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Library and Archives
The research center library contains items relating to the history, geography, government, genealogy, culture, and customs of Maryland, with the bulk of the collection relating to St. Mary's County.
The collections contain a variety of items ranging from maps, surveys, business records, water district and government records, club and organization minutes, school records, diaries, marriage licenses, music, ships' lists, newspaper clippings, family genealogies, letters, almanacs, telephone directories, postcards, family movies, documents of all types, friendship cards, military records, church records, paintings, Bibles, books and more.
The research center is located on the second floor of Tudor Hall. The center is open on a regular schedule and is staffed with research personnel to assist you. A small fee is charged to non- members.
Based on their availability, our genealogists will conduct research by request on a first-come first-served basis. Please contact the Society for research availablity!

Note: Research materials do NOT circulate.

Available Research Materials

  • African-American Research Guide: A Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources Available at the St. Mary’s County Historical Society (SMCHS).
  • Archives of Maryland: Provincial Court/Assembly Proceedings and more, 72 volumes, 1637 to 177?, indexed;
  • Maryland Historical Magazine: 1906 to date, bound and indexed;
  • Chronicles of St. Mary's: 1953 to present, bound and indexed;
  • Birth/Baptismal Records: Birth Index of St. Mary's, Charles and Calvert Counties from1898 to 1919 is available. For earlier births, extant church records must serve;
    • Anglican/Episcopal;
      • 1744-1915 (many missing). Microfilm transcribed on to cards.
      • 1744-1765 only St. Andrews (many missing). Microfilm transcribed on to cards;
    • Catholic;
      • 1765-1820 Diaries of Frs. Walton, Bolton, and Mosely, S.J. Orig. in Provincial Archives of the Society of Jesus, Georgetown Univ., Washington, D.C. The Society has microfilm. Published in History of Jesuit Missions of St. Mary' s County, Md., by Edwin Beitzell;
      • 1820-1859 Parish registers. Most of these have been transcribed onto cards and are among the collections.
    • Methodist;
      • 1894-1900 Transcribed on to cards in the collection.
  • Census Records;
    • 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 St. Mary's County, Md.;
    • 1850, 1860, 1870 Charles County, Md.
  • Marriage Records: St. Mary's County marriage records began in 1794 and are available and are extant to date. Marriage data from all known sources, including official, church, newspapers, and inferred data from probate court and other sources, have been compiled and published in Marriages and Deaths in St. Mary's County, Md. 1634-1900, by Margaret K. Fresco, available from our Gift Shop;
  • Death Records:Deaths occurring in Maryland counties were not registered before 1898. As with births, extant church records and other sources must be used. Deaths from all known sources up to 1900 are included in the book cited under Marriage Records, above;
  • Probate Records: Wills, 1658-1969, are available in microfilm. Other probate records from 1634-1788 are at the State Archives in Annapolis; those dated 1788 to date are available for research at the Court House and to 1960, on microfilm in the collection;
  • Land Records: St. Mary's County Deed Books, 1637-1831 burned in the Court House fire of 1831. Except for a volume of re-recorded deeds beginning in the late 1700s, deed records begin in 1831. There are other series of land records that help to replace the lost deeds;
    • Patent (Land) Records 1,2,3,AB&H,Q and 4: 1637-1661: microfilm;
    • Provincial Rent Rolls: 1660, 1685,1704,1743, 1765: Cover 1635-1765: microfilm;
    • Provincial Debt Books: 1753-1774 (except 1772): microfilm;
    • Deed Abstracts: 1786-1829: microfilm;
    • Tax Assessment Records: 1793-1846 (not inclusive): microfilm and/or index card;
    • Alienations and Transfers: 1786-1829: microfilm;
    • Ben Tippett's Surveyors Journal, ca 1840-1870, microfilm;
    • George B. Dent's Surveyors Journal, ca 1860-1905, hard copy.
  • Military Records: All military records prior to 1831 including all Revolutionary War records burned. Prisoner lists for Point Lookout Prison Camp for Confederates are available on microfilm;
  • Newspapers: The St. Mary's BEACON, 1852-1960, and The St. Mary's Enterprise, 1883-1951, 1979-1989 are available on microfilm. Many issues are missing from both series but there is an inventory of issues for each newspaper;
  • Subject Historical Files: Material relating to history, government, geography, culture and customs of St. Mary's County, 12 file drawers;
  • Family History Files: Research records relating to specific families, 10 file drawers.

Some of the above records have been published and are available for sale at the Gift Shop or via mail.

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