THE HOWARD COUNTY SEAL
by Robert Barnes
The Howard County Seal was designed and approved on behalf of the Howard District of Anne Arundel County in 1840, but the County was not officially established until Howard District was separated from Anne Arundel County in 1851 John H. Murphy, "Making It Official: State and County Seals Still Do it," Maryland, Summer 1982, p. 40). The seal was designed by Edward Stabler, one of the foremost seal designers of the time (He also designed seals for Anne Arundel County).
The Howard County Code of 1977 stipulates that the seal of the county shall be a copy of the seal designed by Edward Stabler in 1840. The seal depicts "a shock of wheat, centrally dominant, with a hand plow to the left, and a spike harrow to the right. All three (3) are centered on a plowed field with tobacco plants growing in the foreground. Trees and rolling hills form the background, and a cloudless sky forms the upper third of the design."
The County Code describes the colors that are to be used when the seal is rendered in color. The sky--Prussian blue-med.; the wheat--yellow ochre; the hills--graduated shades of teraverte; the tobacco plant in the foreground--Chrome green-med.; the trees--a dark shade of chrome green; the soil--burnt umber-med;.; the spike harrow and the plow blade--Ivory black diluted to gray; and the plow handles--Burnt sienna-med. (Howard County Code. Published by Order of the County Council. Tallahassee: Municipal Code Corporation, 1977. Sec. 22.101).
The Howard County Flag was designed by Mrs. Jean O. Hannon in a county wide contest in 1968 (League of Women Voters of Howard County. Know Your County. 1971). The wheat sheaf represents agriculture, and the map and triangle represent the county's industrial future. Mr. James E. Nicholson, a Baltimore City flag buff suggested that any future flags be predominantly orange in color (The Baltimore Sun, 20 Sep 1968).
The flag may be described as: Quarterly Argent (Silver) and Gules (Red), a cross bottony counterchanged (alternating colors). In the 1st quarter a wheat sheaf Or (gold), fimbriated or outlined in Sable (black); in the 4th quarter an outline map of the county Vert (green), set within a triangle Or (gold).
SEARCH ROOM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
by Pat Melville
The Search Room Advisory Committee held its fall meeting on November 21 at the Archives. In his introductory remarks Ed Papenfuse described recent reference queries which involved legal research. One concerned the enactment of the first public record access law which occurred in 1666. The intent of the law remained in effect despite repeal of the language in 1676. Another request pertained to the minute books of a town in Maryland. There seemed to be two records for the same time period. Usually such a situation means one is a transcript of the other. This time two contemporary copies had been created because state law required that particular town to maintain dual minute books presumely to prevent loss of information.
Ed mentioned two publications planned by the Archives on public buildings and persons. The first book, scheduled for completion in 1999, will concern public residences of the governors and the first ladies and hostesses. The second, scheduled for 2000, will provide a history of the State House, incorporating new information being uncovered through research and renovation work on the dome and other areas of the building.
Committee members discussed the availability and performance of readers and reader printers in the search room. Despite the potential of electronic reproduction of records and retrieval through the internet, members agreed that microfilm will continue to be an important component for research. Elaine Zimmerman and Jerry Hynson volunteered to investigate the possible acquisition of used readers. [After the meeting the Archives renewed its efforts to maintain the equipment in working order. It also made plans to affix debit card readers to two older reader printers so they can be used in the search room.]
Pat Melville distributed a list of current volunteer activities. In 1998 she will organize a series of continuing education functions for the volunteers and review sessions for those in reference. In the new year the reference volunteer program will be expanded to include the handling of vital record requests. As pointed out by Bob Barnes, volunteers play a large role in the success of the genealogy workshops he organizes for the Archives.
Eleanor Cook described her proposed publication, "Understanding What You Find in Maryland Records," which is a compilation of information on types of records such as patents and assessments and terminology such as quarter and hundred. The Archives is looking at this work as an addition to its website and as an inexpensive hard copy publication.
Doug Hayman announced that the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society is inaugurating a new journal, Anne Arundel Readings, in January. Scott MacGlashan briefly outlined the land record imaging projects occurring in several circuit courts in Maryland.
The meeting concluded with thanks to the four members - Linda Adamson, Henry Peden, Jerry Hynson, and Elaine Zimmerman - whose terms of office are ending.
RECORD TRANSFERS
by Kevin Swanson
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS (Meeting File) 1991-1993 [MSA T918]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, CA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Child and Adult Protective Services File) 1995-1996 [MSA T2895]
DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES (Rules and Regulations) 1946-1973 [MSA T2896]
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES (Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads, TIFF Format) 1989-1997 [MSA T2839]
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES (Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads, BIL Format) 1997 [MSA T2897]
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES (Sensitive Species Project Review Areas, TNTmips E Size Layouts) 1997 [MSA T2898]
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES (National Wetlands Inventory Guidance Maps Print Files) 1989 [MSA T2899]
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATE (Bill and Resolution File) 1997 [MSA T293]
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATE (Bill Books) 1994-1996 [MSA T295]
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SENATE (Vetoed Bills) 1996 [MSA T1763]
OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER (Accounting Records) 1983-1994 [MSA T2065]
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS, BA SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS (Voter Registration Record) 1896-1950 [MSA T268]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Estate Papers) var. dates [MSA T679]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills, Unprobated) 1992-1994 [MSA T1197]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Proceedings) 1970-1973 [MSA T2702]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Inventories) 1851-1896 [MSA T2705
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Accounts) 1852-1969 [MSA T2900]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Inventories, Real Estate) 1933-1970 [MSA T2901]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Inventories, Index) 1851-1978 [MSA T2902]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Proceedings, Index) 1970-1981 [MSA T2903]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Docket, Index) 1851-1912 [MSA T2904]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Docket) 1851-1912 [MSA T2905]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Accounts of Sale, Index) 1832-1969 [MSA T2906]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Accounts, Index) 1815-1967 [MSA T2907]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Annual Valuations, Index) 1851-1888 [MSA T2908]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Small Estate and Guardianship Index) 1964 [MSA T2909]
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Guardian Docket) 1852-1964 [MSA T2910]
MONTGOMERY COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Estate Papers) 1990-1995 [MSA T416]
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 Chairman of the Hall of Records Commission is the Honorable Louis L. Goldstein, Comptroller, and the Vice Chairman is the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.
The Archivists' Bulldog is issued bi-monthly to publicize records collections, finding aids, and other activities of the Archives and its staff. Subscription cost is $25 per year, and the proceeds go to the State Archives Fund. To subscribe, please 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. E-mail: archives@mdarchives.state.md.us. The Editor welcomes editorial comments and contributions from the public.
The Archives maintains a Website on the Internet at: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us
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