THE ARCHIVES AT THE MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE
Ed, Lynne and Rocky represented the State Archives at the Maryland Technology Showcase at the University of Baltimore on December 10 and 11. The Showcase allows state agencies to display their computer projects and to demonstrate how the computer improves service and cuts costs. Computer software and hardware vendors, communications companies and suppliers of electronic curriculum all demonstrate their products and services.
The highlight of our display was the unveiling of the Maryland Manual On-Line and "Who Are Your Elected Officials?" Lynne manned this display for the two days and many of her visitors were students who enjoyed the opportunity to do some hands-on surfing. She helped them find the Archives' Web site and to master basic Internet skills.
Ed and Rocky were in another room demonstrating our Documents for the Classroom. They met with many students from third grade through high school, as well as teachers of all levels, and many other people from both the public and private sector. Everyone who visited was most impressed with the range and detail of our offerings on the World Wide Web.
1997 STATE HOLIDAYS
AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR BOUNTY RECORDS
by Heather Ravanbakhsh
Records of military service were discussed in a previous article. Related to those materials for the Civil War period are records pertaining to bounty payments for military service. The Comptroller of the Treasury kept track of the state bounty payments made to soldiers in compensation for their service. (Bounty Rolls) [MSA S629] include lists of African American soldiers entitled to bounties. Within the series are several types of lists based on USCT unit, slave designation, free black category, or county. Each roll is roughly alphabetical by the last name of the soldier, but there is no index. The slave bounty rolls list the soldier's name, regiment, city or county accredited with the service, date of the first payment, date of the final payment, name of the slave owner, and date of payment to the owner.
Also included in the bounty rolls is a list of the bounties paid to colored volunteers and draftees. This roll is arranged by the name of the company and then by the last name of the soldier. The roll records the soldier's full name, regiment, county of residence, date drafted, name of agent or attorney, date the bounty was paid, and the amount paid.
(Bounty Papers), 1864-1868, [MSA S627] contains correspondence and other documentation submitted by claimants of Civil War bounties or their agents. Documents associated with each claim may include some, but never all, of the following materials - affidavits of slave ownership, affidavits of freedom, bounty certificates and lists, death certificates, discharge papers, draft notices, manumissions, muster rolls, pension claims, powers of attorney, and substitutions. A database providing subject and name access is being compiled.
Federal bounty records are available on microfilm [M5775] at the State Archives. Federal bounties were handled by the U.S. War Department, Office of the Adjutant General, Slave Claims Commission. The records consist of four volumes relating to Marylanders whose slaves enlisted in the federal military, and cover the years 1863 to 1867.
On October 1, 1863, the War Department issued General Order 329 which directed recruitment not only of free blacks, but also of the slaves of loyal Marylanders. The slave owners would be paid $300 for each able-bodied slave enlisted into Union service. Also, black soldiers could be counted towards Maryland's quota of soldiers due to the Union Army.
The first volume contains the early proceedings that established the Maryland Claims Commission. The second volume, numbered volume 22, is titled "Register of Slaves." It lists the slaves alphabetically by last name and gives the slave's regiment, company, and name of the claimant.
The third and fourth volumes are numbered volume 23 and 25 respectively. They are titled "Register of Claims of Maryland Commission." Both books are indexed by the name of the claimant, giving each claimant a number. The claims are then listed numerically and include the date of the claim; name, residence, and character (loyal or disloyal) of the claimant; name of the slave; when, where, and by whom the slave was enlisted; his regiment and company; action taken by board; and remarks.
REPORT ON FALL MARAC MEETING
by Kevin Swanson
The fall meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference in Wilmington was held on November 7-9. The theme for this meeting was "Archivists Face to Face," and it was embodied in the group discussion format of the sessions. Rather than the traditional presentation of papers or panel discussion from a small group of experts, sessions were organized thematically around discussion groups of 20 to 30 attendees. The idea was to focus attention on issues of most interest to participants.
I attended a lively and informative session on local government archives chaired by discussion leaders Frederick H. Armstrong of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Gary D. Saretzky of the Monmouth County Archives, and David M. Weinberg of the Philadelphia Department of Records. This session focused on common problems of program development and promotion, coalition building, and outreach. Of particular interest was the institutional relationships between archives and records management programs in other states, and the creative ways in which specific record collections are highlighted to raise public awareness of archival institutions. One of the more creative endeavors came from New York State where a local county clerk mined dog license records to publish a list of the most popular canine names among Jewish dog owners!
I co-chaired a session on management with Archives alumnus Ben Primer, now with Princeton University's Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Ben and I had prepared to speak on a broad spectrum of topics ranging from hiring the right people to coping with downsizing. Interestingly, what attendees most wanted to discuss was maximizing their influence with their bosses and raising the profile of their operations. This reflected the fact that most of the archival operations represented were buried deep within a library or university system and constantly were called upon to explain to their immediate superior what they did and why it was important. There was the accustomed mix of interesting local tours, speakers, exhibitors, and workshops. Everyone seemed to appreciate the new session format, although I doubt that it will be repeated at all future meetings.
RECORD TRANSFERS
by Kevin Swanson
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, GREAT OAKS CENTER (Patient Master Index) 1971-1996 [MSA T2779]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, GREAT OAKS CENTER (Administrative File) var.d. [MSA T2780]
DISTRICT COURT 11, WA (Civil Docket) 1991 [MSA T1088]
DISTRICT COURT 11, WA (Criminal Docket, DNR) 1991 [MSA T 2781]
DISTRICT COURT 3, CA (Civil Docket) 1989-1990 [MSA T1813]
DISTRICT COURT 4, CH (Civil Docket) 1982 [MSA T235]
DISTRICT COURT 5, PG (Civil Docket) 1991 [MSA T240]
GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Bills and Resolutions) 1996 [MSA T1755]
GOVERNOR (General File) var.d. [MSA T2578 and T2685]
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION (Meeting File) 1990-1994 [MSA T1696]
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION (School File) 1995 [MSA T1748]
LIDA LEE TALL LEARNING RESOURCES CENTER (Administrative File) 1984-1991 [MSA T2124]
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS, WO SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS (Campaign Papers) 1990 [MSA T2777]
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Right of Way Plats) var.d. [MSA T2782]
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