The debates surrounding millennium celebrations and the actual beginning of the 21st century are not new.  On December 31, 1900 the Baltimore Sun published an article entitled "1801 and 1901." For the colorful language alone, the first paragraph is worth quoting: 

The New York Times prints extracts from newspapers published on January 1, 1801, which indicate that 100 years ago our forefathers were discussing the same problem which puzzled some of our wiseacres 100 years later.  The Connecticut Courrant of January 1, 1801, dropped into poetry, and, in an "Ode to the Century," observed that "Full many a calculating head has racked its brains, its ink has shed, to prove by metaphysics [and] fin[ds] a hundred means but ninety-nine." The Courrant sarcastically advised these scientific sages to "collect your light a few more ages. Perhaps as swells the vast amount, a century hence you'll learn to count." On the other hand, the "Porcupine" fiercely asserted that 1799 was the last year of the century and declared that "whoever denies this has no more brains than oyster." A correspondent of the Columbian 

Maryland archivist Edward C. Papenfuse's hopes for the future are linked to the past.

"My number one wish would be that people take time out to hold on to and save the best of the past. There's a great deal of wisdom and direction to be found in our collective memory if we take the time to preserve it and make it accessible," says the 56-year-old resident of Baltimore.

Preserving the past is also important to the health of a democracy, Papenfuse says.

"Within a good archive you should have a detailed and readily accessible record of every action a government has ever taken, good, bad or indifferent, so we can make those representatives more accountable. And on another level, to help us understand more about ourselves and our family connections.  In our fast-paced world, paying attention to our roots helps us understand better where we're headed."

Sentinel, a journal published at Boston, seems to have been no ordinary prophet. In the Sentinel of January 1, 1801, he observed that "if we could be indulged with a peep upon earth a hundred years hence we should find our children as warmly engaged untying this knotty point as ever we have been."  The "knotty point," to use the happy phrase coined by the Columbian Sentinel's correspondent, was "untied" a year ago, after a long controversy, to the satisfaction of the entire world, with the exception of Emperor William of Germany and the editor of a Chicago newspaper. They alone, of all the inhabitants of the world, began the twentieth century on January 1, 1900. The rest of us have been content to let the nineteenth century live 100 years. 

[Thanks to Carson Gibb for making this article available.  See the next issue for an article on the Centennial Legislatures of 1700, 1800, and 1900.] 

DISTRICT COURT 
    (Criminal Docket) 1984-1993 [MSA TM503] 
    (Tapes) 1984-1991 [MSA T230] 
    (Traffic Docket) 1983-1993 [MSA TM519] 

DISTRICT COURT 5, PG 
    (Civil Docket, Index) 1981-1989 [MSA T1660] 
    (Criminal Docket, Index) 1971-1981 [MSA T3128] 

                                                                                  (continued on last page)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
    (Journal, House and Senate) 1999 [MSA TM106] 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATE 
    (Test Book) 1991-1999 [MSA T296] 

GOVERNOR 
    (General File) 1989-1996 [MSA T2685] 

MARYLAND INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION 
    (Insurance Policy Forms) 1993-1995 [MSA T347] 

SECRETARY OF STATE, DIVISION OF STATE DOCUMENTS 
    (Maryland Register File) 1987-1996 [MSA T2461] 

STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS 
    (Accounting Records) 1972-1996 [MSA T3040] 
    (Campaign Reports) 1987-1994 [MSA T261] 
    (Election Papers) 1990-1994 [MSA T262] 
    (Election Returns) 1980-1994 [MSA T894] 
    (Minutes) 1985-1993 [MSA T3039] 
    (Miscellaneous Papers) 1977-1995 [MSA T917] 
    (Petitions) 1994-1996 [MSA T263]