The Secretary informed the Commission about the illness of Marion Warren and indicated that best wishes for a speedy recovery had been conveyed. As a tribute to Marion and to demonstrate how accessible and well indexed the photographic collections are at the Archives, the Secretary demonstrated the new addition to the Archives web page featuring photographic collections.
Secretary Lynch reported on the work which is being done on the State House. He said that completed projects included the replacement of gutters on the new section of the building and that there have been no leaks since this was done. He reported that the Board of Public Works has approved contracts to replace the central roof and to reseam the skylights. He also said that the underground drains have closed up over the years, causing harm to the building. They will be digging to make a new manifold system; the work is being done by hand so there will be no damage. They are working with the Maryland Historical Trust so that the right people will be on site in the event artifacts are discovered.
Secretary Lynch also reported that he has examined similar buildings in Hartford and Boston and found that the quality of our State House is unique. He said that people in Connecticut and Massachusetts are amazed at the condition and the amount of original fabric in it. He reported that other projects planned are mostly to the mechanical systems and he thanked Dr. Papenfuse for his advice on cutting through the cornices.
Dr. Papenfuse asked that Secretary Lynch put the Archives in touch with those who are doing the work as the Archives has done a considerable amount of research on Joseph Clark, the architect of the dome and has discovered that when George Washington established Washington, D.C., the first person he talked to was Clark about where to seat the capitol. This was discovered in a letter among the papers of L'Enfant. He also said that Clark put the lightning rod on the dome with advice from Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush, and it would be great to discover where it is grounded, perhaps in an artesian well. He noted that this is also a great opportunity for archeological investigation on the State House grounds.
The Committee expressed appreciation for the electronic presentation, tour of the building, and lunch. They also expressed a keen interest in making as much of the history of the General Assembly available on the web, funding permitting.
Dr. Papenfuse reported on the Constitution Day Press Conference (September 17) on the implementation of the NEH grant ot the Archives and the Anne Arundel County Schools. This grant makes possible the introduction of archival materials into the classroom via a direct electronic link to the Archives also funded by the grant and matching private contributions. Comptroller Goldstein provided a stimulating history lesson on the importance of the day and of the program with the teachers.
In addition to noting recent accessions and transfers, Dr. Papenfuse explained to the Commission that there was no more space for records in the present building without transferring unprocessed material temporarily to a warehouse facility and that funds were requested in the FY 1999 budget for additional warehouse space.
The Commission was referred to the lists of special collections and special collections microfilm and their attention called to the Conroy Collection, MSA SC 4817, which consists of a form book, probably created in 1794 containing manuscript transcriptions of colonial era legal forms, possibly used for the instruction of law students, and a copy of Laws Made and Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Maryland, 1828 (Annapolis: Jonas Green, 1829), which were given by Delegate Mary Conroy in memory of her husband, Senator Edward Conroy.
Dr. Papenfuse showed the Commission the new Museum Without Walls for which the Archives has applied for trademark registration. The Commission commended the idea and encouraged the Archives to continue to mount exhibits in this fashion. As an example of how instructive the exhibits can be, Dr. Papenfuse read from a rare letter describing the first Battle of Bull Run.
On a motion from Delegate Conroy, seconded by Secretary Lynch, the Commission endorsed both book proposals.
Dr. Papenfuse distributed copies of Dr. Gibb's new publication, indicating that it includes all those early settlers missed in previous indexing attempts. As well as being in paper format, it is also on line on the Archives' web site. The cover image is the Jesuit request for land, some of which they still own. Dr. Gibb spoke of his work and received the warm appreciation of the Commission for his efforts.
Dr. Papenfuse demonstrated the new document packet in the Archives of Maryland Documents for the Classroom series. He indicated that he hoped that one of the buildings featured in the packet and now apparently owned by Peter Angelos would be interpreted in the context outlined in the packet as well as a museum of Baltimore baseball history.
The work of the summer internship program was reviewed in the context
of articles written by the interns for the Bulldog:
Vol.
11, No. 15, August 11, 1997
Ardath Cade presented President Miller with two prints, one of General
Stonewall Jackson, and the other of Robert E. Lee, which she has donated
in memory of her husband, Senator Jack Cade, to the Commission on Artistic
Property to be displayed where the Senate thinks most appropriate. The
Commission and Senator Miller thanked Mrs. Cade. Senator Miller also
indicated that he had received an award of $10,000 from the Association
of State Legislators which he has given to the University of Maryland College
Park to help fund a chair in Senator Cade's name.
____________________________________________
The Honorable Robert Mack Bell, Vice Chairman
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Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, Secretary
Dr.
Edward C. Papenfuse
State Archivist
Email: If you have an Email account linked to your WEB browser, click here to activate your mail program to send an inquiry or message to me at archives@mdarchives.state.md.us or contact me at (410) 260-6403.
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