanese Minister of
Research, Evaluation and Development with three other officials of the
Taiwanese National Archives including a tour of the Archives;
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July 28, August 30, September 29 and November 3: Ms. Melville attended
the Circuit Courts Retention Schedule Committee meeting in the Judicial
Training Center;
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September: Article by Elaine Bachmann, Circa
1961: The Kennedy White House Interiors published in the
White House History Journal;
Dr. Papenfuse pointed that Elaine Rice Bachmann, the Archives
Curator, wrote an interesting article on the White House during the Kennedy
years. She is also the co-author of a book on the White House during
the Kennedy years.
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September 2: Discovery of cornerstone in the Bloomsbury demolition
project;
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September 10: Mr. Schoeberlein attended Crownsville Cemetery dedication;
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September 13: Ren Serey and LeeAnne Chandler with the DNR Critical
Areas Commission and Doldon Moore, State Wetlands Administrator with the
BPW, met with Dr. Papenfuse and Mr. Richardson re: better understanding
of the land patents process and patents for submerged lands;
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September 14: Dr. Papenfuse and Mr. Baker attended the Clerk's Association
meeting at the Judicial Training Center;
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September 16: Dr. Papenfuse and Mr. Baker attended meeting with Judge
Bell, Scott MacGlashan, David Durfee, Mike Neale and Sally Rankin at the
Courts of Appeal Building re: PIA requests for purchase of land record
images;
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September 23: Jim Reilly, Clerk, Harford County Circuit Court, Mary
Bickford (Chief Deputy Clerk), Susan Lochary (Supervisor of Civil Dept.)
and Diane Burke (Supervisor of Criminal Dept.) met with Dr. Papenfuse,
Mr. Baker and Ms. Moreno and toured the Archives;
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September 30-October 2: Dr. Papenfuse attended, on behalf of Judge
Bell, the seventh annual meeting of the State and Federal Court Historical
Society Administrators and Trustees in conjunction with the AASLH annual
meeting in St. Louis MO;
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October 8-9: Dr. Papenfuse attended fall meeting of the Historic
St. Mary's City Commission;
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October 13: Dr. Papenfuse attended Library of Congress National Digital
Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program at the Jurys Washington
Hotel in Washington D.C.;
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October 20: Dr. Papenfuse attended MLA Advisory Board meeting;
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November 13: Dr. Papenfuse addressed the Broadmead retirees;
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November 15: Dr. Papenfuse and Ms. MacAdam met with Maureen Kavanagh,
Mary Louise DeSaaran, and Orlando Ridout V to discuss how the MD
Historical Trust Sites Survey project should be continued and maintained;
Dr. Papenfuse reported that the Archives has been very
active in helping the Maryland Historical Trust bring its historic sites
surveys on-line. Demonstrating how the site works, Dr. Papenfuse
explained that the site was created and the scanning of all of the historic
sites inventories with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation
ISTEA money. Every county is on-line up to last month in terms of
what has been submitted to the National Register. He introduced Lynne
MacAdam of the Archives’ staff who is responsible for overseeing all of
the work on this project and making this site possible.
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November 15-16: Messrs. Baker and Yang attended Partnerships in
Innovation conference hosted by the University of Maryland at the National
Archives and Records Administration in College Park MD;
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November 17: Dr. Papenfuse, Ms. Calver, and Mr. Lourie met with Tom
Darden and Ed Blakely re: photo web publishing project for the Governor's
office;
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November 18: Dr. Papenfuse addressed Preservation Maryland at its
annual meeting.
Administrative and Fiscal Matters
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Budget Issues, Past, Present and Future:
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July 12: Audit exit meeting for Information Systems Discussion Notes;
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July 13: Audit Exit Meeting - Legislative
Audit Discussion Notes;
Dr. Papenfuse advised the Commission that during the
Legislative audit, the auditors questioned whether the creation of the
Map book was a conflict of interest. In June, the auditors asked
Dr. Papenfuse to write to the State Ethics Commission, which he did.
Unfortunately, the auditors decided to publish their comments before getting
a letter back from the State Ethics Commission. As a result, the
impression was that Dr. Papenfuse committed a crime when in fact the Ethics
Commission praised the Archives for its work and dismissed the claim against
Dr. Papenfuse. It is too bad that the audit was published without
also publishing the response from the State Ethics Commission. He
invited the Commission to look at the full letter of the State Ethics Commission
which is available on-line and read the following excerpt from the letter:
Also, the Commission recognizes that your role as
the State Archivist is a unique position in that you play an active role
in obtaining additional funding for the agency to pursue documents and
other collections, which are important to Maryland's history.
They noted that Dr. Papenfuse had said on his Financial Disclosure Statement
everything that he was doing.
The Commission determined that you did not receive
a personal financial gain, and, although there may be some benefit to your
personal or professional prestige from the publishing of the book, it is
difficult to distinguish that gain from the benefit to the State.
The Commission had some concern because the name of the Johns Hopkins Press
was the same as Johns Hopkins University even though there is no relationship
between the two when choosing manuscripts. In the future, the Ethics
Commission asked that Dr. Papenfuse run any of these projects by counsel
formally rather than informally at Hall of Records Commission meetings.
The Commission determined that your primary purpose
in obtaining the grant money and loan for the book project was to generate
funds for the Maryland State Archives. The Maryland State Archives
has received approximately $38,500 to date from this project.
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October 21: William Honablew (Archives' new legislative budget analyst)
and Dave Ryker (Archives budget analyst) met with Dr. Papenfuse and Mr.
Baker;
Dr. Papenfuse advised that the meeting with William Honablew,
the Archives’ new legislative Budget Analyst, went well. Dave Ryker,
the Archives budget analyst was also invited to the meeting due to strict
instructions from the Department of Budget and Management that an agency
cannot talk to the budget analyst without it knowing what is being said.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Honablew resigned, so the Archives has Jim Stoops
back.
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Budget Submission;
Mr. Baker reported that for the 2006 budget year, the
Archives had another 12% reduction totaling around $302,000. To meet
that General Fund budget target, the Archives had to give up all remaining
non-salary General Fund dollars meaning the only thing that had been left
in the budget was the money the Archives pays to rent its warehouses where
permanent record material is stored. The Archives had to give that
money back and convert more of its staff from the General Fund side to
the Special Fund side. Currently over one half of the Archives staff
are Special Funds, i.e., no tax dollars associated with it. In practical
terms, this coming fiscal year after the Archives pays DBM the money it
requires for telephones, telco, rent, and the Treasurer for master lease
cost, it begins the fiscal year in a deficit; there is no money for rent,
postage, paper, staples, etc. Eighty percent of the Archives budget
is now Special Fund related. DBM recognizes the untenable situation
the Archives is in but for the fact that most of the Archives staff are
involved in a project for the Judiciary, the Archives would cease to exist.
Mr. Baker takes it on faith that DBM is interested in resolving this in
the not too distant future and is holding out hope that there will be a
restoration of some of the reductions the Archives had to go through this
last round and it will be able to cover at least the cost of the warehouse
facilities.
The good news is on the Information Technology side where the Archives
has successfully integrated almost 60 additional terabytes into its electronic
archival storage. The Archives has established some high speed
connectivity with the Judiciary to facilitate data transfer and making
security back up copy of records that it works with the Judiciary on.
By the end of this year, the Archives will have finished installing a robotic
tape library that will allow it to more seamlessly back this material up
onto tape, and it should have in place a new server that will manage all
of this. Mr. Baker will be taking this procurement to the Board of
Public Works some time in December.
As of this morning, Mr. Baker advised that the Archives has posted over
40 million images of land records related to mdlandrec.net and is managing
over 600 million database records in its storage array. There is
a need to install additional air conditioning in the server room and a
backup generator to complete the hardware side of this project, and the
Archives is working with DBM and the Department of General Services on
this.
Mr. Baker stated that the Archives is working on implementing a more
comprehensive implementation of Network Maryland, which is Maryland’s high
speed network. The Archives is connected to it but needs to facilitate
greater transfer ability of electronic records from other agencies.
On facilities and storage matters, the Archives has an on-going problem
of maintaining adequate temperature and humidity control in this building.
Mr. Baker thanked Secretary Rutherford for Mr. Steve Noon’s assistance
in evaluating the situation and putting forth some recommendations, none
of which sound to be very expensive, but will go a long way to helping
the Archives solve some of these problems.
Finally, the Archives will fill its last warehouse, if not by the end
of this year, into January. Mr. Baker is working with Secretary Rutherford’s
real estate division and has a procurement pending on an additional warehouse.
This will be the Archives fourth warehouse facility, none of which are
temperature and humidity controlled. Mr. Baker views this fourth
warehouse as a stop gap measure until the Archives can build more archivally
sound space. Mr. Baker also mentioned that there comes a point in
time when it is more difficult to manage the records in additional locations.
Secretary Rutherford questioned whether Mr. Baker submitted a Capital budget
request, and Mr. Baker responded that he is working towards that and hopes
to put together a capital item with the help of Secretary Rutherford’s
staff. Mr. Baker said that there comes a point in time where it will
be cost-effective to construct another building and consolidate rather
than rent another warehouse facility.
Next, Mr. Schriver advised that Johns Hopkins in conjunction with College
Park is constructing a new shelving facility to house collections of John
Hopkins on the campus in Howard County. It is slated for completion
next April, and Winston Tabb is overseeing this project. It is specifically
designed for document storage, is climate controlled and has compact shelving.
The purpose of this new facility is to be a joint public-private partnership
to seek other partners throughout the State.
Mr. Freedlander stated that he would like to share with the Treasurer
any information Mr. Baker has on this capital expenditure.
He asked Mr. Baker if the server is going to be a procurement through DBM
or DGS, and Mr. Baker responded through DBM.
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mdlandrec.net,
report to joint
chairmen;
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IT Progress.
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Facilities Update:
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Grants:
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Gift from the Dorothy and Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr. Foundation, Inc., for
the publication of a booklet on the construction of the Wye Oak desk ($20,000)
In addition to everything that Henry Rosenberg has done for the Archives,
he decided that it would really be good to have a book written and well
illustrated for children about the Wye Oak desk. He graciously provided
another grant in the amount of $20,000 for its publication.
Mr. Freedlander offered a motion of appreciation to Henry Rosenberg
for the grant to publish a children’s book on the construction of the Wye
Oak Desk, seconded by Dr. Ridgway and unanimously approved, the Chairman
concurring.
Education and Outreach
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Courses taught and lectures given by State Archivist (see prior resolution
on 4/19/2000):
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May 13: Boys' Latin School field trip to Annapolis;
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May 20: Dr. Papenfuse conducted a short presentation with Professor
Power on inter-disciplinary teaching efforts (Barron v. Baltimore);
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June 15: Ms. Melville served as judge at National History Day, UMCP;
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June 17: Tom Stucky with the Associated Press met with Dr. Papenfuse
re: Charter Day, June 20;
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July 1: Dr. Papenfuse and Ms. Bramucci conducted workshops at UMBC
as part of the Teaching American History program to Baltimore City public
school teachers relating to online primary sources available to teachers
for incorporation in the classroom.;
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July 14: Ms. Bramucci conducted a workshop at UMBC to Baltimore County
public school teachers as part of the Teaching American History Grant;
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July 15: Dr. Papenfuse and Ms. Bramucci conducted workshops at UMBC
as part of the Teaching American History in Maryland program to Baltimore
County public school teachers relating to online primary sources available
to teachers for incorporation in the classroom;
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August 11: Mr. Lourie gave a lecture to a group from the Smithsonian
Associates, program entitled: In Pursuit of Really Fine Furniture: Discovering
the World of Beautiful Antiques;
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August 23: Mr. Haley loaned books/materials and attended Diversity
Fair at the Judicial Training Center;
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September 1: Dr. Papenfuse addressed teachers from Salisbury University
Wicomico County;
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September 22: Dr. Papenfuse taught a Judicial Institute course on
Maryland Legal History at the Judicial Training Center;
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September 22: Ms. Bachmann attended Presenting the White House:
A Decorative Arts Symposium, Decatur House, Washington DC and moderated
a panel discussion on the Kennedy White House Restoration;
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September 23: Marty Sullivan, Brownwyn McCarthy and Rod Cofield met
with Dr. Papenfuse re: Nutheads;
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October 9: Mr. Lourie presented paper at Museum of Early Southern Decorative
Arts (MESDA) on Men...of some influence in the city: William and Washington
Tuck and Annapolis Cabinetmaking, 1795-1838, Winston Salem, NC;
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October 9: Ms. Bramucci and Messrs. Barnes and Mason talked at Keuthe
Library for the Anne Arundel County Historical Society on archival resources
for medical institutions in Baltimore;
November 9: Rob Schoeberlein presented at Londontown Historic
Site on the subject of poor relief and almshouses in Maryland.
Recent Gifts, Deposits and Acquisitions
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May 24: Dr.
Papenfuse met with Ferdinand Latrobe re: map/document and Robert
Catzen re: map collection;
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June 15: John Eden (92 year old relation Pendergast -- family name,
White) met with Dr. Papenfuse;
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June 16: Judge
Cathell met with Dr. Papenfuse re: father-in-law's collection;
Dr. Papenfuse advised the Commission of a call from Judge Cathell regarding
his father-in-law’s collection of early Maryland-related material that
he was hoping Dr. Papenfuse could appraise and help Judge Cathell understand
its value. Dr. Papenfuse agreed to preserve the material using conservation
techniques that were as inexpensive as possible but would still protect
the material until Mr. Kerbin could figure out what he wanted to do with
the collection. Mr. Kerbin kindly agreed to allow the Archives a
copy of everything, some of which Dr. Papenfuse will be showing the Commission
today.
In going through the collection, Dr. Papenfuse came across some extraordinary
pieces. He showed the Commission a wonderful newspaper, The Ulster
County Gazette of January 24, 1800. He advised that Ulster County
is in New York and explained that the reason the newspaper is in black
and white is because it is the issue noting the death of George Washington.
Dr. Papenfuse noted a couple of rare parchment items but of greatest
personal interest to him was a document which is discussed at length by
Chief Judge Carroll T. Bond in his introduction to the history of the Court
of Appeals. Dr. Papenfuse displayed on the screen the original of
what was recorded among the records of the Court of Appeals. It represents
a slice in time history of an effort to find labor for the Chesapeake,
and it wasn’t slave labor; it was convict labor. This particular
case centered on the first shipload of convicts sent to Annapolis.
It was one that hitherto the Archives did not know came that early.
Most of the information about convict servants coming to the Chesapeake
Bay are post-date 1717. Dr. Papenfuse said that this wonderful case
is one of great judicial complexity because three time the King and Council
told the Maryland Court of Appeals what to do and three time they refused
to do it meaning that everything the King and Council decided should be
done, wasn’t done. This case was being argued by two prominent lawyers:
Stephen Bordley on the side of the town and Daniel Dulaney on the side
of the importer of the convicts. Eventually the contract prevailed.
This is an extraordinary original that carries the crown seal and the signature
of the then Attorney General of Great Britain. How this document
got to the Eastern Shore is a question that Dr. Papenfuse would love to
have answered, but it is a mystery that stays with Mr. Kerbin’s father
and the acquisition of it is unknown.
Dr. Papenfuse displayed on the screen for the Commission the Table of
Contents of Mr. Kerbin’s collection. He said in addition to this
1724 reprimand from the King and Council to the court system of Maryland,
there are also some wonderful letters of Ceasar Rodney from the Eastern
Shore. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence from
Delaware. Dr. Papenfuse advised that this is probably the largest
single collection of Ceasar Rodney autographs not in a collectors’ hands
at the present time.
In the midst of all of this was another fascinating document which Dr.
Papenfuse displayed on the screen. This is one of the documents submitted
in the dispute between Lord Baltimore and William Penn over the boundary
between what would become Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is a discussion
of the Maryland Charter and what were the boundaries of the Charter and
what were the privileges and important aspects of the Charter as they related
to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Dr. Papenfuse told Mr. Kerbin that it was a pleasure to review these
materials and exciting to be able to read and help preserve them.
While he understands they are a private treasure, Dr. Papenfuse encouraged
them coming to the Archives some day, if at all possible. He appreciates
Mr. Kerbin’s willingness to share his collection and asked if he could
tell the Commission how they came into the family.
Mr. Kerbin said that his father was a New York attorney who came to
Princess Anne and then Snow Hill. His father tried a murder case
and died early. Mr. Kerbin’s father had a big safe in the office,
and Mr. Kerbin just picked up these materials and put them in one of his
fire-proof filing cabinets. About five months ago, one of the partners
handed them back to him. Mr. Kerbin gave them to his daughter, Charlotte,
who in turn gave them to Judge Cathell.
Dr. Papenfuse told Mr. Kerbin that his collection is on deposit at the
Archives and available for someone to come in and appraise it. Judge
Cathell said the first step is to find out everything about it. Both
Mr. Kerbin and Judge Cathell expressed their appreciation to Dr. Papenfuse
for all he has done and for allowing them to deposit this collection at
the Archives, and Dr. Papenfuse said it was an honor and pleasure to have
Mr. Kerbin and Judge Cathell with us today and thanked them for sharing
this wonderful collection.
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September 9: Marty Madden met with Dr. Papenfuse re: special
collection;
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September 27: Dr. Papenfuse met with John Emler re: surveys;
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November 10: Dr. Papenfuse met with Mark Mumford, Clerk Kent County
Circuit Court and Mr. Nuttle re: survey collection.
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Government Records
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June 24: Francis Zumbrun, DNR, Green Ridge State Forest met with
Richard Richardson and Rob Schoeberlein re: delivery of first transfer
of GRSF records to Archives
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Archives Endowment Fund
Mr. Freedlander offered a Resolution of Appreciation
for the recent gifts, including other special collections received but
not described, seconded by Dr. Ridgway and unanimously approved, the Chairman
concurring.
Archives of Maryland On Line
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Finding Aids, Reference Services, and Publications:
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Summer
2004 Internship Program
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June 11: Seminar: Finding Records at the MSA - Finding Aides,
Indices, Search Engines by Pat Melville;
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June 14: Seminar: Records Handling, Care, and Preservation
by Vicki Lee and Jennifer Cruickshank;
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June 16: Meet the State Archivist of Maryland, Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse;
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July 7: Presentation by Ryan Polk on A Case Study in Baltimore Connissiourship;
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July 12: Seminar: Rob Schoeberlein to discuss the photographic
collection in the Oblate Sisters' archival holdings;
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July 12: Presentation by Sister Mary Reginald re: Black Nuns in
a Slave Society: First Sisterhood of African Americans
sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council;
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July 23: Presentation by Leonard Blackshear and Judy Cabral of the
Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation;
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July 28: Seminar: Bill Sleeman, Government Documents Librarian,
Thurgood Marshall Library, University of Maryland Law School;
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August 2: Field trip to Roedown Farm;
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August 4: Presentation by Sasha Lourie, Have honestly and fairly
laboured for money: William and Washington Tuck and Annapolis Cabinetmaking,
1795-1838;
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August 9: Ms. Bachmann and Mr. Lourie conducted walking tour of State
House and Government House;
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August 16: Farewell reception.
Dr. Papenfuse invited Emily Squires who manages the Archives internship
program to come forward and give a report on some of this year’s highlights.
Ms. Squires pointed out that the summer isn’t the only time the Archives
has summer interns. She has tried to cultivate a year round program.
The summer is where the Archives focuses its paid internship programs.
However, throughout the year, Ms. Squires tries to court students who would
like to get work experience, that need volunteer experience for community
service credit or academic credit for their schools. A copy
of Ms. Squires’ report is appended hereto and made a part of these minutes.
Next, Ms. Squires introduced her deputy in the research department,
Jennifer Hafner, who managed the Women’s History, Maryland Women’s Hall
of Fame Exhibit. Ms. Hafner took the Commission to the on-line
exhibit that was put up two to three years ago by an Archives’' intern.
The Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1985 by the Maryland
Commission of Women and the women legislators of Maryland. The Commission
donated one hundred percent funding for intern Amy Hobbs who is a graduate
student from the University of Maryland College Park, and was completing
her Ph.D. in literature. She spent approximately one day per week
during the 10 week internship at the Commission's offices, where she helped
create a donor database for the new Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, among
other things. The rest of her time was spent at the Archives, or other
archival institutions, such as the University of Maryland, conducting research
and writing biographies of Maryland Women's Hall of Fame honorees starting
with the 2004 honorees. Ms. Hobbs also created nine extensive biographies
that available on-line.
At this time, Ms. Squires introduced John Gartrell (an academic year
intern) and Chris Haley to present on the progress made on the Underground
Railroad, Beneath the Underground project. Chris Haley took
the Commission to mdslavery.net.
He explained that the main focus was to make the underground railroad not
just about Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass or a source of information
about African American history, but part of a source of educational opportunities
for schools and students around the area. Mr. Gartrell will be talking
about how we demonstrate how the website is interactive for students and
teachers alike, interactive maps (designed by Dr. Papenfuse).
Regarding schools, Mr. Freedlander asked if this project is connected
to the MPT Thinkport and Mr. Haley answered in the affirmative. He
said there are case studies that the Archives provided.
Mr. Haley introduced John Gartrell, a 2004 graduate of Morgan University
and now valuable staff member of the Archives, to demonstrate how to use
the web site to teach. Mr. Gartrell advised that there were nine
interns working on this project; seven interns conducted research and two
interns worked on the mapping element. Dr. Papenfuse pointed out
that eventually there will be hyperlinks that will take you to the history
of the entire Roedown Plantation. Mr. Gartrell showed the Commission
an example of a biography, inventory, and census records.
Forthcoming special meetings of the Commission and events
of interest
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January 10: Dr. Papenfuse to meet with Jean Barry-Molz at Blakehurst
Retirement Community re: map of Canton;
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March 18: Dr. Papenfuse to teach Maryland Legal History course on
Industrialism, Depression, War, 1867-1945, at the Judicial Training
Center;
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March 24: Dr. Papenfuse to participate in Maryland Day ceremonies
for the Maryland Colonial Society essay contest;
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March 25: Dr. Papenfuse to give Maryland Day address in St. Mary's
City, MD;
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March 31-April 1: Dr. Papenfuse to attend the 2005 OAH Annual Meeting,
Historians and their Publics, in San Francisco CA;
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April 6: Dr. Papenfuse to address the Wednesday Club at the Maryland
Club;
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June (date to be announced): Dr. Papenfuse to serve as lecturer for
both sessions of the Landmarks of American History workshop for teachers
sponsored by St. Mary's College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary's City;
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June 20: Dr. Papenfuse to address the Carroll County Genealogical
Society at Deer Park United Methodist Church in Smallwood MD;
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October 18: Visit by Questers to see the preserved Kent County books
and Dr. Papenfuse to give presentation and tour of the Archives.
Next meeting
At the call of the Chair for some time in spring.
Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Freedlander offered
a motion to adjourn at 1:46 p.m., seconded by Dr. Ridgway and unanimously
approved, the Chairman concurring.
Approved by the Hall of Records Commission, April 19, 2005.
________________________________________
The Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chairman
________________________________________
Edward C. Papenfuse, Jr., Secretary
State Archivist
Maryland State Archives
350 Rowe Boulevard
(410) 260-6403.
Email: edp@mdarchives.state.md.us
© Copyright Maryland State Archives