This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jsiemon Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.maryland.counties.baltimorecity/8272.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Records used most often by genealogists (marriage & death records, city directories, draft registrations, passenger lists, etc,) are all at the State Archives or other facilities. The City Archives has records related to the business history and government of the city. If your ancestor worked for the city, did business for the city or possibly had a law suit against the city, you might find something related to it. The problem is that most of it is not microfilmed or digitized and most is not indexed. They also have only a small staff to provide assistance, requiring an appointment to visit. Over the last 2 years or so, the State Archives is assisting the City Archives in organizing and making records more accessible. They now have a web site with a lot of information and great digitized maps and guides to what they have. Here is the web site:http://baltimorecityhistory.net/ Look for "Guide to the BCA for Genealogists," which includes a link to the "WPA Historical Records Survey Name Index," a great index that's about half completed online. And a link to Malissa Ruffner's blog post on how to use the WPA index. Make sure you check them out, because the WPA index appears to be the only clear index that is not anywhere else. You should also look at William LeFurgy's 1984, 113-page "Guide to the Baltimore City Archives." Although a little dated, it has a lot of detail on what is there. You can download it from the web site. John Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.