THURGOOD MARSHALL MEMORIAL DEDICATED
by Mimi Calver
On October 22, the memorial to Thurgood Marshall on State House Square (formerly Lawyers' Mall) was dedicated by the Governor, the Lt. Governor and members of Marshall's family. As a member of the Governor's Commission on the Thurgood Marshall Memorial, Ed took part and helped to unveil the statue of Donald Gaines Murray.
A native of Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. His struggle for equal justice under law and, specifically, to end the doctrine of separate but equal began in Maryland in 1936 when he won the right for Donald Gaines Murray to attend the University of Maryland School of Law. He went on to win the right, in 1950, for an African American woman, Esther McCready, to attend the University of Maryland School of Nursing. In 1954, he won the Brown v. the Board of Education ending segregation in the schools forever. The widow of Donald Gaines Murray and Esther McCready attended the dedication ceremony.
The Commission which created the memorial was set up in 1994 by Governor William Donald Schaefer, following a resolution proposed by Delegate Pete Rawlings and passed by the General Assembly. A nationwide competition resulted in the selection of Toby Mendez, an artist from Frederick. Toby created a plaza in front of the Legislative Services building with an 8' statue of Thurgood Marshall. Facing him are seated figures of Donald Gaines Murray and two children representing all children affected by the Brown v. Board of Education case. Behind him are pillars with the words which appear on the front of the Supreme Court building in Washington: "Equal Justice Under Law."
Click here to learn more about the Thurgood Marshall Memorial.
TRANSITIONS
Chris Haley is now an Archivist III with the title of Supervisor of Imaging Services. He is in charge of the Photolab.
REFERENCE REPORT
by Pat Melville
In September, the Reference Services Department was reorganized to encompass all aspects of reference operations - search room; phones; research letters, formerly part of the Mail Program; and research, copying, and retrieval activities, formerly part of State and Local Records. During the month, several UMAB students were researching non-profit organizations for a class project. Other institutional studies included the State Insurance Commission, Russian Railway Service Corps, and public accounting. Product oriented subjects pertained to blue crabs, oyster harvesting, and manufacturing along the Patapsco River in the 19th century.
Slave and servant topics dealt with manumissions during the Revolutionary period and indentured servitude. Civil War studies included sites where ordnance was stored and battle flags. Local history subjects consisted of the port of Annapolis in the 18th century, sheriffs in Baltimore and Howard counties, early Prince George's County, St. George's Island in St. Mary's County, and Broadneck Peninsula in Anne Arundel County. Miscellaneous subjects included historical speeches, primary elections, Piscataway Indians, and history of the Episcopal Church.
Reference activity in September 1995 reached fairly high levels. Statistics for September 1996 represent a more normal pattern, but for comparison purposes show deceases. Total circulation in the search room fell 21.8%, 8489 compared to 10,854 in September 1995. Library usage dropped 44.5%, 763 compared to 1374. Circulation of original records declined 37.7%, 1903 compared to 3054. Microfilm reading decreased 9.2%, 5838 compared to 6426. The number of researchers in the search room declined 10.2%, 1190 in September 1996 compared to 1325 last year. New patrons deceased 11%, 323 compared to 363. Returning researchers dropped 9.9%, 867 compared to 962. Despite these declines reader printer income jumped 224.4%, $1328.50 compared to $409.50. For the first time since being tracked separately, phone reference registered a drop in the number of calls. In September 1996 the staff handled 1133 calls, compared to 1201 last year, for a decrease of 5.7%. There were an average of 57 calls per day.
Copy and retrieval requests processed by reference services in September totaled 862 which represents a 9% decrease from the 1995 figure of 947. This decrease in requests was accompanied by a 11.7% decline in the number of records circulated, 1409 compared to 1596. Most requests, 412, were received through the mail, accounting for 47.8 of the total. Those received by phone accounted for 29.3% of the total. Faxed requests made up 5.9% of the total, and search room requests 11.5%. In addition, 2.7% of the copy orders were handled in the lobby without requiring the patron to register for the search room. Revenue from copy requests fell by 7.6% over last September, $8774.77 compared to $9501.50.
LIBRARY ACCESSIONS
by Shashi Thapar
Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of United States, 4 March, 1789 - 3 March, 1791, vol. 13: Debates in House of Representatives, 2nd Session, Apr.- Aug. 1790
Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of United States, 4 March, 1789 - 3 March, 1791, vol. 12: Debates in House of Representatives, 2nd Session, Jan.- Mar. 1790
Abell, William S., Fifty Years at Garrett Park 1919-1969: A History of the New Georgetown Preparatory School
Barnes, Robert N., Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759
Bryan, Jenifer, Printing Industries of Maryland
Cushman, Clare, The Supreme Court Justices: Illustrated Biographies, 1789-1993
Engelmeyer, Bridget Marie, Sister Ildephonsa Wegman: Footnote to a Legend
Gabler, James M., Passions: The Wines and Travels of Thomas Jefferson
Goehlert, Robert V., Members of Congress: A Bibliography
Goldsmith-Day, Donna, Inns and Colonial Homes of Historic Maryland: Spirits of Romance and Revolution
Haydon, Robert, Thomas Hayden: England to Virginia 1657
Jackson, Lester L., Jr. Descendants of Humphrey and Margaret Jackson (1562-1996), Derbyshire, England to St. Mary's County, Maryland
Martin, Fenton S., How to Research the Supreme Court
Meek, Melton P., Adam Meek: Nine Generations and Intermarriage Lineages
Merryweather, Melanie Ayres, Genealogy of the Purnell Family
Merryweather, Melanie Ayres, Genealogy of the Family of Robert P. LeCompte
Merryweather, Melanie Ayres, Genealogy of the Ironshire Family
Murphy, Emily A., 300 Years of Liberal Arts at St. John's College in Annapolis, 1696-1996: "A Complete and Generous Education"
National Archives and Records Administration, Ready Access to Essential Evidence: The Strategic Plan 1997-2007
National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Lineage Book 7: 1992-1995
National Society of Daughters and Founders and Patriots of America, Lineage Book of the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, vol. 39
Orrell, Reverdy Lewin, IV, Palestine Lodge No. 189, Revisited: Biographical Sketches of Selected Early Members
Roe, Alfred S., Monocacy
Rogers, W. Wayne, Greener Pastures from the Tidewater to Texas and Beyond
Sluby, Paul E., Sr., Records of the Columbian Harmony Cemetery, Washington D.C., vol. 6: 1912-1931
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