REFERENCE & RESEARCH
AT THE
MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES
Welcome to the Maryland State Archives!
Ordering Records at the Archives
Please note: The current response time for research and copy orders is approximately twelve weeks. Only orders for documents required in active court cases or for the health, safety or welfare of persons can be prioritized. All other orders will be answered strictly on a first come, first served basis.
Specialized Copies
Research at the Archives
- Planning a Visit
- Beginner’s Guide
- Getting Started at the Archives
- Guide to History/Family History Research in Maryland
- Understanding Historical Maryland Records
How to Find Specific Records
- Adoption Records
- Birth Records
- Business Records
- Carroll Papers
- Cemetery Records
- Census Records
- Church Records
See Understanding Church Records - Court Records Before 1776
- Criminal Records
- Death Records
- Divorce Records
- Immigration & Naturalization Records
- Land Records
- Maps
- Marriage Records
- Military Records
- Municipal Records
- Photographs
- Plats
- Probate Records (administration of estates of deceased persons, the probate of wills, etc.)
- Tax Lists
Indices Found at MSA
- Checklist of Indices
- Census Indices
- Death Record Indices
- Early Settlers Index
- Electronic Indices
- Library Indices
- Search the Archives' Web Sites
- Search all MDSlavery.net Databases
- State Records Indices
Related State and Genealogical Sources
- Additional Libraries & Archives
- African American Resources
- All About Maryland
- Art Collection
- Archives Newsletter: The Bulldog
Pat Melville's Bulldog articles - Biographies
- Circuit Courts
- City Directories
- District Courts
- Ethnic Resources
- Genealogists & Researchers
- Genealogy Workshops
- Government Publications & Reports
- MSA Library Catalog
- Maryland County Information
- Maryland Genealogical and Historical Societies
- Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties
- Maryland Manual Online
- Maryland Place Names
- Newspapers
- Periodicals
- Special Collections Topic File
- Topical Genealogical Index
Additional Information
- Caring For Family Treasure: A Basic How-To From Storage To Donation (pdf)
- Citing Documents from Archives' Collections
- How to View Tif & Max Files
- Volunteer Programs
- Fugitive Public Records
