Historical Manuscripts Unit

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University of Maryland, College Park, Historical Manuscripts Unit

Mailing Address

Historical Manuscripts 2208 Hornbake Library University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742

Contact: Elizabeth McAllister

Phone: 301-314-2712

E-mail: emcallis@umd.edu

Web: http://www.lib.umd.edu/histmss/

Finding Aids: http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum

Access to collections: Maryland Room, Hornbake Library, University of Maryland, College Park. (http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm)

Hours of Service

Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional Wednesday evening and Saturday hours during semesters. See http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/mdhours.html for more information.

Overview

Historical Manuscripts at the University of Maryland Libraries consist primarily of personal papers and archival collections documenting all aspects of Maryland history and culture. Particular strengths include Civil War correspondence, family history collections, collections documenting Maryland's agriculture and the environment, and the politics of Maryland. Other collection strengths include labor history and women's organizations. Historical Manuscripts is part of Special Collections at the University of Maryland Libraries. Access is provided through the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library. 

Special Services

  • Cameras (at curator discretion)

  • Digital cameras (at curator discretion)

  • Microfilm/microfiche printouts

  • Photo print service

  • Photocopies

  • Photoduplication services

  • Scanning

Type of Materials

  • Architectural Documents

  • Archival Materials

  • Artifacts

  • Audiovisual Materials

  • Books/Monographs

  • Digital Collections

  • Exhibitions

  • Manuscripts

  • Maps

  • Microforms

  • Non-print Media

  • Oral Histories

  • Personal Papers

  • Photographs

  • Primary Resources

  • Printed Ephemera

  • Prints and Drawings

  • Special Collections

Detailed Description of Materials

  • Architectural Documents: Several collections contain blueprints to buildings from around the state of Maryland, including the papers of Orin M. Bullock, Jr., Gene Chesley, Charles Wallace Collins, and Henry Powell Hopkins. See http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/pres.jsp

  • Digital Collections: Two digital collections are available on the University of Maryland Libraries website. The Sterling Family Papers (http://www.lib.umd.edu/dcr/collections/sterling/index.html) contains transcriptions of 62 letters in extent, primarily written by a Civil War Union officer's wife, Tillie Farquhar Sterling, with additional letters written by Tillie's husband, Will Sterling, and Tillie's mother, Anna Virginia ("A. V.") Farquhar. Also available is "ArchivesUM" (http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum), a collection of finding aids to archival and manuscript collections at the University of Maryland Libraries.

  • Exhibitions: The Maryland Room Gallery has hosted several exhibits in the past that feature historical manuscript materials, most notably "In the Parlor: the Personal Lives of Marylanders" in the spring of 2004 (http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/gallery/spring2004.html). The Maryland Room Gallery hosts exhibits from all the special collections at the University of Maryland Libraries on a continuous basis. For more information, please see: http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/gallery.html

  • Manuscripts:    Historical Manuscripts at the University of Maryland Libraries consist primarily of personal papers and archival collections documenting all aspects of Maryland history and culture. Particular strengths include Civil War correspondence, family history collections, collections documenting Maryland's agriculture and the environment, and the politics of Maryland. Other collection strengths include labor history and women's organizations.

  • Maps:  Many historical manuscript collections contain maps. They range in scope from early Maryland land plats to the railroad maps available in the Archives of the Cuba Company. Please consult each collection finding aid or inventory for more information.

  • Oral Histories:    Please see the following guides for more information. http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/oral.jsp

  • Personal Papers: Please see the following guides for more information. Civil War in Maryland http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/civil.jsp Family and Personal Papers (http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/family.jsp) History, Pre-1800 http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/histpre.jsp History, 1820-1865 http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/hist1820.jsp Maryland Politics and Civic Activities (http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/politics.jsp)

  • Photographs:   Photographs exist in many of the Historical Manuscript Collections. Please see individual finding aids for more information. Some notable collections include color slides taken by Celia Holland of historic properties throughout the state of Maryland; extensive photographs documenting Theodore R. McKeldin's political career; and several thousand photographs of WPA construction projects and other activities in the 1930s.

  • Primary Resources:  Please see overview for Historical Manuscripts

  • Printed Ephemera:    The Maryland Manuscripts Collection (http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/1716) contains numerous examples of printed ephemera from throughout the state, including theater playbills, broadsides, and lottery tickets.

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