At the Maryland State Archives, our collections cover the entire course of Maryland history - from the founding of the colony in 1634 right up to the present. We have government records, maps, newspapers, photographs, artifacts, private papers, and paintings and fine arts. 

Our core mission is to preserve the records of our state government. So, our largest collections are made up of agency records of permanent value, such as governors' papers, court documents, and land records. Many of these records relate directly to citizens' lives: deeds and plats showing land ownership, and records relating to family history, such as births, marriages, and deaths. 

Our collections of private papers include letters, journals, family histories, drawings, artifacts, scrapbooks, and other documents given to the Archives over the years. Our photographic collections document the history of the state from the mid-19th century to the present and our map collections date back to the earliest days of exploration of the New World. State art collections document Maryland history through portraiture and history paintings, as well as provide a rich artistic heritage for future generations. 

The Archives' public search room in Annapolis is open 5 days a week, and archivists are always on duty to assist researchers.