Maryland Societies

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Societies

There are many societies which may help family historians. Genealogical, historical, lineage, veterans, and ethnic societies are especially helpful because of the records and resources they collect, transcribe, and publish. Often their records contain birth, marriage, death, and biographical information. See "Societies". Archives and Libraries are carefully contributed to and maintained by various Societies.

Genealogical Societies

Genealogical and historical societies often maintain a genealogical file for families in the area and may sponsor publications, some of which are cited on the "Genealogy" page. Genealogical Societies are usually staffed by volunteers and rely on contributions, dues and fees to keep their operations up and running. They usually meet in monthly meetings and often have newsletters. A wealth of information can be obtained by joining a society in the area that you are researching.

Statewide Societies

• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
  Enoch Pratt Baltimore City and the Maryland State Library Resource Center
  Northwood Branch · 4420 Loch Raven Boulevard · Baltimore, MD · 21218
  Telephone: 410-396-5430
• Coalition To Protect Maryland Burial Sites, Inc.
  P. O. Box 1533 · Ellicott City, Maryland · 21041-1533
• The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc
  143 N. Main St. · Bel Air, MD · 21014
• Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland
  Herbert Bearman Campus
  15 Lloyd Street · Baltimore, MD 21202
  Telephone: 410-732-6400
• Maryland Genealogical Society
  201 West Monument Street
  Baltimore, MD 21201-4674
  Telephone: 410-685-3750, extension 360
  E-mail Address: info@mdgensoc.org
• Maryland Historical Trust
  100 Community Place · Crownsville, MD · 21032-2023
• Maryland State Archives
  350 Rowe Boulevard · Annapolis, MD · 21401
• The Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS)
  P.O. Box 241 · New Windsor, MD · 21776
• The Order of the First Families of Maryland
  Attn: Stephen Hurst, Secretary General
  300 Esplanade Drive · 10th Floor · Oxnard, CA · 93030
• United Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
  Lovely Lane Museum Library
  2200 St. Paul Street · Baltimore, MD · 21218
  Telephone: (410) 889-4458
• Genealogical Council of Maryland
  P.O. Box 10096
  Gaithersburg, MD 20898-0096
• Maryland Historical Society Library
  201 West Monument Street
  Baltimore, MD 21201-4674
  Telephone: 410-685-3750, extension 349
  Fax: 410-385-2105
  Email:library_dept@mdhs.org

• Cox, Richard J., and Larry E. Sullivan, eds. Guide to the Research Collections of the Maryland Historical Society: Historical and Genealogical Manuscripts and Oral History Interviews. Baltimore, Maryland: Maryland Historical Society, 1981. (Family History Library book 975.2 H23g.) This index has about 20,000 references to individuals and families.

County Societies

Many counties have their own Genealogical Societies. Lists of the county societies can be found at Census Finder and MDGenWeb.

• Genealogical Society of Allegany County
  P. O. Box 3103 · La Vale, MD · 21504
• Allegany Regional Family History Society
  Gordon - Roberts House
  218 Washington Street · Cumberland, MD · 21502
  Telephone: 301-777-8678
• Anne Arundel Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 1553 · Glen Burnie, MD · 21060
• Baltimore County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 10085 · Towson, MD · 21285-0085
• Calvert County Genealogy Society
  P.O. Box 9 · Sunderland, MD · 20689
  Telephone: (410) 535-0839
• Carroll County Genealogical Society, Inc.
  P.O. Box 1752 · Westminster, MD · 21158
• Cecil County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 11 · Charlestown, MD · 21914
  Telephone: (410) 287-8793
• Charles County Genealogical Society
  P. O. Box 1537 · White Plains, MD · 20695-1537
  Telephone: (301) 843-2442
• Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River
  516 Eastern Boulevard · Essex, MD · 21221
  Telephone: (410) 574-6934
• The Frederick County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 234 · Monrovia, MD · 21770-0234
• The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc
  P.O. Box 15 Harford County · Aberdeen, MD · 21001
• Howard County Genealogical Society
  Box 274 · Columbia, MD · 21045
• The Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 3602 · Salisbury, MD 21802-3602
• Prince George's County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 819 · Bowie, MD 20718-0819
• Genealogy Club of Montgomery County Historical Society
  Beall-Dawson House
  111 W. Montgomery Avenue · Rockville, MD · 20850-4212
  Telephone: 301-340-2825
• St. Mary's County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 1109 · Leonardtown, MD · 20650
• Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland
  P.O. Box 275 · Easton, MD · 21601
  Telephone: (410) 745-3050

Historical Societies

Historical Societies collect, preserve and exhibit materials with historical value. These custodians of history keep journals, books, artifacts, and may have a museum that they maintain. The mission of these societies is to showcase their state, regional, local culture and history. Historical Societies activities and interests are often intertwined with those of Genealogical Societies.

• Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.
  Central Maryland Chapter
  P.O. Box 648 · Columbia, MD · 21045-0648
• Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.
  Prince George's County, MD Chapter
  P.O. Box 44252 · Fort Washington, MD · 20749-425
• Allegany County Historical Society, Inc
  218 Washington Street · Cumberland, MD · 21502
  Telephone: (301) 777-8678
• The Allen Historical Society
  Passerdyke Cottage
  P.O. Box 31 · Allen, MD · 21810
• Anne Arundel County Historical Society
  Maryland Historical Magazine
  P.O. Box 385 · Linthicum, MD · 21090-0385
  Telephone: (410) 768-9518
• Baltimore County Historical Society
  Agriculture Building
  9811 Van Buren Lane · Cockeysville, MD · 21030
  Telephone: (410) 666-1876
• Caroline County Historical Society
  Museum of Rural Life
  16 North Second Street · P.O. Box 514 · Denton, MD · 21629
  Telephone: (410) 479-2055
• Cantonsville Historical Society Inc.
  1824 Frederick Road | Catonsville, Maryland 21228-5503
  Telephone: 410-744-3034
• Calvert County Historical Society
  70 Church Street · Prince Frederick, Maryland · 20678
  Telephone:(410) 535-2452 Fax:(410) 535-4660
• Historical Society of Carroll County
  210 East Main Street · Westminster, MD · 21157
  Telephone: (410) 848-6494
• The Historical Society of Cecil County
  135 East Main Street · Elkton, MD · 21921
  Telephone: (410) 398-1790
• Historical Society of Charles County
  P.O. Box 261 · Port Tobacco, MD · 20677
• Chevy Chase Historical Society
  P.O. Box 15145 · Chevy Chase, MD · 20825
  Telephone: (301) 656-6141
• Dorchester County Historical Society
  902 LaGrange Ave. · Cambridge, MD · 21613 - 2009
  Telephone: (410) 228-7953
• Dundalk - Patapsco Neck Historical Society
  P.O. Box 21781 4 Center Place · Dundalk, MD · 21222
  Telephone: (410) 284-2331
• Emmitsburg Historical Society
  P.O. Box 463 · Emmitsburg, MD · 21727
• The Historical Society of Frederick County, Inc.
  24 East Church Street · Frederick, MD · 21701
  Telephone: (301) 663-1188
• Garrett County Historical Society, Inc.
  111 East Oak Street · Oakland, MD · 21550
  Telephone: (301) 334-3226
• Greenbelt Historical Society
  204 Lastner Lane · Greenbelt, MD · 20770
  Telephone: (240) 474-5156
• The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc.
  143 N. Main St. · Bel Air, MD · 21014.
  Telephone: 410-592-8693 · 410-838-7691
• Howard County Historical Society, Inc.
  P.O. Box 109 · Ellicott City, MD · 21041
  Telephone: (410) 750-0370
• The Jewish Museum of Maryland
  Herbert Bearman Campus
  15 Lloyd Street · Baltimore, MD · 21202
  Telephone:(410) 732-6400 · (877) 376-719
• John Brown Historical Foundation, Inc.
  c/o Capt. South T. Lynn
  Southland Farm · 13701 Deakins Lane · Darnestown, MD · 20874
  Telephone: (301) 963-3300 or (301) 432-2666
• Historical Society of Kent County
  101 Church Alley · P.O. Box 665 ·Chestertown, MD · 21620
  Telephone: (410) 778-3499
• Kuethe Library Historical and Genealogical Research Center
  5 Crain Highway S.E. · Glen Burnie, MD · 21061
  Telephone: (410) 760-9679
• Laurel Historical Society
  817 Main Street · Laurel, MD · 20707
  Telephone: (301) 286-7031
• Maryland Historical Society
  201 West Monument St. · Baltimore, Maryland · 21201-4674
  Telephone: 410-685-3750
  *Genealogical Research a guide to research in Maryland.
• The Maryland Military Historical Society, Inc
  Fifth Regiment Armory
  219 29th Division Street · Baltimore, Maryland ·21201-2288
  Telephone: 410-576-1496
• Montgomery County Historical Society
  111 West Montgomery Avenue · Rockville, MD · 20850
  Telephone: (301) 340-2825
• Peerless Rockville Historical Society
  Historic Red Brick Courthouse · Rockville Town Center
  29 Courthouse Square · Room 110
  Rockville, MD · 20850
  Telephone: 301-762-0096
• Prince George’s County Historical Society
  P.O. Box 14 · Riverdale, MD · 20737
  Telephone: (301) 464-0590
• Queen Anne’s County Historical Society
  Wright’s Chance
  121 South Commerce Street · Centreville, MD 21617
  Telephone: (410) 758-0980
• Shady Side Rural Heritage Society, Inc.
  1418 East West Shady Side Road · P.O. Box 89 · Shady Side, Maryland · 20764
  Telephone: 410-867-4486
• Silver Spring Historical Society (SSHS)
  PO Box 1160 · Silver Spring, MD · 20910-1160
• Somerset County Historical Society
  Treackle Mansion
  P. O. Box 181 · Princess Anne, MD · 21853
  Telephone: (410) 651-2238
• Somerset County Historical Trust
  c/o Mrs. Howard Yerges
  10380 Anderson Road · Princess Anne, MD · 21853
  Telephone: (401) 651-0788
• South Mountain Heritage Society
  P. O. Box 509 · 3 East Main St. ·Burkittsville, MD · 21718
  Telephone: (301) 834-7851
• St. Mary’s County Historical Society
  11 Court House Drive · P.O. Box 212 · Leonardtown, MD · 20650
  Telephone: (301) 475-2467
• State of Maryland and Baltimore City Public Library
  Enoch Pratt Free Library
  24 locations
  Telephone: 410-396-5430
• Historical Society of Talbot County, Inc.
  25 South Washington Street
  P.O. Box 964 · Easton, MD · 21601
  Telephone: (301) 822-0773
• Thurmont Historical Society
  P.O. Box 251 · 11 N. Church Street · Thurmont, MD · 2l788-0251
  Telephone: (301) 271-2464
• Washington County Historical Society
  Jamieson Memorial Library · The Miller House
  P.O. Box 1281 · Hagerstown, Maryland · 21741-1281
  Telephone: (301) 797-8782
• Wicomico Historical Society
  PO Box 573 · Pemberton Drive · Salisbury, MD · 21803-0573
  Telephone: 410-860-0447 · 410-860-1441
• Worcester County Historical Society
  P.O. Box 111 · Snow Hill, MD · 21863
  Telephone: (410) 632-1265 or (410) 632-2600

Lineage and Heritage Societies

A Lineage society is an organization whose members have shown proof of their descent] from a qualifying ancestor such as a colonist or soldier. There are early settlers, ethnic, religious, and war societies. The Hereditary Society Blue Book is the annual Who's Who or Social Register of Hereditary, Lineage, and Patriotic societies. It also contains information on lineage societies, including the insignia, the membership requirements, and the national address of each organization. Books, articles, and publications that can be very helpful in genealogical research are kept by these societies. The applications for membership in these societies are preserved, and many are on microfilm at the Family History Library. See the Register of U. S. Lineage Societies (mentioned in the "Societies"), for lists of microfilmed records, and publications. Hundreds of organizations are in the United States, here are some with Maryland ties:

• The Society of The Ark and The Dove
• The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland
• Colonial Dames National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland. Register of the Maryland Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1891-1938
• General Society of Colonial Wars
• Daughters of the American Colonists
• Freedmen and Southern Society Project
• Daughters of Holland Dames
• General Society of Mayflower Descendants
• German-American Organizations in Maryland
• German Society of Maryland
• American Historical Society of Germans From Russia
• Holland Society of New York
• The Maryland Huguenot Society
• Maryland Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America
• Maryland State Society United States Daughters of 1812
• St. Andrew's Society of Mid-Maryland an organization for those of Scottish ancestry and those that love Scottish things.
• The Sons of the American Revolution Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution centennial history, 1889-1989
• Sons of Union Veterans - Maryland Division
• Society of War of 1812 in Maryland
• Welsh American Group
• Welsh Societies
• B-26 Marauder Historical Society WWII Air War Archive

Fraternal Organizations

Fraternal Organizations were begun for a variety of reasons. It could have been work skills, politics, chivalry, economics, and many other causes that the organization started. Trade unions have their roots with fraternal organizations. Ethnicity and religious minorities were common beginnings for a fraternal brotherhood. More can be found at Fraternalism in America. Here are a few organizations in Maryland.

• The Alexandria Freemasons have an association that includes those in Maryland, Virgina and Washington D.C.
• Grand Chapter of Maryland Order of the Eastern Star
• Maryland Delaware and District of Columbia Elks Association Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
• The Ancient Order of Hibernians in Maryland is a Catholic, Irish-American Fraternal Organization.
• Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Maryland

Family History Catalog

Records of societies may be found by using the Place-names Search in the FamilySearch Catalog for:

UNITED STATES - SOCIETIES

MARYLAND - SOCIETIES

MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - SOCIETIES

Some records gathered by societies are listed in the Place-names Search under the type of record. For example, cemetery transcripts gathered by a local genealogical society are listed in the catalog under:

MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - CEMETERIES.

Websites

• D'Addezio's Society Hill is a directory of historical societies in Maryland.
• The Greater Baltimore History Alliance is a consortium of museums and historic sites in the area dedicated to education and preservation.
• Maryland Genealogical Society provides the links as a help to researchers of Maryland history and genealogy.
• The MDGenWeb Project - Genealogical & Historical Societies listing with tips for writing to the societies.