| Vol. 1, No. 3 | History of Harford and Baltimore Counties | June 1991 |
A letter came from Dr. Vera F. Rollo, author and owner of the Maryland Historic Press about the last issue. She suggested that I explain more clearly the relationship between Henry Harford and the proprietorship of Maryland.
Henry Harford was not the last Lord Baltimore, but he was the last Proprietor of Maryland. He was the bastard (can I say that?) son of Fredrick Calvert, the Sixth (and last) Lord Baltimore. Being a bastard child the title of Lord Baltimore could not be passed on to him. However, Fredrick left the proprietorship of Maryland to him in his will.
Information about the man Harford County was named for can be found in "Henry Harford the Last Proprietor of Maryland" a very interesting and authoritative book, written by Dr. Vera F. Rollo. You can get it at the library or order your own copy from Maryland Historic Press, 9205 Tuckerman Street, Lanham, MD 20706.
Read it, you'll be glad you did.
So........if any of you have any old books, pamphlets, plats, maps or letters of a genealogical or historic nature that you would like to dispose of, OR, If you are searching for a certain genealogical or historical book, map or letter, please let me know.
WE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR COPIES OF:
1). "Historic Sketches of Harford County" by Samuel Mason.
2). "The Land System in Maryland 1720-1765" by Clarence P. Gould,
PhD. 1913
Most of the documents I've seen are in bad shape. They contain valuable information about our past and about your ancestors and mine. When the deterioration is complete they will be gone forever.
Many owners and collectors hesitate to let others see these documents for fear that they will be lost, stolen or destroyed. Yet nature is doing the very thing that they are most afraid of. In several years most of the documents I have seen will be gone.
The Maryland State Archives informs me that people bring documents for them to examine which have been stored for years in attics, barns and basements -- hardly ideal conditions. While such storage areas provide general protection from the elements, they are subject to extreme differences in temperature and humidity.
The documents are usually carelessly folded and tossed in cardboard (highly acidic) boxes or wrapped in brown paper, promoting acid migration and further deterioration.
Until about 150 years ago, most paper was made from linen rag pulp which was exceptionally durable. This is why many books and papers that are several hundred years old are still strong and bright.
However, most papers produced since the Civil War are made from wood pulp. Therefore, many of the important family documents such as family birth records, letters, diplomas, military records, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings have a high acid content that will progressively destroy them.
Paper preservation is not a complicated, mysterious process which can only be done in an archives or library. The sheer volume of family papers and photographs makes it impossible for any archives to take on the task of preservation without assistance from private collectors.
There are basic steps which can be taken by you to provide for the care of your family papers and photographs.
First, get those papers out of the attic! Find another area in the house which is not subject to extremes in temperature and humidity -- perhaps a closet or cupboard. Provide an acid neutral environment.
Second, the Maryland State Archives has developed a paper preservation kit which contains 15 acid free folders, a document box, bond paper and other materials necessary for processing which will provide a neutral storage environment, minimize acid migration, reduce wear and tear on the documents and organize the materials.
Third, I have been involved in the evaluation, repair, restoration and preservation of documents, books, maps and photographs for the past 9 years. I will be glad to inspect them for you and offer suggestions as to value, repair, donation or sale. I can also make you acid free copies, to keep with your records if you decide to donate or sell the originals.
The Maryland State Archives is interested in donated collections that document life in Maryland ie., letters, diaries, scrapbooks, family Bibles or photographs. But, due to the limitations of the staff and resources, they cannot accept everything that is offered and must consider gifts on a case by case basis, but they do encourage people to bring items in for them to examine.
The staff is friendly and helpful and they know how to handle delicate documents. They do not pressure people to give up their collections -- it is important that donors feel that their decision to give a collection has been made freely. Often the Archives will ask for permission to deposit the collection with them on a short-term basis, usually six months, so that they will be able to photograph or microfilm the papers. In return, they generally offer photocopies to the donor so that the original documents or photographs can be retired from use.
Please consider preserving our past.
For information on care of documents or the Paper Preservation Kits, you can call me at the office (see the last page for my numbers) or contact Nancy Bramucci, Registrar of Special Collections at the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard. Annapolis, MD 21401, or call (301) 974-3914. The Archives' Curator of Photography, Mame Warren, would also be delighted to hear from people with photographic collections.
You will never, ever drain all the information from your family. Somehow, no matter how many questions you ask or how deeply you probe there will always be those little hidden or forgotten things.
I'm not talking about secrets, I'm talking about forgotten things. Those dusty, misty, water colored memories of the way we were.
Take heart, there are some very easy ways to blow away the dust and debris.
MEMORY COURSES
There are some fun courses (like the one offered by Harford County's Senior Center called Memoir Writing) that show attendees how to recall and write about experiences that they had at different times in their lives. I talked to people that took the course. They loved it.
As you can guess the men didn't want to go but being the martyrs that we all know we are, "for the sake of the little woman I'll give it a try".
To make a long story short, everyone thoroughly enjoyed these courses. Plus, they all came away from the class with written stories from parts of their lives that they thought they had forgotten. The instructor,
Ruth Buttiger is very good.
The principles which are used to stimulate the ideas will work with almost anyone.
It seems that our memories are stored with triggers which are related to the five senses. So if you ask questions in a way which relate them to sensory feelings you will get more complete answers.
Instead of asking someone to tell you everything they can remember about Grandma, ask them if they can remember the way her kitchen smelled or what her apron felt like when she hugged them or what food she cooked the best. What kind of perfume did she like? What were her favorite colors?
Asking questions this way seems to be the wrong approach but try it. You will find that the triggers of some memories automatically trigger others and others and others.......
Call Barbara Greger, Program Developer, Harford County Senior Center for course information, 838-2554.
VIDEO and AUDIO TAPES
Everybody I know thinks that video taping sessions with Mom and Dad or Grandma or Uncle Harry is a great idea but by the time they 'get around to it' the one that had all that great info is gone. How many times have I heard "boy, if only my mother were alive, she knew all about that".
Write down the questions that you are going to ask. Remember, be flexible because once the memories start they can lead anywhere. Get fresh batteries for the tape recorder and some good tapes. Clean the lens on your video camera.
Remember to ask the questions based on the five senses.
So what are you sitting there for? Call Grandma and go see her....NOW. Sometimes it's really true, "he who hesitates is lost".
OLD PHOTOS
Dig them out, and this time when you find out who the people are in the pictures, write the names on the back. It's such a shame to have somebody pull out a box of old photos and not know who the subjects are, "I'm not sure but I know they're related", "but, if my mother was alive she'd know".
I know I'm concentrating on the information contained in the brains of your family instead of telling you about all the wonderful places you can go to get facts from books, microfilm, notes and files.
WHY AM I DOING THAT?
Because the books, microfilm, notes and files will be there tomorrow and tomorrow but Grandma will not. Talk to her now, today. We'll talk about those other places ......... tomorrow.
So let's see what we've got so far, Hmmmmm ...............
| ................ Yep, we're off to a great start. |
Since a genealogy is only as good as it's documented sources, Roots III was developed to allow footnoted family group sheets, and when research is completed and refined, the program automates the printing of your family history in formats used by America's two prestigious genealogical societies - the National Genealogical Society and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
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Roots III does all standard family group sheets and pedigree charts, plus some unique ones and has room for biographical material. It contains room for all LDS ordinance information, and prints a special LDS (Mormon) family group sheet identical to the one printed by PAF (Personal Ancestral File).
Other Roots III features:
Works with HP laser Jet+ printer and compatibles.
Has a kinship feature that determines the blood relationship between any two people in your database, within 16 generations.
Order Roots III from Commsoft, 2257 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043; phone (415) 967-1900; (for $250.00, plus $8.00 shipping and Handling).
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"Time after Time' is expanding it's readership base at an amazing rate. In the last 6 months it has found it's way as far west as California, as far North as Maine and as far south as Texas and every mail brings more and more requests.
I love it, but, there are so many being mailed to individuals that the cost of putting it together and distributing it has exceeded what I can afford, so...
This issue and the one for August will be distributed as usual, free as pickups in business establishments in Baltimore and Harford Counties, but, starting with the October issue 'Time after Time' will be delivered by mail to subscribers only.
If you've already paid for a subscription it will begin with the October issue. You will get the intervening gratis.
The subscription rate will be $15 per year for 6 issues. Mail check and your mailing address to the address below.
Back issues are available for $2.50 each.
Queries are accepted from anyone and are currently free of charge.
COMING EVENTS:
AUGUST: "Goodwill Purchased Again" near Rutledge, Harford County
OCTOBER: "Cooptown/Eden Town Controversy Finally Solved".
FUTURE: "My Lady's Manor" of Harford and Baltimore Counties.
Everette C. Smith
E.C. Smith, Incorporated
Genealogical and Historic Research
3818 Belmont Drive
Jarrettsville, MD 21084
(410)557-6473
(410)557-6475 (24 Hr. FAX)