Jerry Hynson African American Legacy Journal

Jerry Hynson was a Maryland State Archives research volunteer and member of the Search Room Advisory Committee who specialized in African American and genealogical studies. Over the course of his long association with the Archives from the 1990s into the 2000s, he spoke and served on behalf of various history and genealogy organizations throughout our state. He also produced several volumes full of information he mined on both free and enslaved Black Marylanders (see bibliography below). A genial, energetic man, Hynson shared his enthusiasm for his chosen avocation whenever and wherever he was asked. Content from Hynson's works have been saved both physically as full volumes in the Archives' library and electronically as part of the Legacy of Slavery database. He demonstrated commitment to his subject by gathering these collections so that largely unknown African American lives were preserved, noted and could be researched individually or as a group by future scholars. In 2001, Hynson shared a citation to then Deputy Director of Reference Services, Chris Haley, about an Aaron Saulsbury (BALTIMORE COUNTY COURT, Criminal Docket, MSA C 314, MdHR 8451, 2-15-7-34) who was charged with the aiding and abetting an enslaved man to escape in November of 1834. The followup to this insightful act seminally launched deeper exploration of archival records which ultimately evolved into the Legacy of Slavery Program's first major initiative to study the Underground Railroad and assisted flight in Maryland.
Legacy of Slavery in Maryland: Overview

In his honor, we dedicate this site as an avenue on which skilled scholars, historians, and professors, can share quality narratives of their findings, drawn, at least, in part from research they conducted from Maryland State Archives resources. While the main focus of Jerry Hynson's work was primarily African American history and general genealogy, topics covered among the articles presented in the Jerry Hynson African American Legacy and Journal are unlimited. If you have conducted substantive research at the Archives and would like to submit a proposal for an article for the Hynson Journal, please send it to chris.haley@maryland.gov

Jerry M. Hynson

Publications:

Maryland Freedom Papers, Vol. 1: Anne Arundel County;

Maryland Freedom Papers, Vol. 2: Kent County;

Free African Americans of Maryland 1832 including: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Ann's, and St. Mary's Counties;

District of Columbia Runaway and Fugitive Slave Cases 1848 - 1863;

Anne Arundel County Maryland Marriage Licenses, 1865 - 1888;

Absconders, Runaways and Other Fugitives in the Baltimore City and County [Maryland] Jail, 1831 - 1864;

Baltimore Life Insurance Company Genealogical Abstracts;

Baltimore [Maryland], City Jail War Docket;

Maryland Freedom Papers, Vol. 3: Maryland Colonization Society Manumission Book 1832 - 1860;

Maryland Colonization Society Manumission Book 1832 - 1860;

African American Collection: Kent County, Maryland

Journal Issues

This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.