The Archivist's Bulldog

Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein, longest serving  member of the Hall of Records Commission.   Goldstein, with Treasurer James and Governor  Harry Hughes, was the movtivating force behind  the creation of the new Hall of Records building  on Rowe Boulevard which opened in 1986.

On July 4, in remarks to the Queen Anne's County Historical Society's Independence Day celebrations, Ed Papenfuse spoke about the death of Comptroller Goldstein: "Last night, we lost a good friend and a consummate public servant in Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein.  All of the newspaper accounts stress his long service to the state, his devotion to fiscal affairs, his integrity, and the pride with which he shepherded Maryland's finances towards the millennium with the highest of credit ratings.  What all the accounts missed, however, was Louis's first love, after his family, Maryland history.  He was Mr. Maryland History.  He always linked the present with Maryland's past in every speech he gave.  We were honored to publish his weekly radio broadcasts on the history of each of the counties which he prepared for the state's 350th Anniversary, in 1984. He is here with us in spirit today.  One of his heroes was William Paca and the fight that William Paca led for the Bill of Rights was a theme of the many tours of the State House he personally led.  My remarks this morning are dedicated to Comptroller Goldstein. [For the rest of his remarks, visit the Museum Online

The Archives has placed a memorial page to Comptroller Goldstein off of its homepage

The spring meeting of the Search Room Advisory Committee was held on May 20, 1998. Committee members present included Vernon Skinner, Eleanor Cook, Lois Carr, Geneva Sparks, Doug Hayman, Scott MacGlashan, Karen Miles, Patricia Andersen, Barbara Smothers, Joe Howard, and Judy Mauriello. The last four named individuals are new members.

Ed Papenfuse introduced the guests, pictured right: David Hartel, Phil Cline, Carrie Cline, and Jesse Cline (widower, son, and grandchildren of June Hartel). He spoke of her services to genealogy and the Archives. Pat Melville eulogized June, a long-time volunteer, researcher, and author, and thanked her family for the donation of a new microfilm reader. A plaque has been placed on the reader acknowledging their gift in June's memory.

Ed demonstrated the new search engine for the Archives online by accessing MSA SC 2360, the Robert Goodloe Harper Collection, and a document used by his son, Eric Papenfuse, for his recent book on Harper and his upcoming lecture at the Maryland Historical Society.

Pat noted that on average no more than 10% of the readers in the search room are out of service on a given day. After the fall meeting substantial effort was made to improve maintenance, and two more reconditioned reader printers were made available. Data was provided on equipment costs. New reader printers cost $10,000 to $15,000, with $700 - 800 per year in maintenance. New readers cost about $2000 plus maintenance. The genealogical societies in the state are giving money for the readers, but the amount does not cover expenses. Ed and Chris Allan discussed new technology and suggested that eventually there may be other and more economic alternatives to the reader printers.

Through the good efforts of Doug and Betty deKeyser, MSA volunteers the parking lot has been reconfigured. Doug drew plans to city specifications to repaint straight lines instead of slanted ones and put his engineer's seal on them. Buildings and Grounds accepted the plans, and the resulting new lines have increased parking spaces from 32 to 47.

Chris presented the Archives budget as approved by the legislature which includes more than $723,000 for initiatives such as a book on Government House, adjunct archival storage, replacement of the telephone system, and planning funds for building addition and renovation. Even with the increase, Ed noted that the Archives will still have to find almost $842,000 to maintain its services. This year's increase was aimed at electronic programs, especially the Archives' electronic storage initiative. There was no increase in funding for other staff, including reference.

Scott MacGlashan described the DOC project to convert county land records into an electronic image retrieval system. Ed described the Archives' program to make plats accessible online, that might be applied to land records. A pilot program with Washington County plats is underway, and Kevin Swanson made a presentation recently to the Court Clerks Association for both present and historical images to be retrieved electronically. Scott noted that the problems with differing sizes of plats and the variety of storage facilities in the counties would be solved by standardization and scanning.

Pat discussed scanning for copy production as has been done by the Archives for the parties involved in the tobacco litigation. Over 20,000 images have been scanned since March. Chris noted that this method of retrieval disturbs the actual record only once while allowing an accessible image for any number of future uses.

The number of volunteers has been declining, in part because staff has not had time to work on the training and encouragement suggested by past meetings of the SRAC. A proposal to hire someone to work with the volunteer program, perhaps one day a week, to set up training and seminars was discussed. Joe Howard suggested that a volunteer committee be involved in setting up programs, and Pat and Ed asked that he work on this. Judy Mauriello and Scott discussed the experiences of other institutions and the benefits of volunteer coordinators

Geneva Sparks described the new vital records program that allows individuals to obtain birth certificates from 1951 to the present from their local health departments. So far fifteen counties offer this service, and by October 1998, all jurisdictions will have it available. The cost of a document will be increased from $4.00 to $6.00. Pat asked the committee for its views on increasing the current $5.00 fee charged by the Archives for vital records. Because of the research necessary for retrieval of older records, the cost is generally higher than the fee charged by the Division of Vital Records. The committee agreed that $8.00 per record was a reasonable compromise.

Eleanor Cook's booklet, "Understanding What You Find in Maryland Records," will soon be available on the MSA website and will be printed by the Archives. Card indexes are being scanned so that they, too, can be available online. Index 48, Revoluntary War pensions, was the pilot project. Doug Hayman will be organizing volunteers to scan other indexes. Index 1, colonial probate records, is high on the list, although patent indexes will probably be done first.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE RECORDS "JUST AREN'T THERE"
by Robert Barnes

Many times researchers feel they have reached an impasse when it appears that the desired records do not exist. Some one may be looking for a particular record dated 1750, but the guide indicates the series does not begin until 1778. A search of other seemingly unrelated records may pay genealogical dividends. For example, a number of early Baltimore County deed books contain wills dating from the late 17th century. These may have been in the form of deeds of gift to take effect after the grantor had died.

In 1794 the Baltimore County Register of Wills began keeping a separate series of books of indentures, recording the binding of young persons by their parents, grandparents, or justices of the Orphans Court to a master who was to teach them a trade. Before 1794 these indentures may have been recorded in the orphans court proceedings, and before that in the county court proceedings. It may also help to recognize alternative names for records. County Court Proceedings may not exist for all years; other series to check include Minutes, Rough Minutes, Judgment Records, or Judicial Records.

Another common problem occurs when the court house has burned and all the records have "gone up in smoke." Researchers may find helpful information in the records of other counties. For example, many people from Calvert and St. Mary's counties bought and sold land in Talbot and Dorchester counties. It may also help to check records at another level of government. If the county land records have vanished, one can check the Provincial Court or General Court land records. Other sources include private records, such as church records, business records, diaries, and newspapers.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ACCESSIONS
by Nancy Bramucci

MSA SC 4926: Chaney Collection, 1861 [1894]. Handwritten copy of "Maryland My Maryland" in the hand of James Ryder Randall; letter, Abraham Lincoln to Lieut. General Winfield Scott, written in response to letter of Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks. Restricted.

MSA SC 4956: Nutt Collection, 1963-1989. Letters, cards, and invitations from Avalynne Tawes to Lillian Nutt. Includes letters of Governor Tawes to Mrs. Nutt and the obituary of Mrs. Tawes.

MSA SC 4957: Lauricella Collection, 1850. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the Original Tongues published by Thomas Cowperthwait & Co., Philadelphia, 1850. Contains bible records of the Hipsley, Pratt, and allied families. Also loose papers found in the Bible of poems, music, obituaries, and letters of the Hipsley family.

MSA SC 4958: Horvath Collection, ca. 1887-ca. 1891. Letterbook, containing approximately 700 letters written by Governor Frank Brown. On film: M11806.

MSA SC 4959: Whitney Collection of Baltimore County Surveyor's Plats, 1920s-1940s. Surveyor's plats, Baltimore County, and related documentation, created by William Whitney while serving as Baltimore County surveyor and later as a private surveyor. Restricted.

MSA SC 4961: Maryland Women's History Kit Collection, 1998. Maryland Women's History Kit, Images and Expressions: Maryland Women in the Arts, including photographs and profiles of 26 contemporary Maryland women representing a wide range of the arts.

MSA SC 4962: Commissioners of Financial Regulation Collection. Photographs of former banking commissioners.

MSA SC 4963: Provincial Families of Maryland Collection. Approved applications for membership in "Provincial Families of Maryland:" families who were Maryland settlers prior to July 4, 1776.

MSA SC 4964: Londontown Ferry Books Collection, 1778-1779. Ferry accounts, Londontown, Anne Arundel County: ledger no. 3, 1778; ledger no. 4, 1779. Originals located at the Maryland Historical Society, MS. 1687. On film: M1445.

MSA SC 4967: Carroll Collection, 1728. Inventory, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1728. Original at the Maryland Historical Society.

MSA SC 4970: Malone Collection, 1998. Genealogy of the Lore and Hellen Families of Calvert County; Remembrances of Sara Lore Malone: an oral history about Solomons Island and Calvert County. Includes some family history. Computer disk.

MSA SC 4971: Smouse Papers Collection, 1801-1832. Memorandum/agreement between Peter and Henry Smouse, 1827/09/18; deed, Peter and Catherine Smouse to Henry Smouse for land in Allegany County, 1832/01/16; deed, Daniel Smouse to Henry Smouse and his wife for land in Allegany County, 1831/12/29; deed, Thomas Beall of Samuel to Henry Smouse for land in Allegany County, 1807/06/17; deed, David Beall and wife to Henry Smouse for land in Allegany County, 1831/06/13; Patent, Thomas Beall of Samuel for land in Allegany County, 1801/06/05.

MSA SC 4975: Harry R. Hughes Collection, 1964-1986. Materials relating to Governor Harry R. Hughes, including speeches 1979-1986, 1964 Congressional election, 1978 election, 1986 election, Department of Transportation, law office, plaques, memorabilia, and other personal materials. Collection also includes materials relating to events held at Government House and the creation of the public rooms. Restricted.

MSA SC 4976: USNA Archives Collection. Copy photographs of the old USNA Library and Superintendent's House, formerly the Governor's Mansion. Restricted.
 
 
 

Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist
Patricia V. Melville, Editor
Mimi Calver, Assistant Editor
Lynne MacAdam, Web 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 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