There is a lot of data online at the Maryland Archives, but it is not always easy to find. Even when you get to it, it is hard to see what is there, since it only seems to provide a search function which allows you to find something if you already know exactly what it is called.
The following are direct links into specific parts of the Maryland Archives website.
as well as a few into Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
Help is needed to locate some electronic records at the Archives that are supposed to be available, but are not. While I continue to search for these and enquire at the Archives, if anyone has information on how to find them, I would appreciate suggestions.
Note: The Helper buttons below use pop-up windows. If you do not see them, you must tell your browser to accept pop-ups for this site.
59 PDF files, 20-60 MB each See CM1135 for list of originals to determine film number Go to Archives to view originals (up to 1913). Up to 1924 available with proof of death.
Chronological - not alpha 1777-1832 5 PDF files (729 MB total) (also on MF WK1396-1397)
See 1777-1799 from FamilySeach above for alphabetical index.
1832-1851 on microfilm (WK1397-1398) - go to Archives to view. Key:
1832-1839 - images 1-164
1839-1846 - images 165-334
1846-1851 - images 335-497 (last part very bad copy, unreadable)
Electronic index for 1832-1851 available from FamilySearch (above)
491 PDF files, ~100 MB each for 1951-1981 (others not available online) Grouped by county. They can be found by "serial number" which is what is found in the indexes CM223-226 and S1851.
Whole state (except Baltimore City) Alphabetical card index - name, date, county, race, age 1 file per letter and year range
Note: The actual death certificates are at SE42 (1898-1910), SE43 (1910-1951), SE44 (1951-1969), SE45 (1969-1972), and SE46 (1973-2001). Although links are shown, the data is restricted. To view the entries for one county within each of these lists, use the "filter" at the top. You have to go to the Archives to view the actual death records. (Hint: You don't need the certificate number to find it. The certificates are alphabetized within each month.)
193 PDF files, 10-40 MB each 1875-1893 by 1st letter of surname (tedious to search) 1894-1903 by 1st letter surname, 1st letter given name (little easier) 1904-1942 by 1st letter Surname, next vowel (easier still) 1950-1972, Soundex (huge files)
To find the original certificates, see the following at the Archives only: CM1132 for 1874-June 1950 (microfilm, all scanned). CE502 for Jan 1950-1972 (electronic images) SE46 for 1973-2001 (electronic images)
Electronic search by name to find date and certificate number. Note that the microfilm number given is not where the original is located. Use CM1132 to determine the microfilm number, which can be viewed at the Archives. Alternative index for 1875-1880 (which does give the correct microfilm number.)
Interment reports (card index) - See BRG 19-1 for originals. Links to begin of each: A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
Mc |
Mc |
Me |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
XYZ |
(Remember not to use the "Jump to Page" function. Edit the address bar instead. Also, use Control + to enlarge image.)
In 1972, the city and state recording was combined. Although the certificates themselves are available at the Archives, the index is not. Ask at the Reference desk, as some staffers have access to the Division of Vital Records index. However, if you know the death date, you should be able to find it without an index. The list of records is at SE46 (at Archives only).
Huntington Collection - 256 microfilms taken in 1946. Contains court judgments, wills, balance books, inventories, accounts, inventories, testamentary, BA and AA County deeds, Black, Red, Brown, Blue Books, and index to wills, inventories, account, etc.
Note that some wills are recorded both here and in Baltimore County.
6 PDF files, ~60 MB each Names, year of will, book/folio reference See next item for wills for 1675-1852, Books 1-24. Go to Archives for actual wills at: CM188 for 1666-1979 (scanned MF) Also check above under "Colonial Wills", since some are also recorded there. Also check land records - some wills are recorded there.
1675-1852
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Books 1-24 Online at Familysearch.org (requires login, which is free)
11 PDF files, ~50 MB each Names, year of will, book/folio reference Go to Archives for actual wills at: CM219 for 1852-1970 1925-1940 also available at FamilySearch.org (or see following)
Files with all supporting documents, can be found at two locations at FamilySearch.org (free login required). This link is a combined index.
Also the following indexes with online data (lots of big files):
Baltimore County CM126, Account of sale, index 1780-1851, 1 file CM128, Admin accounts, index 1631-1966, 10 files CM131, Admin docket, index 1851-1912, 3 files CM147, Equity docket, index 1851-1984, 20 files CM149, Estate docket, index 1908-1965, 4 files CM156, Inventories, index 1666-1965, 9 files CM182, Orphans court, index 1777-1967, 13 files
Baltimore City CM192, Accounts of sale, index 1851-1960, 11 files CM194, Admin accounts, index 1851-1968, 26 files (actually starts at 1848) CM199, Guardian account, index 1851-1863, 1 file (actually goes to 1869) CM201, Inventories, index 1851-1863, 1895-1965, 19 files (actually starts at 1839) CM209, Orphans Court Proceedings, index 1851-1967, 56 PDF files, 60-100 MB each
(Supposed to be) Index 61 - This link is wrong and leads to the same file as S1432. But, since it is basically a text file, it can be searched for tract name.
Essentially same as S1432 above. Divorces, foreclosures, estates, etc. Only the list of descriptions is online (except for 5 of the 12,226 which have files online), but description lists all the names. Mostly alphabetical by 1st listed name, but not completely. Use filter on description to reduce display to a name of interest. Sorts by date, description, and citation do not work correctly!
20 PDF files, one for each time period. 50-100 MB each Alpha index of defendant, gives name of complainant, year, and Docket/folio number The files are viewable under CM146 (at the Archives).
71 PDF files, about 150-250MB each, total 12 GB. The manifests are at MSA T-2821, (but with no data available online). There appears to be microfilm - a list can be found at BRG55-1, but these are not available at the Archives under these numbers. The originals are presumably located at the City Archives.
Passenger arrivals (Baltimore)
1820-1948
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M327 - This data (1820-1897) at FamilySearch.org contains 171 rolls of microfilm, which is a Soundex card file:
A "browse" function. These cards look similar to the cards in BRG55-4 above, but sometimes have different data.
The Archives system for this is very hard to use. (Link in far left column.) It brings up 1124 "thumbnails" that totals more than 400 MB. So use this only if you have a very fast interface or have a lot of time to kill. Otherwise, use this display tool to display one page at a time. The County begins at image 928.
Collection of 256 rolls of MF made in 1945-1946. It contains a variety of items. While portions are included under the appropriate subjects in this "Helper", here is a full list.
