Hello Rebecca, While in Frederick, if one's schedule permits, any serious researcher should visit both the Maryland Room of the C. Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick County Public Libraries and the Historical Society of Frederick County (http://www.hsfcinfo.org/), along with the Frederick County Courthouse (located in Frederick City). All these institutions are within 2-3 blocks of each other. If you have not seen it already I would recommend taking a look at Gil's Research Map and Gil's Research Guide, which can be found at http://http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~midmdroots/research/index.htm. The secondary sources relating to Frederick County held in the Maryland Room and the Historical Society are very similar, with a great deal of overlap. The collections nicely compliment each other. The Maryland Room's book holdings can be searched via www.fcpl.org. No matter where you go, please make sure that you consult Martin's _Genealogical Index to Frederick County_ and all issues of _Western Maryland Genealogy_. If in the Maryland Room please also check the _O'Donoghue Index_ to the family histories in our collection. The Maryland Room is open seven days a week and we have very long hours. For further details relating to hours and directions, etc. please go to http://www.fcpl.org/information/branches/cburrartz/ and also http://www.fcpl.org/information/mdroom/general_info.htm for more details about the Maryland Room. The way that the Maryland Room and the Historical Society Library differ, in regards to secondary sources, is the focus of the collections outside of "historic" Frederick County (Western Maryland). We collect more throughout the entire state and the Historical Society is more likely to collect in the surrounding areas directly across state borders, they also follow migration patterns out of Maryland in a way that the Maryland Room does not. This is, of course, simply said. There are always exceptions, ie the Maryland Room has a growing collection of early published birth, etc. information. The Historical Society's surname files are stronger. Our collections also differ, to a certain extent, in regards to "unique" materials -- such as family histories, vertical files, and the truly unique primary sources. Also, because they have a longer history, the Historical Society's primary sources are generally most accessible. The Maryland Room very much became a new entity four years ago (although we existed, but in a different format) and are collections are still being processed. As the official repository for Maryland's state and municipal records, the Maryland State Archives should also always be consulted. It is, however, a formal archives and it is advisable to go on knowing the types of records you need, how to use them, and their availability. The MSA has a sizable webpage that should be consulted. The Maryland Historical Society, in Baltimore, should also not be overly looked as a place that should be consulted at some point, as well. Their catalog can be found at www.mdhs.org. The Maryland Historical Society and the State Archives have been the victim of fiscal restraints over the last few years, the MHS just last month, which may slow down certain aspects of researching in those institutions. It therefore is advisable to prepare for any research trip so that one only goes to Baltimore and Annapolis for those things that can only be obtained in those institutions. Though perhaps less relevant for "strict" genealogy, but with an excellent Maryland history collection, the Maryland Department of the University of Maryland, College Park is always worth searching for those historical details that add flesh to any family history. Take a look at http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/index.html. I think many genealogists and local historians overlook this collection -- one of the best in the state, with a superb staff, and the best reading room in Maryland. Finally, to finish your tour of Maryland institutions, the Maryland Department at the Pratt Library in Baltimore is the largest such collection in a Maryland public library and has a long history of collecting, thus making it a place worth searching for unique finds. Go to http://www.epfl.net/slrc/md/ and also search the catalog at http://pac.epfl.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/7nHOJQkniY/CENTRAL/325840138/60/1180/X I always like to say that all libraries\archives are equal, they are just different. "Best" depends on the researcher's needs at the time and there success at finding what they need in the institution where they are looking. :) Please let me know what we can do to assist you, both now and upon your arrival in Frederick. Sincerely, Mary K. Mannix Maryland Room Manager On 8/5/06, Rebecca Weigold <TheFamilySleuth@fuse.net> wrote: > I am trying to plan a genealogy trip. Where are the best resources in > Frederick County? What does the library have? Would the state archives > be better? I would appreciate any and all advice. Thank you! > > Rebecca > Kentucky > > > ==== MDFREDER Mailing List ==== > * * Visit the MID MARYLAND ROOTS Website * * > http://midmdroots.com/ > Court Records, Cemetery Inscriptions, Lookups and Queries! > > -- Mary K. Mannix Maryland Room Manager C. Burr Artz Public Library Frederick County Public Libraries Frederick, MD