This section lists the societies of Maryland, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
Statewide and Regional Societies
County Societies
Statewide Societies
Maryland Genealogical Society
The society was established in 1959. Many databases are accessible on the site, which incorporate:
- Cemetery Records for St Matthews Lutheran Cemetery(List of Removals)
- First German United Evangelical Church Burials 1864-1884 and 1889-1919
- First German United Evangelical Church Marriages 1851-1864 and 1881-1911
- Saint Mary’s Govan Catholic Church Baptisms 1850-1882 and Marriages 1850-1912
- Saint Paul’s Fifth German Reformed Church Burials 1889-1919 and Marriages 1857-1859, 1889-1919
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery (List of Removals)
They publish a newsletter triannually and back issues are available through the association.
A list of surnames currently being researched by Members is also on the site.
Website:
http://www.mdgensoc.org
County Societies
Allegheny Regional Family History Society
Their aim are is to promote and encourage interest in family history and genealogy, especially in the Allegheny Mountain Region.
Many archives are accessible in their library, located in the I.O.O.F. Lodge Building, US Rt. 219 & 250.
Many publications are sold by the society, including:
- 1905 Randolph Enterprise Newspaper Obituaries
- Afro-Americans of Pocahontas County, West Virginia
- ARFHS Ancestor Charts
- Cemetery Headstone Readings
- Genealogical Reference Books
- McLean’s Diary 1831-1848
- Surname Registry – master list of surnames and members researching them
Website:
http://pages.swcp.com/~dhickman/brochure.html
Anne Arundel Genealogical Society
An extensive collection of resources are accessible in their Research Centre, which include Manuscripts, Maps, Photographs and Biographical and Subject Files.
Although resources are mainly for Anne Arundel County and the state of Maryland, many archives are also available for States across the US from the Eastern and Central States to the Western.
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- 1860 Anne Arundel Co. Census
- 1878 Hopkins Atlas of Anne Arundel County
- Cemetery Records
- Land Records
- Marriages 1777-1877
- Will Index 1778-1918
Website:
http://www.aagensoc.org
Baltimore County Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1977. Many indexes are available on the site, which incorporate:
- Baltimore Directories On-line
- Book Indexes to Mount Carmel and Holy Rosary Cemeteries
- Vertical File Index
- Western Cemetery Indexes pre 1874-1923
They are also in the process of compiling burial locations in Baltimore County.
Numerous publications are available for sale, which include:
- 96 issues of The Notebook 1977-2002
- Mount Carmel Cemetery Records 1854-1905
- Tombstone Inscriptions of Holy Rosary Church Cemetery
- Tombstone Inscriptions of St James Protestant Episcopal Church
- Western Cemetery Records
- Wills Index 1851-1919
Website:
http://www.baltimoregenealogysociety.org/BCGShome/
Baltimore County Historical Society
Many resources can be accessed in the association’s Research Library, which incorporate:
- American Passenger Arrival Records
- Burial Records
- Census Returns
- County Directories
- Death Records
- Funeral Home Books
- Marriages
- Newspaper Abstracts
- Will Abstracts
A vast collection of other resources relating to the history of the State of Maryland and further afield are held by the society along with a comprehensive photograph collection. A list of surnames is contained in Genealogy Surname Files.
Website:
http://www.hsobc.org
Captain Avery Museum
Shady Side Rural Heritage Society has now changed its name to Captain Avery Museum. A wide range of archives can be accessed in their Library, which include Oral Histories in various formats, Books, Articles and Newspapers.
An on-line catalogue of these resources is available on the site.
Website:
http://www.captainaverymuseum.org
Carroll County Genealogical Society
The society was established in 1981 to encourage and promote interest in genealogy, and to gather genealogical and historical information.
Numerous databases are accessible on the site, which incorporate:
- 1850-1880 Mortality Schedules
- African-Americans in 1850 Carroll Co. Census
- Indentures 1837-1927
- Insolvency Cases at Maryland State Archives
- Naturalisations
- Surnames found in Carroll Co. Cemeteries
They also have Subject Indexes to Back Issues of their publication The Carrolltonian 2002-2012, which is published quarterly.
Many publications are available for sale, including:
- Carroll Co. Cemeteries Series
- Marriage Licences 1837-1899
- Marriages 1900-1915
- Register of Wills 1837-1898
Website:
http://www.carr.org/ccgs
Carroll County Historical Society
Established to save the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House (1807) from being demolished, the society was founded in 1939.
Many resources can be accessed in their Research Library, which include local Newspapers, a comprehensive photograph collection and their manuscript collection which include scrapbooks, maps, ledgers and family papers.
Website:
http://www.hsccmd.org/
Frederick County Historical Society
The association was organised in 1892, being incorporated in 1911. Many resources are accessible in their Archives and Research Centre, which incorporate:
- Diaries
- Family History Files
- Historic Graphs
- Manuscripts
- Published Genealogies
- Rare Books
- Reference Books
An on-line catalogue of these resources is on the site.
Many Genealogy and Family Research Resources are available for sale, which include:
- Books
- Church and Cemetery Records
- Frederick Co. Early Families
- Frederick Co. Inhabitants 1750-1790
- Land Records Abstracts 1748-1752, 1763-1767, 1765-1768, 1768-1770 and 1770-1772
- Marriage Licences 1778-1865
- Newspaper Abstracts 1811-1819
- Wills 1744-1946
Records related to Prince George’s County from 1696 until 1748, when Frederick County was established, are also available.
Website:
http://www.frederickhistory.org/
Garrett County Historical Society
Their aim is to preserve the history, customs and traditions of Garrett County.
The association is located in the Garrett County Historical Museum located at 107 South Second Street, Oakland.
Many resources relating to genealogy can be accessed in the museum, which incorporate:
- Births and Deaths
- Cemetery Records
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- Family Files
- Marriages
- Military Records from Garrett County and Preston and Tucker Counties in West Virginia
- Newspapers
Many publications are sold by the society, which include books relating to Marriage Records 1872-1901, Garrett County Graves and the 1900 and 1910 Garrett Co. Censuses.
Website:
http://www.garrettcountymuseums.com
Harford County Genealogical Society
Some of the Society’s newsletters covering 2007-2011 are available on the site.
Although the society ceased operation on 31 December 2014, some publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- 1831 Tax List
- 1880 Census of Churchville Precinct Third Election District
- Ancestral Charts
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Death Certificate Abstracts
- Divorce Cases 1827-1912
- First Occurrences of Surnames
- Naturalisations
- Will Abstracts
All requests for research should be made to Harford County Historical Society.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mdhcgs/
Harford County Historical Society
Many resources can be accessed in their Research Library, which include:
- 1790-1920 Censuses
- Card Index of the 1850 Harford Co. Census
- Cemetery Card Indexes
- Court Records dating back to 1774
- Deeds
- Diaries
- Family Name Indexes
- Genealogies
- Havre de Grace Methodist Church Register 1849-1976
Archives also incorporate:
- Letters
- Marriage Licences 1865-1990
- Newspapers
- Obituary Card Indexes
- Photograph Collection
- St George’s P. E. Parish Register 1681-1903
- St John’s P. E. Parish Register 1787-1899
- Scrapbooks
Website:
https://www.harfordhistory.org/
Howard County Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1976 by people wishing to preserve and research their family history.
Their aims are to promote and encourage interest in family history and genealogy, to preserve and collect genealogical records, and to help local libraries wishing to develop their genealogical collections.
The Society has begun to transcribe information written into Family Bibles.
Many publications are available for sale, which includes a book entitled Selected Genealogical Resources in the Howard County Historical Society Library which contains details of articles that appeared in The Family Tree for 1994-1996.
These articles include:
- Deeds and Mortgages 1850-1960
- Early Courthouse Criminal Records 1839-1870
- Marriage Licences 1858-1939
- Oella Cemetery Company Transcripts
- Pensioner Lists of 1883
- Voters Registers 1865-1940
Indexes available on the site include:
- Emory United Methodist Church Baptism Records 1859-1961
- Emory United Methodist Church Marriage Records 1941-1962
Indexes sold by the society include:
- Cemetery Records
- Civil War Enrolment and Draft of 1862 in Howard County
- Marriage Licences in the Howard District of Anne Arundel Co. 1840-1851
- Patriots and Howard Co. Pioneers
- Perpetual Calendar
- Transcripts of the Howard Gazette 1850-1851
- Welling Bibles
Website:
http://www.hcgsmd.org
Kent County Historical Society
The association was established in 1936, its aims being to collect and preserve documents and artefacts relating to the history of Kent County, and to make these publicly accessible through their research library and museum.
Many resources can be accessed in their Library, which include:
- Cemetery Records
- Documents
- Genealogies
- Ledgers
- Manuscript Collections
- Maps
- Oral Histories
- Original Architectural Drawings
- Photographs
- Reference Works
It is also possible to peruse their on-line catalogue.
Publications available for sale include:
- Chestertown and Kent County – the history of Kent Co. through postcards
- Chestertown: An American Home Town for more than 350 Years – DVD collection of oral histories and video images
- Chestertown: A Classic American Town on the Chester River – DVD of 1940s Chestertown
- Early Buildings and Historic Artefacts in Tidewater, Maryland – 600 drawings and photographs
- Historic House of Kent County
- Images of America “Rock Hall”
- Rolling Year on Maryland’s Upper Eastern Shore
- War of 1812 in the Chesapeake
Links to other sites you may find of use are also available.
Website:
http://www.kentcountyhistory.org
Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society
This society is listed under Delaware.
Montgomery County Historical Society
The society was established in 1944, its aims being to collect and preserve the histories of Montgomery County and its citizens.
Many resources can be accessed in Jane C. Sween Library located at Beall-Dawson Historical Park, Middle Lane between N. Adams St. and N. Van Buren St, Rockville, which include:
- Cemetery Records
- Census Returns 1776-1930
- Church Records, Will Abstracts 1776-1875
- Deed Abstracts 1777-1865
- Family Files organised by surname
- Land Records 1777-1865
- Manuscripts
Resources also include:
- Maps
- Marriage Licences 1796-1896
- Oral Histories
- Probate Records 1777-1881
- Reference Books
- Tax Lists
You can search through their collection using their online catalogue.
They also have an artefact collection, which includes:
- Agricultural and Industrial Tools
- Household Goods
- Furniture and Decorative Arts
- Textiles
- Toys and Recreational Items
- Weapons
Website:
https://montgomeryhistory.org
Mount Savage Historical Society
The association has an index of Allegany Co. Marriages 1865-1873 on their site, along with information relating to the history of the area. A Message Board is operated by the society.
Website:
http://www.mountsavagehistoricalsociety.org
Prince George’s County Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1969. Its aim is to collect and preserve genealogical information, especially that relating to Prince George’s County.
Many publications are available for sale, including:
- 1828 Tax List
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Early Registers of White Marsh Church, Bowie
- Gleanings from the Records of Francis Gasch’s Sons Funeral Home
- Indexes of Church Registers 1686-1885 which include Protestant Episcopal Church, King George’s Parish, Queen Anne’s Parish, St Paul’s Parish and Prince George’s Parish
- Murray Funeral Home Books
- Records of the Almshouse
Website:
https://pgcgs.org
St Mary’s County Genealogical Society
Their aim is to promote and encourage interest in genealogical and historical research. To further this objective, the association preserves and maintains records relating to St Mary’s County, makes these records publicly available, and maintains publications and printed materials at local libraries.
Numerous resources can be accessed in their Library, which incorporate:
- Abstracts from Newspapers
- County Proceedings
- Huguenot Pedigrees
- Indexes to Federal Population Schedules
- Marriage Registers
- Militia
- Rent Rolls
- Tax Lists
- Wills
They also have other documents relating to St Mary’s County, State-wide and other US States along with documents appertaining to England and Wales.
A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also available.
Website:
http://www.smcgsi.org/
Upper Shore Genealogy Society of Maryland
The society is a non-profit making association established in 1973. Many resources are accessible in their library, which include Family Histories, Research Books and Bible Records.
They are also in the process of transcribing Cemetery information for all Cemeteries in all Upper Eastern Shore Counties.
Chesapeake Cousins, the Society’s bi-annual newsletter, includes articles regarding:
- Articles of Genealogical and Historic Interest
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns
- Emigration Lists
- Family Histories
- Military Records
- Newspaper Abstracts
- Tax Records
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- 1798 Queen Anne’s Co. Federal Tax Assessment – all Hundreds
- 1798 Talbot Co. Federal Tax Assessment
- 1798, 1817 and 1832 Talbot Co. Tax Assessment
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Legacies of Queen Anne’s Co. Maryland 1776-1791
- Marriage, Census and Land Records from some Maryland Counties
- Obituaries published in Newspapers covering the Upper Shore of Maryland 1960s-1990
Website:
http://www.usgsmd.org
Washington County Historical Society
Many resources are accessible in the Jamieson Genealogy Library, including a Master Index, Family Folder Files, the Federal Census for some States across the US and a Card Catalogue.
A list of surnames found in the Family Folder Files is available on the site.
Website:
https://washcohistory.org/