Submission of a recommendation by the Maryland State Archives that the Board of Public Works accept on behalf of the Archives two swords bequeathed to the State of Maryland by Judith Goldsborough Oates.

Remarks

The Maryland State Archives  has recently received a gift of two swords that belonged to Tench Tilghman (1744-1786), aide-de-camp to George Washington during the Revolution.  Both swords are extraordinary examples of eighteenth century craftsmanship, and one is depicted in Charles Willson Peale's painting of Washington, Lafayette and Tilghman at Yorktown which hangs in the Old Senate Chamber of the State House. The swords have descended in the Tilghman family and are the gifts of Colonel Tilghman's great, great granddaughter, Judith Goldsborough Oates.  Mrs. Oates died on December 26, 1997, leaving these historically significant objects to the state with the request that the sword depicted in Peale's painting be displayed with the portrait in the Old Senate Chamber.

Gift and grant forms have been submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management. Following the Board of Public Work's acceptance of this gift the Archives will make arrangements for the display of the swords in accordance with the terms of Mrs. Oates' bequest.