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The Special Collections Department, started in 1935, supervises the care, preservation, accessioning, and description of non-state agency generated records (see Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1010). These records are acquired as gifts or deposits by private donors and generally consist of personal letters, diaries, organizational records, newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents. The department also manages the State battle flag collection.

One of the most important duties of Special Collections is to make collections accessible to the public. The preparation of records for circulation to researchers is, however, only a portion of the equation. Integral to the Archives overall mission is to make Special Collections record descriptions available within a searchable database via the Internet.

• For General historical photograph inquiries (includes thumbnails of images), visit http://mdhistpics.net.
• For Church record inquiries, visit http://speccol.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/catalog/religion/cfm/index.cfm.
• For Map inquiries: (The Maryland State Archives Atlas of Historical Maps of Maryland 1608-1908, by Edward C. Papenfuse and Joseph M. Coale III (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), provides an excellent overview to the holdings. Visit this map collection at http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/speccol/maps/html/collect.html or, you may view thumbnails of a selection of maps here.
• Newspaper inquiries, visit http://speccol.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/catalog/newspapers/cfm/index.cfm.
• For in-depth historical or genealogical research, please see the list of private researchers and genealogists on our web site: http://mdsa.net/msa/refserv/forms/html/genealogistlist.html.

Locating and copying records is not a “ready reference” request; this requires a search and copy fee and takes longer to provide - four weeks or more depending on current demand. All requests for copies require payment in advance. If you have a deadline, please plan in advance so that we are able to help you meet your deadline. For fees and additional information please click here.

This page describes the services, available sizes and fees for image orders.

Written permission and the payment of a fee are required for the use of any Special Collections item in a publication or film. You will find the permission request form here.

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