THE 1996 MSA SUMMER INTERNS!!!!!!!!!
SPECIAL SUMMER INTERNS ISSUE
The Summer Internship Program
Every summer the Archives is momentarily refreshed by the young, vibrant blood of the intern-program, headed by the newly promoted Archivist IV, R.J. Rockefeller. You may not see all of us on a regular basis but you probably noticed some changes. Your world has appeared brighter, the days shorter, the smiles upon your co-workers faces have increased and your car has oddly been getting better gas mileage -- all of which coincided with our arrival in late-June. So before the lights dim and the scowls return, we present to you, in this issue of The Bulldog, the Summer 1996 College Interns: Catherine Jellison, Haakon L. Maxwell, Clare Norcio, Emily Oland, Dani Schaffel, Anne Tria, Ameejill Whitlock, and Allison McGuire.
Catherine, Haakon, Clare & Ameejill have been continuing the Black Baltimore project, sponsored by the Maryland Historical Trust, from summers of yore. Within that grand project each of them has focused on a different topic. Researching the State House is Anne Tria and joining the shining reminder of last year's glory, Emily Oland, in furthering the First Ladies and Official Hostesses of Maryland project, is Dani Schaffel. None of the research could have been successful without the invaluable aid of several high school students from area public and private schools: Amy Kirkley, Alicia Brooks, Robert Stillwell. Jamal Booker, Kerry Brady, Jaclyn Dixon, and Jenn Ogilvie These interns, whose souls are even more beautiful than those of their collegiate counterparts, spent their valuable time on the projects in exchange for credit or volunteer experience.
Front row: Ameejill Whitlock, R.J. Rockefeller, Anne Tria, Haakon L. Maxwell, Jamal Booker, Emily Murphy
Back row: Emily Oland, Dani Schaffel, Clare Norcio, Alicia Brooks, Catherine Jellison
Summer Internship in the Conservation Lab
by Allison McGuire
During my summer internship in the conservation lab, a variety of different treatments have been undertaken. One of the first projects was twelve large maps of Maryland made from 1908 and 1910; the largest were around 31 inches by 56 inches. They arrived at the lab torn along the folds and in sections about 8 inches by 16 inches. After being washed, deacidified, and lined, they are once again strong enough to be handled and able to provide information.
Another long-term project has been the removal of pressure sensitive tape from 1773 tax documents. The process of tape removal is time consuming because of the great amount applied to the documents often covering all edges and folds.
Our most recent project is the deacidification and mending of University of Maryland documents. They are currently being tested to determine the best method of treatment for the documents. By working with these objects and other smaller projects, I have participated in a wide range of conservation treatments which is a valuable experience in my education.
John W. Locks
by Ameejill Whitlock
I have spent most of the summer working on the life of John William Locks who was extremely politically active and involved in the community. He was a life time friend of Frederick Douglass. He was a co-founder and president of the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company. He also had a private hack (carriage) company on a block of Wolfe St., where he also lived.
His obituaries reveal his strong community leadership. According to the Baltimore Sun of March 8, 1884 "He was the eldest and wealthiest African American hackman in Baltimore. He possessed the confidence of the hackmen and undertakers of the city to a remarkable degree. He became a very-well to do man and was ever ready to assist the needy. He did not confine his charities to his own race, but they often found substantial expression among the needy white community of Baltimore." However, his many achievements have been over shadowed by Isaac Meyers.
It has been very interesting to study the life of Mr. Locks and I know that he has living descendants who have held on to a long standing family tradition of political activity and community relations.
The State House Project
by Anne Tria
Having barely explored the surroundings of my school campus in Baltimore, I was sure to call and ask for directions to the Archives the day before we began the internship. I was cautioned about the lack of parking and the person on the phone suggested I continued past the bridge on Rowe to look for a potential spot. With my usual keen sense of direction, I landed at the end of the street staring up at a colossal dome, lost and worried about being late. Little did I know then that this building was the very State House that was to occupy the next ten weeks of my time here.
While at times still frustrated (this last time over Radoff's footnotes), I have enjoyed my hunt through colonial scrawl in chancery papers, executive files, and countless issues of the Maryland Gazette. One of the highlights of my stay here was a trip to the State House for the press conference given by the Lt. Governor. My research has focused on the reconstruction of the events and people surrounding the architectural phenomenon on top of the State House. With ties to Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Charles Willson Peale, there awaits an amazing amount of information to be found in rendering justice to the dome's creator.
Breaking the Color Barrier in Public Education
by Clare Norcio
While Anne has been researching Franklin lightning rods and Dani has been HTMLing to her heart's content, I have been doing tried-and-true biographical research with a twist!
My subject, Roberta Sheridan, was Baltimore City's first African-American public school teacher. As I'm sure you have noticed, Sheridan was a woman. I had some difficulty finding her in most of the records simply because of her gender. It is all too easy for women to get lost in history. Fortunately, I was able to find Sheridan in a census living with her daughter, Hester Biddle. At last, a clue! I now knew Sheridan's married name and I was hot on the trail. As fate would have it, Sheridan was married briefly to a man named George Biddle. She left him two years after their marriage and sued for divorce twice. Her case was dismissed both times. Biddle sued her once, and was granted the divorce. Sheridan died in late 1918, probably of influenza, and her estate (consisting only of the house she owned on Carey St.) was inherited by Hester Biddle, Sheridan's daughter by George Biddle. The house on Carey Street stands today, and is in the process of being refurbished by its owner.
This summer has been terrific! I am fortunate that I have been able to return for my third year, this time as a Governor's Intern. The Governor's Internship is a program designed to introduce college students throughout Maryland to the government. Interns are placed in various state agencies for an eight week period. During that period, interns attend various policy seminars (including one at the Herman L. Toulson Correctional Boot Camp and another here at the State Archives), work diligently at their respective agencies, and produce a policy paper. This paper requires that the interns divide themselves into four groups, and each group become expert at a particular policy issue. My group chose to address the topic of sufficient access to legal aid programs throughout the state. These papers are then presented to the Governor and his Cabinet.
The Shoemaker, The Brewer, and the Lawyer
by Catherine Jellison
I began my journey through Baltimore history by wading through the immense pension file of James Freeman, a U.S.C.T. soldier and shoemaker by trade. Shortly thereafter I abandoned this somewhat tedious but fruitful task for the sweeter pleasures of land records. Haakon and I tracked down the Camden Street Brewery, which had been an enrollment center during the Civil War. Much to the dismay of historians and beer drinkers alike, the site is now a Camden Yards parking lot. My newly acquired familiarity with land records proved highly useful, however, in my final and most important mission this summer: finding historic buildings associated with Everett J. Waring.
In 1885, Waring became the first African-American attorney allowed to practice in the Maryland courts. During his twelve-year residence in Baltimore, Waring became a leader in the African-American community, fighting racial discrimination and unfair legislation through the judicial process. His most significant achievement outside the courtroom was the formation in 1895 of the Lexington Savings Bank, the first bank in Maryland originated and managed by African-Americans. Although the bank building is no longer extant, we were able to locate a house that Waring owned and lived in for seven years. Photographs of the house will be included in the web site I am currently composing about Waring's life and contribution to Baltimore history. Hopefully this web site will help bring much-deserved attention to the history of Baltimore's vibrant African-American community.
African American Barbers of Baltimore in the 19th Century
by Haakon L. Maxwell
They call me "the token male", "here-boy", and "hey-you". My fellow interns are allowed to treat me like this partly because they outnumber me, and partly because I have become a sort of handyman researcher. My primary subject is African American barbers in Baltimore during the 19th century, but I have been periodically reassigned for temporary stints to other subjects. I helped Clare with land record searches involving a building which Roberta B. Sheridan owned and lived in. I also worked with Catherine researching the Camden Yards brewery. I have become very comfortable with Land Record searches as a result of these efforts. At present, I am producing a Web site which will display the results of this research to the world.
With the invaluable help of High School intern, Alicia Brooks, I have become well acquainted with barbering in 19th century Baltimore. In studying barbers we hope to learn more about how the African American community lived and worked in 19th Century Baltimore. Barbers often held positions of respect in their communities; their shops served as hubs of social and political discussion and activity. Barbers were often very politically active, and were sometimes among the most influential members of their community. Barbering was one of the few professions open to African Americans which afforded its practitioners the possibility of becoming not just self supporting, but prosperous. The results of our investigations into barbering will be presented on the Web for all to see. The most promising result of my investigations is that my initial work indicates rich possibilities for a serious long-term study.
Founded 1987
Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist
Patricia V. Melville, Editor
Mimi Calver, Assistant Editor
Lynne MacAdam, Production Editor
Rita Molter, Circulation
The Maryland State Archives is an independent agency in the Office of Governor Parris N. Glendening and is advised by the Hall of Records Commission, the Honorable Robert C. Murphy, chairman.
The Archivist's Bulldog is issued bi-monthly to publicize record collections, finding aids, and other activities of the Archives. The Editor welcomes editorial comments and contributions from the public.
Subscription cost is $25.00 per year, and the proceeds go to the State Archives Fund. To subscribe, send your name, address, and remittance to the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-1686. Phone: MD toll free: (800) 235-4045 or (410) 260-6400. FAX: (410) 974-3895.
The Archives maintains a Web site on the Internet. Our Web address is http://mdarchives.state.md.us
Our e-mail address is archives@mdarchives.state.md.us
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