Ed presents Judge Murphy with a copy of the Ogilby map
On September 11, the Archives held a lunch for invited guests, staff and volunteers to honor several important milestones in the history of the institution. The date was chosen as the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the new building. Second, three members of staff who are retiring this month, Teresa Fountain, Andy Beard, and Skip White, were honored for their long service. And finally, Judge Robert C. Murphy, who retires soon as Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, was surprised with a tribute to his 24 years of leadership of the Hall of Records Commission.
In honoring Judge Murphy, Ed presented him with a framed copy of the John Ogilby map of 1671 as a reminder of the Archives and the building which he was so instrumental in making possible. In his remarks, Ed noted that Judge Murphy has been the chair of the Hall of Records Commission for the entire time he has been State Archivist and he expressed his gratitude for Judge Murphy's unfailing support over the years for the Archives, as well as for his good advice and sense of humor.
Ed presents Judge Murphy with a copy of the Ogilby map
Archives' retirees Teresa Fountain, Skip White and Andy Beard
Teresa is retiring after 23 years of service, Skip with 30 years and Andy with 26. Ed noted that all three of them have made important contributions to the Archives and presented each with an inscribed bowl. Following the presentations, everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch in the search room. Special guests included present and past members of the Hall of Records Commission and members of Judge Murphy's family.
In his remarks, Ed also thanked the staff for getting the Archives ready for the big day by giving it a complete cleaning from top to bottom. On Monday, everyone had come in in old clothes, armed with cleaning fluids and equipment. Desks were dusted and polished, windows washed, floors swept, and carpets vacuumed. It was a wonderful, and much needed, birthday present for our building.
REFERENCE REPORT
by Pat Melville
In August there was a low number of non-genealogical research topics. Many involved local history searches, including airports in Prince George's County, the African American presence in Annapolis from 1750 to 1900, Baltimore City from 1783 to 1819, Parole shopping center outside Annapolis, Woodlawn Friends Meeting, Spring Grove Hospital, and Kent County in the 1850s and 1860s. Other subjects concerned early American literature and womens education, child custody in divorce cases, lighthouses and lightships, and postbellum thoughts of Maryland Confederates. Circulation in the search room declined 8.9% in August, 10,115 compared to 11,103 in 1995. Leading the decrease was use of original records, down 28.9%, 2096 compared to 2947. The circulation of library books fell 23.4%, 917 compared to 1197. Microfilm usage increased by 2%, 7102 compared to 6959.
At the same time, the total number of researchers rose 4.2%, 1623 compared to 1558 in 1995. In fact, a record was set on Tuesday, August 6 when 101 patrons came into the search room. The previous record was 99. The number of returning researchers during the month rose 12.9%, 1225 compared to 1085. New patrons fell 15.8%, 398 compared to 473.
Phone reference activity in August changed little from last year, 1314 calls compared to 1304. On average there were 60 calls per day, compared to 57 last year.
GENERAL STAFF MEETING MINUTES
by Chris Haley
A general staff meeting was held on Monday, September 9. Chris Allan presided in Ed's absence.
As usual, the first matter of business was the listing of employee anniversaries. March anniversaries include Lynne MacAdam, 16 years; Rita Molter, 24 years; Skip White, 30 years; Jim Hefelfinger, 10 years; Julie Price, 7 years; Joyce Riddle, 3 years; and Elaine Rice, 2 years.
April anniversaries include Bernice Taylor, 3 years and Renee Sowe, 3 years. May anniversaries include Barbara Schisler, 15 years; Chris Allan, 19 years; Don Williams, 10 years; Ann Baker, 9 years; and Glenn Dalgliesh, 3 years. June anniversaries include Mimi Calver, 10 years; Shashi Thapar, 9 years; Ellen Alers, 6 years; Lee Evans, 6 years; Ray Connor, 4 years; Heather Ravanbakhsh, 3 years; Hanna Szczepanowska, 2 years; Barbara Prehn, 1 year; and Emily Murphy, 1 year. July anniversaries include Nancy Bramucci, 15 years; Diane Frese, 25 years; Teresa Fountain, 23 years; and Connie Neale, 11 years.
August anniversaries include Ed Papenfuse, 23 years; Pat Melville, 29 years; Rob MacAdam, 8 years; Cecelia Smith, 4 years; and Dawn Steeley, 2 years. September anniversaries include Shirley Salisbury, 10 years; Vickie Allan, 13 years; Kim Saville, 10 years; Betsy Bodziak, 4 years; Ron Doyle, 3 years; and Elizabeth Newell, 3 years.
New employees include Betty Ann Blanchard in Information Services and Marilyn Cramer in Reference Services. Leanda Phillips resigned last month as an Archival Assistant to take a job with the Anne Arundel County States Attorney's office.
Three members of our staff, Teresa Fountain and Skip White of the photo lab, and Andie Beard of the conservation lab, are taking advantage of the early retirement program. Chris wished them luck in their post-Archives pursuits.
Discussions on the fiscal budget for 1998 have begun. As a budget savings measure, the General Assembly has allocated refunding for only 40% of those positions vacated through early retirement. The Archives is trying to retain the positions of Photo Lab Supervisor and Conservation Lab Technician.
Chris reminded us of the special reception that will be held at the Archives on Wednesday, September 11, for retiring Hall of Records Commission Chairman, Judge Robert C. Murphy, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. These festivities should be seen also as a celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Hall of Records Building. As a gift to the building, he asked for volunteers to assist in today's cleaning of the public areas of the Archives and the stacks. Chris 'volunteered' the team leaders and specified their areas: Kevin, stacks; Pat, search room; Don, lobby; Nancy, windows; and Richard, microfilm room.
Pat handled the presentation of framed photographs of the staff and volunteers who have been profiled in the Bulldog in the past few months: Shashi Thapar, Renee Sowe, Don Williams, Ann Baker, and your humble author, Chris Haley. The volunteers included Joe Howard, Jerry Hynson, Dianne Feldman, Harry Smith, and Bill Miller.
RECORD TRANSFERS
by Kevin Swanson
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Child Protective Services File) 1978-1990 [MSA T1825]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Foster Care File) 1975-1990 [MSA T1826]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Foster and Adoptive Home File) 1990 [MSA T1827]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Adult Protective Services File) 1980-1990 [MSA T2384]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Child Support File) 1975-1990 [MSA T2774]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, SM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Foster Care File) 1965-1991 [MSA T1590]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, SM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Adoption File) 1965-1991 [MSA T2256]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (General Fund File) 1991-1993 [MSA T2518]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (Capital Fund File) 1991-1993 [MSA T2519]
DISTRICT COURT (Tapes) 1990-1992 [MSA T230]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Charitable Organizations) 1978-1996 [MSA T858]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Requisitions) 1993-1994 [MSA T863]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Trademark File) 1984 [MSA T865]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Trading Stamp File) 1988-1994 [MSA T867]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Appointments and Commissions) 1992-1996 [MSA T868]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Servicemarks) 1985-1987 [MSA T870]
SECRETARY OF STATE (Condominium File) var.d. [MSA T1443]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Ledger) 1981-1995 [MSA T656]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Estate Papers) var.d. [MSA T679]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills, Unprobated) 1986-1991 [MSA T1197]
STATE AND LOCAL RECORDS REFERENCE REPORT
by Kevin Swanson
The August total of 1076 reference requests represents a 1.6% decrease from the August 1995 total of 1093. This decrease in requests was accompanied by a 22.4% decrease in the number of records circulated, from 2114 last year to 1640 in 1996. There were 78 fewer vital records requested in August 1996 (434) than in 1995 (512). Circulation of district court records decreased by 24.4%, 267 compared to 353. Requests for records of the circuit courts and other agencies decreased by 24.8%, 939 compared to 1249. Overall, the judiciary continues as the largest single user of SLR reference services. The number of reference requests received from the courts decreased by 30.1% (230 compared to 329), while the number of records requested decreased by 8.8% (475 compared to 521). Court requests accounted for 21.4% of all requests received and 30% of total record circulation.
Requests received by phone again decreased in August (355 compared to 401) accounting for 33% of total requests. The number of requests faxed to the Archives increased from 67 to 82. Overall, fax requests made up 7.6% of the August 1996 total, while accounting for 6.1% of the August 1995 total. More requests were generated from the search room (177) than had been the case in August 1995 (79). Search room requests accounted for 16.4% of August 1996 reference activity as compared to 7.2% last year, an increase of 9.2%. We also received 16 requests handled in the lobby without requiring the patron to register for the search room. This is a 55.6% decrease from the 36 lobby requests received in August 1995.
The number of phone/fax requests (437) just fell short of the number of requests received through the mail (446). Phone/fax requests accounted for 40.6% of total requests, with the mail accounting for 41.4%.
Revenue from reference activity increased by 6.6% over last August, $9219 compared to $8649.
STAFF NEWS
Throughout the next several months a series of lectures on Maryland History is being held at St. John's College. It is co-sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation and the Friends of St. John's College. The first lecture will be held on Tuesday, October 15 in FSK Auditorium at 8:15 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Emily Murphy will speak on "St. John's College: The First 300 Years." It will be based on her newly published book: A Complete and Generous Education: 300 Years of Liberal Arts at St. John's College in Annapolis.
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