Describing our first workshops, The Archivists' Bulldog of November 7, 1994 reported that on Saturday, October 22, the second Genealogy Workshop was held and, like the one in September, it was filled quickly. Pat Anderson and Bob Barnes volunteered their time and talents to give the participants, who came from Maryland and Virginia. In response to comments from participants in the first workshop, an optional session on the records at the Archives which included a tour of the search room was added. Staff will be interested in a comment from two of the participants, an English couple: "Of all the places we've been, and we have been to a lot, the Hall of Records is the best. The staff is always 'spot on' and very, very helpful." 

SC 5027: Kauffman Collection, n.d. Civilian Conservation Corps tokens, 32 five cent tokens and 17 ten cent tokens. Restricted. 

SC 5028: Kimmel Collection, 1934-1935. Two certificates of discharge from the Civilian Conservation Corps for Charles F. Ruby, April 20, 1934 and August 26, 1935. 

SC 5029: Rossi Collection, 1798. Penny. Restricted. 

SC 5033: Todd Collection, n. d. Genealogical notes on the Todd family. 

SC 5035: Martin Luther Lutheran Church Collection, 1890-1980. Church records, Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Baltimore: baptisms 1940-1976; confirmations 1940-1972; marriages 1936-1982; deaths 1940-1976. 

Between 1868 and the early 20th century the grand jury reviewed road conditions throughout the county and reported their findings, often highlighting the shortcomings. The 1868 report characterized many roads as impassable, "but no officer being appointed to superintend the roads, we are at a loss to know who to censure." Two years later jurors found little correlation between the amount of taxes collected for road repair and the actual evidence of road work. In 1882 the management of roads was described as careless due to incompetent supervisors and excessive expenditures. In addition, the jury could obtain from the county commissioners the names of only a few of the road supervisors, estimated to total 130. Periodically notations about obstacles to safe travel, such as brush, logs, saw dust, fences, and overhanging branches appeared in the reports. 

Despite the passage of laws by the General Assembly poor maintenance of roads continued to be perceived as a problem area. In 1889 the grand jury commented on legislation establishing district road commissioners, and the failure of the county commissioners to appoint these officers or to develop rules and regulations. One aspect of the road law was being followed, that of taxation. As conditions gradually improved and the state assumed control over some roads the jurors focused less attention on public highways. 

By an 1876 law (Ch. 239) the county commissioners of St. Mary's County were required to file financial statements with the grand jury so it could review public expenditures. By the mid 1900s this function devolved into an examination of operations of specific departments of county government. In 1965 the jurors investigated land use in the county, and faulted the lack of an adequate zoning system. The report made two recommendations to the county commissioners: one, disapprove the use of land along Rt. 234 as a drag racing strip and, two, 

The content of the grand jury papers changes over time. The 19th century records contain documents filed with the jury and reports issued at the end of a court term. With one exception, a list of licenses for 1912, the 20th century files include only the reports. Documents were made available to the grand jury to assist in its criminal considerations and consisted of lists of licenses, recognizances, constables, and inquests. Other papers included lists of members of the grand jury for 1869-1890, copies of coroner's inquests for 1870-1885, and rules and regulations for the jury for 1874 and 1883. 

The grand juries inspected county facilities, meaning only the jail and courthouse until the mid 1900s when county offices expanded into other buildings. For some unknown reason the St. Mary's County grand jury seldom visited the almshouse. The reports of these inspections outlined problems with the physical plants, recommended corrective actions, and noted improvements. Often the jurors recorded the number of prisoners housed in the jail. 

establish agricultural and residential zonings in areas not then zoned. The commissioners approved the racing strip anyway despite protests from adjacent property owners and did nothing about the zoning. In addition, the commissioners refused to appear before the grand jury by saying they were too busy. The jury had a subpoena issued for the chairman, but he had gone fishing out of the county.

Periodically the grand jury conducted special criminal investigations, some so secret and nonclusive, that its reports left a reader wondering what had happened. In 1947, for example, the jury was charged with examining some kind of illegal action, but refused to act. The judge discharged the jurors and issued a long statement about their refusal to carry out their duties, but offered no clue about the matter under consideration. 

The grand jury reports repeatedly contained exhortations to enforce gambling and liquor laws. In 1886 the jury investigated unspecified election irregularities, but found insufficient evidence to indict anyone. A year later it examined a lynching, but could not fix the blame on specific individuals. A casino operation in 1963 resulted in a few indictments, but no indication of involvement of government officials. At that time and later violations of drug laws became a frequent matter of concern. In fact, the 1972 file contains a transcript of testimony given at a special grand jury session on youth and the use of drugs. 

Sometimes record keeping factored into the jurors' duties. While reviewing the failure of some justices of the peace to submit payments of fines, the grand jury in 1894 discovered an equivalent omission of maintaining criminal dockets and a lack of uniformity among the others. During a time of concern about 

The St. Mary's County grand jury papers offer intriguing glimpses at many aspects of the judicial system and county government functions. Sometimes the information obviously is incomplete and leaves the researcher with questions. For example, one senses a conflict between the grand jury and the county commissioners in 1965 that goes beyond the zoning matters discussed in the report. What were the subjects of the undisclosed, secret criminal investigations? Would the local newspaper have covered the lynching in 1887? 

SC 5065: Windsor Collection, 1864. Certificate of Rebecca Windsor claiming compensation for her slave Levi T. Jones, who enlisted in the 19th U.S.C.T., Co. D. 

SC 5066: Du Pont Collection, n. d. Application for the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Maryland proving descent from Nicholas Goldsborough and Lady Jane Lowe Sewall; other information about the Sewall and Barnett Families. 

SC 5067: King Collection, n. d. Information on the Iglehart Home near Crownsville and other properties along General's Highway in Anne Arundel County. 

SC 5068: Baltimore Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Collection, 1935-1967. Programs: 151st session of the Baltimore Annual Conference, June 4-10, 1935; 152nd session of the Baltimore Annual Conference, June 2-8 1936; 40th Anniversary of the Betterton Methodist Church, October 9, 1955; Centennial of the Memorial Methodist Church, 1967. 

SC 5071: Mount Moriah AME Church Collection, n. d. Deed trace for the Mount Moriah AME Church at 86 Franklin Street in Annapolis. 

SC 5072: Bishop Collection, 1970-1971. Notes on William Bishop. 

SC 5073: St. John's College Library Collection, 1790-1796. Letter to John McDowell from Charles Goldsborough, November 22. 1790; Memorial poems on the death of Eliza Goldsborough, 1798; Receipt from Benjamin Dockery for work for the college, April 12, 1796. Restricted.