Type: Historical Societies



Library: H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Library Web site or Online Catalog: http://www.mdhs.org/explore/library.html
Library Collection Highlights: Genealogy Index of library resources, Dielman-Hayward File of biographical information from Maryland newspapers, Norris Harris Church Register Index to library resources, Wilkins File index to standard Maryland histories, Passano Historic Structures Index, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, Baltimore City directories. Star Spangled Banner manuscript, Charles Carroll of Carrollton Papers, William Wirt Papers, Eubie Blake Papers, Lloyd and Tilghman Family Papers, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Papers, Hughes Photograph Collection, Peale Photograph Collection, Beachy Photograph Collection, obsolete currency.
Library Collection Strengths: Genealogy, local history, state history, ships' passenger lists.
Library History: From the beginnings of the Maryland Historical Society in 1844, the Library has been an integral part of the society. The original organizational structure included a Librarian, largely an honorary post, a paid Assistant Librarian, and a Library Committee. The functions of and relationship between the staff and the committee have varied greatly throughout the Library's history.

The Library was to serve as a depository for books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and other items pertaining to the history of Maryland. In 1846 the Library received many original documents relating to Maryland's colonial and early state years, which it housed until they were placed at the Hall of Records (now the Maryland State Archives) in 1934. There was little money to purchase items, but many individuals and organizations made important donations. From the start, the Library was used by history researchers and students, as well as members.

In 1848 the Library moved into the Athenaeum Building, along with the Library Company of Baltimore (established in 1796 as Baltimore's first public library) and the Mercantile Library Association. In 1854 the Library Company transferred their holdings to the Maryland Historical Society Library, which made it one of the richest collections in the country.

During the late 1800's there were frequent disagreements between the Librarian and the Library Committee, with responsibilities shifting back and forth. This was partly due to the fact that librarianship was not actually a profession yet and often neither the Librarian nor anyone on the Library Committee actually had training in library science. Nevertheless, a complete inventory of the Library's holdings was carried out and a card catalog of the collection, including title, author, and subject cards, was prepared.

In 1888 Librarian John W. M. Lee was sent to England to negotiate the purchase of Calvert family papers. This was a large, highly significant acquisition that set the tone for further purchases. It was now clear that the security of the collection was of vital interest to the entire state. It was also important for the Librarian to keep abreast of dealer's and publisher's catalogs, so that appropriate items could be added to the collection.

When Louis H. Dielman became Chairman of the Library Committee, for the first time there was someone with actual training as a librarian. He was gravely concerned about the lack of professionalism in the Society's Library. When the Society moved to the Keyser building in 1919, this gave a perfect opportunity to revamp the Library. The Library of Congress Classification scheme was adopted and a volunteer cataloger was found. Eventually there were two paid employees who recataloged the whole collection.

The new building also provided more room for the chronically overcrowded Library. Since the turn of the century, the Library had periodically loaned or sold books not concerned with history to other city libraries. This led to the drafting of the first collection development policy. Periodic sales of out of scope books provided the Library with sorely needed funds.

In 1942 James W. Foster became Director of the Society. This job included responsibilities of the head librarian, the Society's assistant secretary, the editor of the Maryland Historical Magazine, and publicity. As the Director's workload increased, a separate position of Librarian was once again created.

By the time P. W. Filby ended his tenure as Librarian in 1972, the position had been transformed. The Librarian "should supervise the staff and see that the library is run efficiently; he should be on hand to help any reader...he must be available to talk to distinguished visitors, society members, historians, and would be donors...in general have a roving commission."

In 1967 the Library moved to the newly built Thomas and Hugg addition. This allowed for the creation of a Rare Book Room and separate storage for manuscripts. During this time the Library's manuscript holdings were entered in the National Union Catalogue of Manuscript Collections.
Contact: Beatriz B. Hardy, Ph.D.
Title: Deputy Director for the Library
E-mail: bhardy@mdhs.org
Telephone: 410-685-3750 ext. 309
Fax: 410-385-0487
Mailing Address: 201 W. Monument St., Baltimore, Md. 21201



Institution Highlights: The Maryland Historical Society (MHS) is a museum and library of cultural history that preserves, interprets, and collects objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage. The Society uses their nationally significant collection and historic resources as the basis for educational programs, exhibitions, research, and publications to further the appreciation and understanding of Maryland life.

The MHS' four major divisions are:

1. Education serves nearly 100,000 Marylanders of all ages and backgrounds. Programs for adults and families include lectures, tours, book signings, genealogy workshops, and family festivals. Approximately 75,000 school children benefit from on-site and outreach efforts, such as traveling trunks, tours, and living theater presentations.
2. Exhibitions include long-term displays of hundreds of collection masterpieces as well as major changing exhibitions. MHS has developed important participation from the African-American, Greek, and Jewish communities. With the acquisitions of the Baltimore City Life Museums collection, the range of exhibitions and programs has been enhanced. Notable museum collections include silver, painted furniture, Peale family paintings, Joshua Johnson paintings, Patterson-Bonaparte items, Latrobe family holdings, maritime items, and the J. Hall Pleasants Studies in Maryland Painting file.
3. The Library is a major research center for the study of Maryland history, as well as a nationally recognized resource for both scholars and the general public. Holdings include books, pamphlets, family histories, manuscripts, prints, photographs, maps, currency, sheet music, etc. The Library attracts over 6,000 researchers annually, from Maryland, most of the other states, and a number of foreign countries.
4. Publications range from books on Maryland's history, material culture, genealogy, and MHS collections to exhibition catalogs and the Maryland Historical Magazine, a quarterly scholarly journal that reaches national as well as local audiences. Long-term publication projects include such topics as the papers of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, and Baltimore history for children.
   Institution Strengths: Silverware, furniture, decorative arts, Baltimore album quilts, maritime history, uniforms, paintings.
   Institution History: On January 27, 1844 "a number of gentlemen, desiring to collect the scattered materials of the early history of our State, and to preserve the memorials of the eventful periods through which it has passed...formed a Historical Society." Prime movers included John H. B. Latrobe, Brantz Mayer, William A. Talbot, and George Coale. The Constitution, Bylaws, and Charter were passed by the General Assembly during the 1844 session. Beginning in that year, the first publications were printed and in 1848 the first gallery exhibition was held. The Society was housed in the old Post Office Building at the corner of Fayette St. and Guilford Ave.
   
   In 1848 the Society moved to the Athenaeum Building at the corner of Saratoga and St. Paul Sts., sharing the building with the Baltimore Library Company and the Mercantile Library Association. During the following years many substantial gifts of money and collection items were received from such luminaries as George Peabody, Mendes Cohen, and Mrs. Irvine Keyser, The Society held numerous evening lectures and meetings. Speakers included Daniel Webster, Sir Henry Bulwer Lytton, and Georges Clemenceau. In 1906 the Society began publication of the Maryland Historical Magazine.
   
   In 1919 Mrs. Irvine Keyser purchased the former home of Enoch Pratt at 201 W. Monument St. and donated it to the Society. For the first time, there was room to display a good portion of the collections, as well as offices for staff. Gifts were received during this time from Mrs. Charles J. Bonaparte, Edith F. Neff, and Mrs. W. Duncan McKim. During much of the Society's history, staff was mostly part time or volunteer and there was little money to buy items for the library or museum.
   
   In 1939 James W. Foster became the editor of the Maryland Historical Magazine and in 1942 he became the Society's first full time director. The Society regrouped their collections into authentic period rooms and the number of visitors and tour groups increased. In 1944 the Society celebrated its 100th anniversary with addresses given by Samuel K. Dennis and Archibald McLeish. On Mar. 27, 1945 Vice President Harry S. Truman spoke at the Maryland Day meeting, only sixteen days before he became president. His address, "Maryland and Tolerance" was printed in the Maryland Historical Magazine. In 1946 the Society began a cooperative program with the Baltimore City Schools that resulted in a large number of school tours.
   
   In 1947 William S. Thomas left a large bequest, contingent on the life tenancy of his brother, to erect a building for the society. Faced with burgeoning collections and a growing staff, the Society bought a number of properties along Monument St. during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Gifts were received during this time from A. Morris Tyson, Richard Bennett Darnall, Elizabeth Chew Williams, Donaldson Brown, and Jacob Blaustein.
   
   In 1953 a gift from Mrs. Thomas Courtney Jenkins enabled the Society to purchase Francis Scott Key's original manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the Walters Art Gallery. Wishing to have the manuscript remain in Baltimore, the Walters turned down larger offers. Mrs. Jenkins also paid for a display area and the manuscript was formally presented in 1954.
   
   In 1958 the Society retained an architectural firm to begin planning for the Thomas and Hugg addition. In 1961 John L. Thomas died and a legacy from his estate was added to that of his brother. With the blessing of the city's Historical and Architectural Preservation Commission, the building opened in 1967. The France-Merrick Wing was added in 1981.
   Institution Web site: http://www.mdhs.org
   
   
   
   Special Contribution to Maryland ArtSource: Luce Painting Collection of the Maryland Historical Society.
   
   Notes/Miscellany: Effective June 1, 2002 The Maryland Historical Society's hours of operation will change, due to construction/renovation.
   
   Museum hours:
   
   Wednesday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
   
   First Thursday every month 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
   
   Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
   
   Sunday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
   
   Library hours:
   
   Family and Local History Reading Room
   
   Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
   
   Special Collections Reading Room
   
   Wednesday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
   
   3d Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.