All About the Archives

The Maryland State Archives is the historical agency for Maryland and serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value. Records date from the founding of the colony in 1634 to the present. Included in the Archives' holdings are colonial and state executive, legislative, and judicial records; county probate, land and court records; church records; business records; publications and reports of state, county and municipal governments; and special collections of private papers, maps, photographs, and newspapers. The Archives' search room is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday. There, professional archivists are on duty to assist researchers.

State agencies and citizens wishing assistance in determining what records of government should be retained permanently at the Maryland State Archives should consult the Archives' Regulations and the comprehensive Guide to Government Records. For further information and assistance with regard to saving paper records and the retention and disposal scheduling process in general, write schedule@mdsa.net.

Edward C. Papenfuse, Ph.D., State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents
Timothy D. Baker, Deputy State Archivist

© Copyright February 17, 2010 Maryland State Archives