Speaking of being "short-staffed and underbudgeted," I went to the MD Archives in Annapolis yesterday. I am not local so it has been several years since I've been there, and have only been there twice before, so I am still unsure of myself. I figured out how to use the card file and found a file card on a marriage I have been looking for, but then did not know what to do with that information (i.e. does finding a card mean they have more information on this marriage?) I was never able to get any help whatsoever. There were only two employees behind the counter, and both had lines of people waiting the remaining 2 hours I was there. They even had a sign posted on the counter saying "Due to budget constraints we are understaffed. Please be patient." Back at the card file I saw a couple looking in a drawer so I asked them if they knew what to do if you find a card of interest in the drawer. They didn't either, and were complaining that they had driven all the way from Indiana and were extremely discouraged and disgusted that they couldn't get any help either. Another woman heard us and voiced her complaints also. So I was not alone with my disappointment over the experience there yesterday. Sue Dotson ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 10:09 PM Subject: [WashingtonDC'' ] Coroner's Inquest Can anyone on the list tell me if you can obtain the results of a coroner's inquest held in 1937. My grandfather was struck by a trolley car and, according to a Washington Post article, there was to be a coroner's inquest held the following day. I could not find an article in the Post showing the results of the coroner's inquest. Also, has anyone on the list had any luck in obtaining requested documents from the DC Archives. I've read on the list in the past of people having difficulty with requests. I need to obtain some marriage records for the late 1800's and early 1900s and wonder if the DC Archives is responding to requests. I understand they have been short-staffed and underbudgeted although I had any requests I made a couple of years ago answered shortly after I submitted them.

I would think that you should get some response from your congressman. At least express your concerns. Sounds like the funding for the Maryland Archives has been cut to the bone. This has just happened over the last few years. I remember being able to get wills and documents through the mail. Seems as if we are going backward instead of forward. Jan in FL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Dotson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:52 AM Subject: [WashingtonDC'' ] MD Archives > Speaking of being "short-staffed and underbudgeted," I went to the MD Archives in Annapolis yesterday. I am not local so it has been several years since I've been there, and have only been there twice before, so I am still unsure of myself. I figured out how to use the card file and found a file card on a marriage I have been looking for, but then did not know what to do with that information (i.e. does finding a card mean they have more information on this marriage?) I was never able to get any help whatsoever. There were only two employees behind the counter, and both had lines of people waiting the remaining 2 hours I was there. They even had a sign posted on the counter saying "Due to budget constraints we are understaffed. Please be patient." > > Back at the card file I saw a couple looking in a drawer so I asked them if they knew what to do if you find a card of interest in the drawer. They didn't either, and were complaining that they had driven all the way from Indiana and were extremely discouraged and disgusted that they couldn't get any help either. Another woman heard us and voiced her complaints also. So I was not alone with my disappointment over the experience there yesterday. > > Sue Dotson > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 10:09 PM > Subject: [WashingtonDC'' ] Coroner's Inquest > > > Can anyone on the list tell me if you can obtain the results of a coroner's > inquest held in 1937. My grandfather was struck by a trolley car and, > according to a Washington Post article, there was to be a coroner's inquest held > the following day. I could not find an article in the Post showing the results > of the coroner's inquest. > > Also, has anyone on the list had any luck in obtaining requested documents > from the DC Archives. I've read on the list in the past of people having > difficulty with requests. I need to obtain some marriage records for the late > 1800's and early 1900s and wonder if the DC Archives is responding to requests. > I understand they have been short-staffed and underbudgeted although I had > any requests I made a couple of years ago answered shortly after I submitted > them. > > > ============================== > Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. > Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx >

Hi Sue, I wish I had known you were going to the Archives; I would have met you there and could have offered you some help. The card files hold all sorts of references to records but MOST indicate a source for the original record and possibly an abstract. A lot of the files are microfilmed and many are in paper files that a staff member has to pull. I was there Thursday last week assisting a cousin from CA do research on her BURNES line form PG Co. She found a reference in the card catalogue, then completed a file request, placing it in a bin on the main counter in the rear. A young man had that file to her within minutes and it contained a wealth of info (estate papers). I also had a couple of chancery court files pulled (I had them at my desk in a few minutes, as well). So many Marylanders migrated into D.C., it is worthwhile to check MD records for many folks researching D.C. lines. I know the lack of help is very frustrating, however, complaining to the overworked staff (many are contract employees with no benefits; there are fewer volunteers, etc.) will not help anything. In 2002, the legislature (Marylanders should write their state delegate and senator to complain) made massive cuts to the Archive's budget. The staffing used to be outstanding, so the skeleton crew they have now is really sad. Since the state is cutting medical to low-income residents, I don't foresee any relief to the situation in the near future. Unfortunately, there is no real research guide - but there are many records online as well as a reference guide as to the holdings. The main URL is: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/homepage/html/homepage.html Reference & Research: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/homepage/html/refserv.html About the budget cuts: "Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, Maryland State Archivist, said of the changes: 'We regret having to curtail our services to the public but these changes are unavoidable given the reductions in our budget for Fiscal Year 2003 which begins on July 1. We hope our patrons will understand the reasons for this, and we will do our best to continue to provide the high quality of service that our patrons have come to expect of us.' " Useful Search engine for the online special collections. On the right, just check off one range at a time to get all records for the keyword(s) you are seeking. A lot more is online, so that's an improvement: http://aomol.net/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/html/search.html. I don't think from 1850 on is operable yet, though~ On July 5, I start a new fulltime job (about 50 hours a week for a while), so won't be able to do much research for some time but I do have a few wills to pull from Prerogative court records I found while there, so will probably go one more day while working. Also, I would like to go to Cedar Hill Cem. in Suitland before I start the job, probably on a Saturday (traffic will be better then, I hope) - does anyone on the list who lives in the D.C. area wish to join me?? Kathleen Bowen Gambrills, Maryland [email protected] or [email protected] FTM pages: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/o/w/Kathleen-E-Bowen Folk Alley.com - All Music. All The Time: http://www.folkalley.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Sue Dotson To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:52 AM Subject: [WashingtonDC'' ] MD Archives Speaking of being "short-staffed and underbudgeted," I went to the MD Archives in Annapolis yesterday. I am not local so it has been several years since I've been there, and have only been there twice before, so I am still unsure of myself. I figured out how to use the card file and found a file card on a marriage I have been looking for, but then did not know what to do with that information (i.e. does finding a card mean they have more information on this marriage?) I was never able to get any help whatsoever. There were only two employees behind the counter, and both had lines of people waiting the remaining 2 hours I was there. They even had a sign posted on the counter saying "Due to budget constraints we are understaffed. Please be patient." Back at the card file I saw a couple looking in a drawer so I asked them if they knew what to do if you find a card of interest in the drawer. They didn't either, and were complaining that they had driven all the way from Indiana and were extremely discouraged and disgusted that they couldn't get any help either. Another woman heard us and voiced her complaints also. So I was not alone with my disappointment over the experience there yesterday. Sue Dotson ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 10:09 PM Subject: [WashingtonDC'' ] Coroner's Inquest Can anyone on the list tell me if you can obtain the results of a coroner's inquest held in 1937. My grandfather was struck by a trolley car and, according to a Washington Post article, there was to be a coroner's inquest held the following day. I could not find an article in the Post showing the results of the coroner's inquest. Also, has anyone on the list had any luck in obtaining requested documents from the DC Archives. I've read on the list in the past of people having difficulty with requests. I need to obtain some marriage records for the late 1800's and early 1900s and wonder if the DC Archives is responding to requests. I understand they have been short-staffed and underbudgeted although I had any requests I made a couple of years ago answered shortly after I submitted them. ============================== Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx