Nabb Center Finding Aid Portal

Nabb Center Map Collections

by Unknown (1500 – 1900s)

folders ( linear feet)

This finding aid includes listings for nearly all of the maps in the Nabb Center archives. Many maps are originals, but a significant portion are reproductions. The majority of the maps relate to the Delmarva Peninsula, though there are many other American and international maps from throughout time. Each map was given an identifier and title; descriptions, dates, and present location are recorded when possible. Maps may be part of other collections and are referenced here. Please refer to the inventory for a complete listing of the map collection.

Purnell Family Collection

by Purnell, Willard (1520 – 1944)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Purnell Family Collection contains genealogical information on the Purnell family. Included in the collection is a Purnell family migration map, a Purnell pedigree chart, and information on the Purnell family coat of arms.

Joseph Shores Collection

by Shores, Joseph (1521 – 1999)

5 boxes (2 linear feet)

In 2009, Joseph Shores collected material relating to the family history of a large number of families living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. While the collection primarily consists of handwritten notes, there are also family trees, official documents, tax records, marriage records, censuses, correspondences, maps, and military records. Also included are research papers, a Historical American Buildings Survey Inventory, currency collections, a Somerset County Historical Society correspondence, and other miscellaneous items. All are reproductions.

Betty Murrell Collection

by Murrell, Betty (1550 – 1986)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

The genealogies of several families are explored in this collection including the Willey, Wallace, Hargrave, Kfoury, Medford, Manlove, Bailey and others. Within the collection, there are land deeds, wills of people who had died, coat of arms for families that originated in England, and baptism records. All these families are able to trace ancestors to Accomack County, Somerset County, and Dorchester County.

Walter Wilson Genealogy Research Collection

by Walter, Wilson B. III (1595 – 1866)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Walter Wilson Genealogy Research Collection contains genealogical pedigrees on local Delmarva people . Some of the genealogical pedigrees included are on Mary Meacham, Walter Byrd Wilson I, Samuel French Moore, etc. There is also a small biography on John Byrd and how he was shot by a yankee soldier in Byrds Tavern.

Bevans Family Collection

by Bevans, Roland (1600 – 1901)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Information on the Bevans family.

Malissa Small collection

by Unknown (1600, 1900s)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

This genealogical collection covers the family history of Malissa Small. Several families are focused within the collection such as the Gray, Seabreeze, and Tarr families. The material has a large focus on marriages through public marriage documents and news paper clippings. There are also wills of many members of Malissa Small's family.

Richard W. Cooper papers

by Cooper, Richard Waller (1605 – 2001)

18 boxes,  2 oversize folders (12.5 linear feet)

The Richard Cooper papers document his professional and personal activities through his collection of materials dating from 1605 to 2001. The documents focus on the religious and political histories of Wicomico and Worcester County as well as the history of the Mason-Dixon Boundary Line depicted through Cooper’s column in the Daily Times. The papers also document the topographic history of Delmarva through Cooper’s career as an engineering surveyor. Documents from his surveying career and interests include topographic maps, survey certificates, land deeds, and plats. A photograph album documents the construction of his family home at 611 Tony Tank Lane in Salisbury, Maryland. Materials within the collection include newspaper clippings, photographs, family histories, and correspondence. Drafts and manuscripts of Cooper’s published works on the history of Salisbury, Profile of a Colonial Community, Salisbury in Times Gone By, and Portrait of Salisbury are contained within the collection.

Eastern Shore Brochure and Pamphlet Collection

by Unknown (1609 – 2010)

9 boxes (9 linear feet)

This Collection consists of Brochures and Booklets primarily pertaining to the Eastern Shore. Overall its central focus is Maryland/Delmarva. The Date Range of the Collection is 1609-2010.

Frederick L. Howard Collection

by Howard, Fredrick L. (1613 – 1911)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Frederick L. Howard Collection contains an essay written by Howard titled, "The Legacy of Revell's Neck." This essay, which won the Old Home Prize Essay contest in 1978, discusses the settling and founding of Revell's Neck in Somerset County, Maryland. It then discusses a brief history of the area and ends with birth and death dates of people who had lived there.

DuPont Family Collection

by DuPont, Dolores L. (1621 – 1995)

11 folders (0.11 linear feet)

The DuPont Family Collection contains genealogical information on the DuPont family conducted by Dolores L. DuPont. Included is her application to become a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland, an article resulting from her investigation into the location of the grave of Gov. Samuel Stevens, Jr. (1778-1860), research on her great-great grandfather Dr. John Barnett (1780-1858), information on Dr. Nathaniel Potter, brother-in-law of Barnett (both married Golsborough's, Potter Sarah F. and Barnett Catherine), the property "Boston", the descendants of William Burgess (1622-1685) and the Marada movie house of St. Michael's. Photographs of the Custis tombs in Northampton, VA are also part of the collection.

Eastern Shore Counties collection

by Ellegood, Maria Louise;  Fenwick, Charles E.;  Hall, Elizabeth (1625 – 1967)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Eastern Shore Counties collection contains a copy of the "Eastern Shoreman" which highlights the start of the oyster season. Additionally, this collection contains a copy of the "Holly Leaf" from November 3, 1967, a sketch of the early history of Wicomico County written by Maria Louise Ellegood, a souvenir pamphlet from Crisfield that details some of the areas unknown history written by Elizabeth Hall, and a history of St. Mary's County written by Charles E. Fenwick.

Laws Family Collection

by Unknown (1625 – 1960)

4 folders,  1 oversize folder (2.54 linear feet)

The Laws Family collection contains genealogical information on the Laws Family. There are genealogical descriptions of Laws family members, with a birth, death, and marriage date. There are also bibliographic information for some of the more prominent family members. There are also photographs of family members, and the places they lived. The majority of the Laws family members on the Eastern Shore lived in Accomack County, Virginia, Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico County, Maryland. There is also a Daughters of the Revolution application within for Mary Balle Hastings Holland, who descended from William Laws (1753-1831).

Massey Estate Collection

by Massey Family (1627 – 2000)

3 cartons (3 linear feet)

This collection consists of family research about the Massey family and other families on the Lower Eastern Shore. The collection contains copies of original wills, estate inventories, family trees, and related materials. All of the original documents in this collection are photocopies, print-outs, or photostats unless otherwise indicated.

Vance Bradford Collection

by Bradford, Vance (1630 – 1930)

5 folders (0.05 linear feet)

The Vance Bradford Collection is based on the genealogical research of the Bradford Family. Vance Bradford did this research to publish a book over the family history of the Bradford's. This collection covers twenty years of research that involved correspondence, a "Bradford Descendants" newsletter, census indexes, lineage graphs, and descendant questionnaires. There are passages of the Bradford family book within this collection.

Phillips, Cooper, Roberts Families collection

by Unknown (1634 – 1992)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Phillips, Cooper, Roberts Family History Collection contains photographs and genealogical information on the Phillips, Cooper, and Roberts families. Included are three pictures of the Cooper family with corresponding birth and death dates. The collection also contains family reunion pamphlets, an invitation and picture of Aunt Blossom's 95th birthday party, a marriage certificate, and postcards. There is also genealogical biographies for the three families.

Carol Atkins Sherr Collection

by Sherr, Carol Atkins (1636 – 1949)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical information on the Atkins Family. It includes where Atkins members were born, who they were married to, where they were married, how many children they had, and where they moved to. There is also legal information about the members, such as foreclosures, and family members suing each other.

Silverthorne Family Collection

by Silverthorne Family (1636 – 1991)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Silverthorne Family Collection contains an in-depth genealogical history of the Silverthorne family. There are multiple family trees within the collection, and volumes 12-14 of their family newsletter. There are birth, death, and marriage dates within the collection. There are details as to why there are Silverthorne family members in the Midwest. The earliest member of the family mention is William Silverthorne who was born in 1636 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Maryland Executions Collection

by Unknown (1638 – 1961)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a list of Maryland executions dating from 1638 to 1961. Data includes races, name, age, occupation, method and county.

Historical Society of Kent County Genealogical Collection

by Bell, Albert D. (1639 – 1948)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical material on the Layton, Bell and Hollis families. This includes a manuscript by Albert D. Bell entitled Hollis Notes, 1639-1948: From Public and Private Records in the States of Maryland and Delaware and a genealogical chart of some of the descendants of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah Bell. There is an oversized folder with the charts of the Washington and Bell families.

Polk Family History Collection

by Polk, John F. (1640 – 1918)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Polk Family History Collection contains genealogical information on the Polk Family. There is a family tree of the Polk family dating from 1640-1918 within Somerset County, Maryland. Within, there is a legal will, land patent, and a memoir by Esther Winder Polk Lowe (Enoch Louis Lowe) (1824-1918). All the documents have been transcribed by John F. Polk.

Riggin Family papers

by Riggin, Allan E.;  Riggin, George F. (1640 – 1993)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Riggin Family Collection contains genealogical information about the Riggin family. Within is a detailed family tree constructed by Allan and George Riggin. The family tree starts with Riggin family members who originated in Ireland and immigrated to the Eastern Shore. There is also information regarding Riggin land records between Somerset, Sussex, Worcester, and Wicomico County.

Charles Chaille-Long collection

by Unknown (1645 – 1935)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Letter of Charles Chaille-Long was written from Charles in 1912. Additionally, there is genealogical information on the Long family, going through Charles Chaille-Long. The genealogical letter to the editor was to correct misinformation regarding the lineage of the Long family.

Thomas Crockett Book

by Crockett, Thomas (1650 – 1894)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Thomas Crockett Book contains two copies of the book titled "History of Tangier Island" written by Thomas Crockett. The book contains a history of Tangier Island from its founding to 1984.

Pemberton Historical Park Collection

by Unknown (1989)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Pemberton Historical Park Collection contains a 1984 pamphlet over Pemberton Historical Park. Also included is a brief history of the Pemberton family from 1651-1753.

Anne B. Nock collection

by Nock, Anne B.;  Nock, Floyd (1652 – 1998)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Anne B. Nock collection contains three essays on Onancock, Virginia, and William Claiborne. The essays included are "Vaux Hall: Accomack County, Virginia: 1652-1972", written by Floyd Nock, "A Walk through History with William Claiborne", and "Onancock, Virginia: Child of the Bay", written by Anne B. Nock. The collection also contains various restorations, physical mapping, and history of Vaux Hall, one of the oldest settlements in Accomack County, Virginia.

Nestor Bleech collection

by Unknown (1655 – 1890)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The collection of Nestor Bleech contains sepia-toned photographic images from the late 1880s of Northampton County, Virginia as well as a 1655 printing of the 'Virginia and Maryland. OR, The Lord Baltimore's Printed Case, uncased and answered,' that includes arguments made against Baltimore's Maryland claim.

Henry Fillmore Lankford Papers

by Lankford, Henry Fillmore (1659 – 1920)

3 folders (0.3 linear feet)

The Henry Fillmore Lankford papers consist of wills and genealogical information kept by Lankford, an attorney in Somerset County, Maryland, between 1909 and 1920. The wills primarily document Somerset and Northampton County families in the 17th and 18th centuries. Also included are two oversize items: a 1911 issue of "The Canned Good Trade" and a circa 1911 advertisement for Chevrolet automobiles.

Roy C. Pollitt papers

by Pollitt, Roy (1660 – 1995s)

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

Pollitt’s papers serve as a genealogical study of the history of the Pollitt family on the East Coast. Two-thirds of the collection is devoted to files on family members and related genealogies; the other third divided between correspondence, submissions to his short-lived newsletter "Old Somersett" and photocopies of records from the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. Pollitt’s family files are comprised of an assortment of record types. Not only do many files contain charts for a particular individual’s family branch, but copies of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, wills, military papers, newspaper clippings and land records. Thus, his collection offers a unique perspective of the Pollitt family from the 17th to the 20th century. His correspondence displays a genuine interest in genealogy and a willingness to assist others with their research pursuits. Frequently, correspondents sent him copies of their own family histories.

J. Douglas Deal papers

by Unknown (1663 – 1982)

1 carton,  1 oversize folder (2.25 linear feet)

The J. Douglas Deal papers document the extensive research done by Deal while writing his dissertation Race and Class in Colonial Virginia: Indians, Englishmen, and Africans on the Eastern Shore during the Seventeenth Century from 1970-1982 at the University of Rochester. Materials within the collection are comprised of photocopies of documents dating from 1663-1866. Photocopied materials include seventeenth-century Accomack County tithables, articles from the William and Mary Quarterly, and genealogical information regarding families from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Handwritten notes and tithable charts created by Deal are also within the collection.

Sudler Family History Collection

by Unknown (1663 – 1920)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Sudler Family History Collection contains genealogical information on the Sudler family. There is an introduction explaining the meaning of the Sudler name, and genealogical history on when Sudler family members were born, died, and married. There is also a section of a biographical description for the family members.

Ed Hammond Ephemera Collection

by Hammond, Edward (1664 – 1944)

5 folders (0.25 linear feet)

The Ed Hammond Ephemera Collection consists of sources collected by Hammond dating between 1664 and 1944 (bulk of sources ranging from 1840 to 1900), primarily from towns in Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland. Many of the documents bear the name of Daniel Hearn. Included are receipts and other financial documents from 1842 to 1942; court documents from 1732 (Ennall's Outrange, Dorchester County, Maryland) and 1863 (will and testament of Andrew Robins of Worcester County, Maryland); educational items (A May Brittingham's grammar school grades and commencement programs); Second World War ephemera (war ration books for two Smack family members and a defense bond envelope); correspondence (1679 letter about a court case and Levin Tyler letters from 1848 and 1849); and additional ephemera including an 1891 Ulman's Opera House concert, a poem, marriage invitations, death cards for Orris and Elizabeth Lloyd, a flyer from Philadelphia requesting goods for African American people, 1664 inventory of grazing cattle and surrender of land in England, and Packard Motor Car Company materials.

Walston Family History Collection

by Walston Family (1664 – 1951)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Walston Family History Collection contains genealogical information for the Walston family. Within the collection, there are Walston family member birth, death, and marriage dates. There are also Sons of the American Revolution applications within the collection.

Parsons Family Collection

by Unknown (1668 – 1932)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Detailed genealogy of the Parsons Family. Starts with generation one, Peter Parsons, who migrated to Somerset County in 1668. The last ancestor listed is George Washington Parsons (1853-1932). The genealogy states who the parents are, who they are married to, if they had children and their birth/death dates, their will and how it affected their children, and a census description of their household.

Mary L. Nock papers

by Nock, Mary L. (1669 – 1992)

3 cartons,  1 oversize box (5.5 linear feet)

Mary L. Nock papers document the professional and personal life of Mary Nock, who lived from 1903 to 1987. The papers range 1669 to 1992, as she included in her possession colonial land grants as well as a copy of the Laws of Maryland which established Salisbury in 1735. Her personal papers document her life as a wife and family member of the Layfield-Nock families through photographs, greeting cards, and genealogical research. Mary Nock’s professional papers include materials such as professional correspondence, speeches, drafts of her book It Was a Joy and a Pleasure, awards, as well as ephemera from her time as a politician. Also included in the Nock papers are written works on Mary Nock by Ginger McClain Beningo, as well as Beningo’s notes and correspondence regarding the biographical works from 1990-1992, which make up the bulk of the material.

Somerset County Media collection

by Unknown (1670 – 1912)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

This collection contains compact discs entitled "Marriages and Deaths from the Eastern Shore 1881-1912" ,"1860 Census Accomack County, Virginia", "Somerset County Judicial Records from 1670, 1671, 1674, 1675, 1676, 1683, 1687, 1689, 1690-1695"," Ballard Miles Plats", "Clay, Fire and Hands: Clay Artists on the Eastern Shore", "Church Basement Songs, Kirk Mariner", "Maryland State Bar Association: An Oral History", "Pocomoke's Oldest Houses", "Frank A. Warren House", "On One Accord: Singing and Praying Bands of Tidewater Maryland and Delaware."

John Jacob Collection

by Jacob, John E. (1671 – 2013)

30 boxes,  1 drawer (34.25 linear feet)

The John Jacob Collection consists of two parts that document the life and career of attorney and historian, John E. Jacob, Jr.: collected material and personal research. Jacob collected a variety of original documents that comprise series one of the collection, including personal papers of families, ledgers, scrapbooks, land and legal documents, photographs, ephemera, and other paper-based items. Jacob also kept detailed handwritten notes and indices when researching various topics related to the history of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as his handwritten drafts for books and lectures, which comprise series two of the collection. The collection has folder-level descriptions in the inventory.

Emily and Bill Briddell Collection

by Emily and William Briddell;  Rebecca Skinner (1672 – 2017)

6 cartons,  3 oversize folders (6.3 linear feet)

The Emily and Bill Briddell Collection contains genealogical records of the Briddell, Ames, Stevenson and other families. The collection ranges from 1672-2017 with the bulk of materials from 1880-2000. the collection contains correspondence, official and unofficial documents, pamphlets, maps, and photographs.

Disharoon Family History Collection

by Unknown (1673 – 1923)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Disharoon Family History Collection is a genealogical collection detailing the Disharoon family. Within the collection are census information, newspaper articles about Disharoon family members, a legal will, and marriage information.The documents date back to Mary Disharoon, (1673- ) in Somerset County, Maryland.

Peter Shockley Collection

by Shockley, Peter S. (1675 – 1935)

1 oversize box,  10 boxes (6 linear feet)

The Peter Shockley Collection contains deed transfers, plats, survey information, and transit books involving the work of civil engineer Peter Shockley during the early 20th century. Shockley oversaw transfers of land and often surveyed the land being transferred and drew plats for the land. Throughout his career surveying the Delmarva area, he used over 100 transit books containing information from deed transfers, election districts, and general land surveys of people, places, and businesses. Some of the land histories involved in deed transfers go back to the 17th century.

Robert L. Chamberlin Collection

by Unknown (1675 – 1990)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The Robert L. Chamberlin Collection contains genealogical information on the Chamberlin, Coulbourne, and Miles families. Contained within are birth, death, and marriage dates. There are also some biographical information on some family members of the Chamberlin family.

Stevenson Family Collection

by Unknown (1675 – 1995)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Stevenson Family Collection contains genealogical information about the Stevenson family. The purpose of the collection is to prove that their ancestor, Joseph Stevenson, is related to the members of the Eastern Shore Stevenson family. They also want to see if Joseph Stevenson is a common ancestor of Maryland and Indiana Stevenson family members.

Charles Whayland Collection

by Unknown (1679 – 1936)

1 oversize box (1.25 linear feet)

The Charles Whayland Collection consists of land patents, indentures, surveys and plats, and other land records primarily related to land known as "Calcutta" from 1679 to 1936, many of which relate to Isaac Anderson. This Somerset County land was east of the Wicomico River near Upper Ferry road. Also included in the collection are two letters from 1862 and 1863 discussing shipping lumber to New York City and Alexandria and a 1929 Master's Certificate of Service of Sick or Injured Seamen.

Somerset County Land Records

by Unknown (1680 – 1866)

1 oversize folder (1.25 linear feet)

This collection contains several land records documenting Somerset County plats from 1680 to 1866 (primarily 1770s to 1850s) including Spring Hill, Coscoway, Henry's Conclusion, and Crucked Chance. Included are courses, deeds (including one 1806 deed between George Perdue and William Parsons), land plats, an 1852 will and account distribution for Thomas White, a bond between Lambert Adkins and Joseph Ellis, and receipts documenting land transactions.

Lankford Family papers

by Lankford, Benjamin;  Lankford, Scott, and Porter families (1683 – 1975)

10 boxes,  1 oversize box (7.75 linear feet)

The Lankford Family Papers document the Somerset County, Maryland family's activities through extensive correspondence, land records, photographs, newspaper clippings, genealogical notes, and other materials. While the collection dates between 1683 and 1975, the majority dates between 1812 and 1897. Much of the correspondence revolves around Benjamin Lankford (1798-1886), who served in the Maryland General Assembly between the 1840s and 1870s, as well as his wife, Susan, and her sister Mary Jane Guillet. The correspondence in the collection is described at the item level.

Wicomico Historical Society collection

by Unknown (1683 – 2006)

82 boxes (55.5 linear feet)

The collections of the Wicomico Historical Society were amassed by the membership and governing board of the Society with the intent to collect and preserve the history of Wicomico County, Maryland. The records include an abundance of records documenting the land, culture, activities, businesses and the people of Wicomico County, Maryland from the 18th century to the late 20th century.

Dixon and Davis Families Collection

by Parker, Elisha P.;  Parker, John (1684 – 1933)

1 box (1.25 linear feet)

This collection consists of land records, correspondence, and maps related to land transactions in Worcester and Wicomico Counties, Maryland. The documents are from multiple families and individuals from 1684 to 1933. There are few personal sources, most are legal documents and land transaction records. The family names with the most records in the collection are Parker, Davis, Dixon, and Hearn who all owned properties in the same district in what is today northern Wicomico County. The land records show transactions in Worcester County and what later become Wicomico County after 1867, specifically the northern portion of the Parsons District.

Miles Family papers

by Miles, Henry;  Miles, John (1685 – 1898)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

Land deeds and surveys of the Miles Family papers document the extensive lands owned by and passed to the members of the Miles family of Somerset County, Maryland, 1645-1890. Properties include Ferry Bridge, Pleasure, Hog Pen Swamp and others. Records also include personal papers of John Miles, they comprise a list of property owned, a tax assessment and an unprobated will as well as a photograph album of tin types compiled by Mollie Miles.

Levin S. and Mary Melson papers

by Melson Family (1688 – 1890)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Series of land deeds, including a plat and patent for land in Somerset and Worcester Counties for the Melson family including the deed of land adjacent to the Melson property in Bishopville from Joseph Cary to Thomas A.J. Holloway and the land deed from Levin and Mary Melson to Ezekiel A. Melson. Also included is a land plat with a detailed drawing from the L.S. Melson and Brothers to James and Isabell Bishop, and the stock certificate of Levin Melson's purchase of Prohibition Camp Meeting Association for thirty shares of capital stock. Outside of the Melson family and included with the records is the Walter Lane land patent from Somerset County, 1688.

Melvin Family Collection

by Unknown (1688 – 1980)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The Melvin Family Collection is comprised of genealogical notes for the Melvin family. The family is able to date their heritage back to the 17th Century. The Melvin Family has an ancestor, William Melvin, who was apart of the American Revolution, which is why descendant Ruth Young was apart of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The family lived in almost every county of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia including: Worcester County, Somerset County, Accomack County, and Cecil County. Within the collection, there are also legal land deeds, wills, and censuses listing persons in a household including slaves.

Paul Butler collection

by Butler, Paul (1694 – 1928)

1 box,  1 oversize folder (3 linear feet)

Paul Butler collection consists of photocopies of historical documents from Wicomico and Worcester Counties, Maryland, accumulated by Paul Butler. It contains land deeds and manumission deeds documenting African American history from 1803-1928. It includes a copy of the book, Commanders of the Dining Room, with a biographical sketch of L.D. Houston, a native of Salisbury, Maryland, and the headwaiter of the Peninsula Hotel in Seabright, New Jersey, in 1905. The collection also contains court dockets, voting records and ledgers documenting legal and economic history from 1694-1910. It includes a ledger from a school in Lindseyville (Klej Grange) Maryland from 1850-1852, and a ledger from a store in Tyaskin, Maryland from 1898-1901.

Special Collections Books and Periodicals

by Unknown (1694 – 2015)

folders (186 linear feet)

These rare and unique books and periodicals supplement the Special Collections manuscripts. They range in dates from 1694 to 2015--primarily dating from the late 18th century to the mid 20th century--and vary greatly in topics throughout world and American history. Many languages are represented, including Japanese, German, Russian, Spanish, French, and more. Subjects such as the history of education, the American Civil War, and Japanese foreign relations are especially well represented. There are approximately 1400 books and periodicals, all acquired at different times and manners. All books are completely cataloged in the ALEPH system, which can be searched more in depth here: https://catalog.umd.edu/F/?func=file&file_name=find-c (please select SPECIAL COLLECTIONS for LOCATION)

Family Bible Collection

by Unknown (1700 – 1900s)

23 boxes (25 linear feet)

Bibles donated to the Nabb Center, whether singly or as part of a larger collection, have been integrated into this collection. A variety of print editions spanning from 18th Century to 20th century are represented, as well as various religious denominations and types of Bibles. Most of the Bibles contain hand-written notations of family history – including births, deaths, marriages and baptisms-- for several surnames beyond the title. Some may contain additional clippings or other items and some Bibles do not contain any family information. Family Bibles held by the Nabb Center and not included in this collection are also referred to in the inventory. A partial transcription of the family history pages is available upon request (full transcription will be made available online soon).

Tom Fooks family history collection

by Fooks, Tom (1700 – 1900)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Tom Fooks Family History Collection records genealogy information for the Fassitt, Cropper, Buckby, and Robins Family. The recorded family history dates back to England in the 1500s, with a large emphasis on their daily lives. The collection also discusses life on the Eastern Shore for the early family members of Fassitt and Cropper. Included are wills, family bible birth and death dates, and general information about specific family members.

Old School Baptist Church Records

by Old School Baptist Church (1701 – 2013)

12 boxes,  2 oversize folders (26.5 linear feet)

The Old School Baptist Church records consist of manuscript materials and periodicals documenting the faith and practices of the Old School Baptist Churches on the Delmarva Peninsula from 1701-2013, with the bulk of the records dating from 1875 to 1999. The collection includes meeting minutes of the Forest Grove, Little Creek, Broad Creek, Salisbury, Rewastico, Nassaongo, Snow Hill, Rock Springs, Indiantown, and Pitts Creek Old School Baptist Churches from 1799-2013. The collection also includes a complete run of Signs of the Times, the journal of the Old School Baptist faith, from 1875-1969.

Done Family Genealogy Collection

by Unknown (1705 – 1927)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Done Family Genealogy Collection contains genealogical information on the Done family. included are Done family pedigree charts, along with some biographical information.

Bayly Family papers

by Bayly, Alexander Hamilton;  Bayly, J. Washington E.;  Bayly, Josiah;  Bayly, Julian (1706 – 1934)

37 cartons (47 linear feet)

The papers of the Bayly family extensively document the Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland family from 1706-1934, with the bulk of the material dating from 1820-1865. This comprehensive collection documents the lengthy legal and political career of Maryland Attorney General Josiah Bayly, as well as the prolific medical practices of his son, Dr. Alexander Hamilton Bayly. Simultaneously, the collection documents family education practices, and thoughts on the American Civil War through scrapbooks and correspondence. Leisure activities are observed through a variety of fictional publications from the Library of Select Novels, and the Shakespeare Quarto Illustrated. Additional printed materials include local and national newspapers, almanac’s, weekly satirical magazines, Godey’s Lady’s Book and Blackwood’s Edinburg Magazine.

Henderson Family History Collection

by Henderson Family (1710 – 1994)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The Henderson Family History Collection contains genealogical information on the Henderson family. The genealogy details the family records by providing Henderson family members date of birth, marriage, and death. Some documents detail personal history of family members such as their occupations, where they lived, and what they owned. There are also photographs of Lloyd Asbury McCready.

Marianne Scarborough Collection

by Scarborough, Marianne (1714 – 1939)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Marianne Scarborough Collection focuses on the genealogical history of the Scarborough family. Heritage is very important to the Scarborough family as Clarence Park Scarborough Jr. applied to be apart of the Sons of The American Revolution, while his mother, Lulu Ringgold Prout Scarborough, applied to be apart of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Hobbs Family Collection

by Unknown (1720 – 1913)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Hobbs Family Collection contains genealogical information on the Hobbs family. There is a detailed description of birth, death, and marriage dates along with children. Some records detail specific Hobbs family members lifetime. The genealogy covers multiple states including Maryland, Virginia, and Indiana. This collection also discusses if whether or not the city of Hobbs, Indiana has any relation to this Hobbs family.

Eastern Shore Commerce Ephemera

by Unknown (1724 – 1957)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The Eastern Shore Commerce Ephemera collection is divided into five series and documents the correspondences and accounting records of the Howard, Goslee, and Morris families. In addition, there are other accounting records from the Eastern shore, including Salisbury and Delaware. This collection also contains court documents, a temperance speech from 1833, a diary documenting an unnamed persons daily activities, and a meeting book from the Betsy Ross Council of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

L.Q. Powell collection

by Unknown (1724 – 1976)

2 boxes (3 linear feet)

The L.Q. Powell collection contains early legal and political records pertaining to Somerset County, Maryland including tax lists, voters list, and court records as well as certificates for elections of Judge, Sheriff, and Surveyor. It details church activities through parish records, cemetery records and individual accounts of churches. One series is dedicated to genealogical histories of several families including the Powell family. Of interest to researchers may be the Civil War and Free Colored population materials in the final series.

William Martin Collection

by Martin, William (1726 – 1890)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The William Martin Collection details the genealogical history of the Martin Family who had resided in Somerset and Worcester County, Maryland. The main focus revolves around William Martin (1803/1816-1890), and trying to figure out the family that came before William Martin. Within are births off everyone who had the last name Martin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Timothy Beard papers

by Beard, Timothy (1729 – 2016)

5 cartons,  1 box (5.25 linear feet)

Timothy Beard papers document the life, family history, and life-long research of Sheffield, Massachusetts native, Timothy Field Beard, through numerous research notes, family photograph albums, memberships, and bibles. The papers date from 1729-2016, with the bulk of the papers dating from 1951-2001 reflecting on the core of his work, genealogy. Beard’s notes provide insight into numerous family lines other than his own and the membership rosters illustrate a collection of prominent lineages.

George White Collection

by White, George (1730 – 2007)

2 boxes,  11 oversize folders ( linear feet)

The George White Collection consists of a series of ephemera, files, and documents from Salisbury, Maryland businesses and people collected pertaining to Salisbury, Maryland during White’s former position as president of the Wicomico Historical Society.

Watson Vault Company records

by Watson, Pasher W. Jr. (1730 – 1941)

9 folders (0.09 linear feet)

The Watson Vault Company Records contain records relating to the Watson Vault Company, a funeral home and casket manufacturing company owned and operated by Pasher W. Watson, Jr. (1860-1939), son of Pasher W. and Margarette Watson, Sr. The business was located in Selbyville, Delaware and served both Delaware and Maryland. The collection includes burial permits obtained from the Maryland State Department of Health's Bureau of Statistics by the funeral home, providing information about the deceased's doctor, cause of death, and place of burial. The collection contains correspondence between the Stuart Patent Company, the National Service Bureau, and Watson regarding his patent on a type of casket known as the "Underground Mausoleum," illustrating the commercially mediated patent process in the earlier part of the twentieth century.

Gilliss Family Collection

by Gilliss, E.J.;  Gilliss, Elizabeth A. Hall;  Gilliss, John P.R.;  Gilliss, Mae (or May) (1732 – 1994)

11 boxes (6.25 linear feet)

The Gilliss Family Collection documents the Gilliss, Hall, and Fassitt families between 1732 and 1994, though primarily between 1830 and 1920. Documents include family history research, photographs, land and legal documents, correspondence (primarily sent to Lizzie A. (Hall) Gilliss in the 1860s and 1870s), ledgers (primarily medical journals of Dr. John P.R. Gilliss from the 1830s and 1840s), and business documents (primarily from E.J. Gilliss' company, Gilliss and Gilliss, between the 1879 and the 1951).

Kay Scarborough Collection

by Scarborough, Kay (1742 – 1950)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

The Kay Scarborough Collection covers genealogy and history of several families. These families are the West, Haworth, and Scarborough families. Within, there are details of when people were born, died, and who their children were. There is a detailed description of Quaker life, and how the Scarborough family knew William Pen. There is also a section regarding agricultural slave labor in Worcester Country, Maryland.

Worcester County research collection

by Unknown (1742 – 1974)

6 folders (0.06 linear feet)

The Worcester County research collection contains documents that cover the history of Worcester County. Major topics covered are: the foundation and early history of Worcester County, Worcester County Revolutionary and Civil War periods, historic sites and homes, religious information, and Snow Hill. Also included are Maps of Snow Hill and Worcester County, various writings and essays on Worcester County, and magazine articles.

Bounds Family Papers

by Bounds, George A.;  Bounds, George C. (1747 – 1941)

4 boxes (4 linear feet)

This collection contains records from the Bounds family from 1807 to the late 1930s. Series 1 through 4 contains postcards, newspapers, and other documents from different members of the Bounds family from the early 1800s into the twentieth century. The rest of the collection consists of documents of George Bounds, a businessman in the Hebron and Wicomico County area. These materials include real estate transactions, business correspondence, and other related records.

Marah Finney Collection

by Finney, Marah;  Hearn, Ebenezer;  Hearn, General Ebenezer;  Stevenson, John (1748 – 1989)

7 boxes (2.5 linear feet)

This collection contains materials from the Stevenson and Hearn families of Newtown, later Pocomoke City, Maryland from 1748 to 1989. The earliest documents consist of papers of John Stevenson, a doctor who attended the University of Pennsylvania for medicine in 1797 and 1798, studying under Benjamin Rush. Stevenson also settled estates, and the collection includes records detailing some of the accounts he worked. The collection also includes the scrapbooks assembled by Ebenezer Hearn, who was a teacher and involved in the Temperance Movement in the lower Eastern Shore. The scrapbooks contain news clippings related to the local and national Temperance and alcohol prohibition movement, with other clippings of national events, sermons, and education topics.

William Pitts Survey records

by Unknown (1748 – 1980)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The William Pitts Survey Records Collection contains the finding aid for the collection that is held at the Worcester County Library in Snow Hill, Maryland.

Wicomico Presbyterian Church records

by Wicomico Presbyterian Church (1750 – 1976)

1 box (1.5 linear feet)

The Wicomico Presbyterian Church Collection contains various materials concerning the Wicomico Presbyterian Church and related congregations, however, it does not represent a complete history of the Wicomico Presbyterian Church. All materials in this collection have been photocopied, therefore, it does not contain any original documents, photographs or papers. Information is given about a variety of topics including Presbyterian history in Wicomico County, church pastors and the women of the Wicomico Presbyterian Church's Women's Association. The collection spans from the 18th Century, with copies of documents and transcriptions, through the 1950's, with papers concerning church renovation and weekly church bulletins. Select budget information and correspondence from the early to mid 20th Century can also be viewed. The Wicomico Presbyterian Church celebrated its 250th Anniversary in 1933, commemorating founder Francis Makemie's beginnings in and around the Wicomico River area.

Ed Hammond collection

by Unknown (1752, 1971)

7 cartons,  1 oversize folder (7.75 linear feet)

The Ed Hammond collection consists of Bibles, financial ledgers, journals and ephemera from 1752-1971. The collection offers insight into the genealogies of the Franklin, Warrington, Selby, Martin, Townsend and Upshur families of Maryland. Records also include religious texts, financial ledgers from 1830-1971; and journals and ephemera from 1878-1909. The collection was discovered in the attic of a home in Worcester County, Maryland, and donated to the Center by Ed Hammond.

Ellis, Vincent and Wheatley Families Collection

by Unknown (1758 – 1934)

2 boxes (2.25 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical research tracing the Ellis family line back to 1804. There are also photocopies of wills, land grants, and census research dating back to the mid-1700s. While a majority of the collection is genealogical information on the Ellis family, there are also magazines from the University of Maryland dating back to 1930. Included also is a hardback book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 390th Bomb Group with Robert L Vincent’s name printed on the front cover

Dennis Family Papers

by John V. Dennis Sr (1759 – 2000)

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

This collection contains correspondence, family trees, death and birth certificates, wills, and other information from 1759 to 2000 pertaining to the Dennis family and its origins in Maryland and Virginia.

Griffith and Pugh Family Collection

by Griffith, Benjamin;  Pugh, Samuel (1759, 1977)

1 oversize box (1.25 linear feet)

This collection contains letters, debt notices, promissory notes, court summons, receipts, indentures, a will, deeds, and loans dated 1759-1919 from the Griffith and Pugh families located in Northampton, Virginia. It also contains Oyster Ground Surveys from 1904 and 1905, and a genealogical record connecting the Elliot, Griffith, and Pugh families (though there is little of the Griffith family in the genealogical record). 

John Goslee papers

by Goslee, John (1760 – 1975)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

John Goslee papers document the activities of the Goslee family from 1760-1975 through photocopied documents. Materials include land grants, bonds, and bible records, as well as genealogical research on the family. An 1879 survey of the land tracts "Teagues Folly" and "End of Dispute", is also within the collection.

Parker and Hearn Families Collection

by Unknown (1760 – 1933)

2 boxes (1.75 linear feet)

This collection consists of documents related to the Parker, Hearn, and Byrd families of Worcester and Somerset (later Wicomico) counties from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. The collection is divided into two series: Land and Legal Documents, and the records of the International Order of Odd Fellows lodge of Crisfield, Maryland. The land and legal records should be viewed alongside the Dixon-Davis Collection, as it contains materials on the same individuals.

William M. Ruark papers

by Ruark, William (1761 – 1906)

1 box (0.25 linear feet)

The William M. Ruark papers document Ruark’s land purchases and sales. The papers date from 1761-1906 with the bulk of the papers dating from 1883-1903. The papers include tax records, deeds, mortgages, land settlements, patents, and correspondence regarding the sale of land in Somerset County. In addition to the land records also included is a photograph of Evelyn Ruark’s grandfather, George Gilliss Pusey, and a short biography of Austin Carpenter Heaton, who was the minister of Manokin Presbyterian Church from 1855-1880.

Special Collections Pamphlet Collection

by Various (1762 – 1985)

9 cartons,  2 boxes (10 linear feet)

The Special Collections Pamphlet Collection consists of over 800 published manuscripts discussing a wide variety of national and international topics. The materials date between 1762 and 1985. Similar topics have been grouped together, but may be found throughout the collection. Some of the major topics included in the collection are: race relations, Australia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, African American history, Native American history, military history (American Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean War), education, industry, labor history, agriculture, railways, government and politics, international relations, socialism, communism, economics, prisons, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, prohibition, temperance, women's history and groups, and biographies and obituaries.

Blackwell Library Collection

by Burnett, Mary K.;  Dashiell, Cassius M. (1765 – 1965)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

This collection contains: Placecards and articles regarding airships, Pictures and clippings of airships, William Preston Lane Memorial bridge brochure, Picture of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his nurse, China clippings and pictures and articles and letters, Letter (march 24, 1934) The News Publishing Co. , Nov. 1873 Commission - John W. Laws, History of Stepney Parish (copy), To the glory of God in Wicomico, Tall ships in Baltimore .

Freedom Ainsworth papers

by Ainsworth, Freedom (1766 – 1999)

10 boxes,  4 oversize folders (21.75 linear feet)

The Freedom Ainsworth papers document the restoration and preservation efforts of three of the Manokin Historic District’s oldest structures Beckford Manor, Almodington and More And Case It (also known as Holly Hurst), located in Princess Anne, Md. The materials date from 1766-1767, 1803-1999 with the bulk of the material dating from the purchase and restoration of the three structures, 1967-1994. Restoration activities, as well as property histories, are documented via correspondence, detailed measurements and notes, architectural drawings, and photographs. Also documented through a series of ledgers are the accounting transactions of Henry Smith Lankford and H. Fillmore Lankford as well as various merchants from Somerset Count including Teackle Dennis and Teackle.

Don Landing Collection

by Landing, Donald (1769 – 1981)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Don Landing Collection contains genealogical information conducted by Donald Landing on the Landing family. Included in the collection is genealogical history of the Landing family members birth and death dates, along with small biographical information of those members. The focus of the research is from 1769 to 1981.

Eastern Shore Cultural Ephemera

by Unknown (1769 – 1991)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The Eastern Shore Cultural Ephemera collection ranges from 1769-1991 contains newspaper clippings, overviews, maps, brochures and publications that focus on the Eastern shore. There are three series: The History of the Eastern Shore, Maps and Overviews of the Eastern Shore, and Publications. The collection also contains a book documenting the history of the Maryland Road systems, reproduced maps from 1769 to 1812, and even a church yearbook and directory.

Shirley Nock collection

by Nock, Shirley (1771 – 1910)

1 oversize folder (1.25 linear feet)

The Shirley Nock collection contains historical property documents from Nock's family, primarily from Worcester County, Maryland, and dating between 1771 and circa 1910. The majority of the documents, which include deeds, land patents, surveys, and financial notes, relate to George and Andrew Smith. Also included are items related to Parker and Hearn families, as well as the Leonard family (including strawberry picker tickets).

Bender Family Collection

by Unknown (1772 – 1970)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Bender Family collection details the ancestry of the author. The name of the author is not given to this collection, but her last name is Bender. The author starts with her ancestor from Adams County, Pennsylvania and traces it all the way until she moves to Salisbury, Maryland. The ancestry tracks the family's church involvement until her mother is born. Her mother was born, Evelyn Elizabeth Elliott, blind and married John Royston Green, another blind person. The two would raise the author and her brother through World War I, The Great Depression, and World War II.

Cathell Family Collection

by Cathell Family (1772 – 1996)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Cathell Family Collection contains genealogical information on the Cathell family. Included within is a booklet titled "Records of The Cathell Family". The book contains in-depth genealogy with multiple family trees. There are also newspaper clippings and personal notes that helped establish the booklet.

Jean Long collection

by Long, Jean (1772 – 1978)

6 boxes,  1 oversize folder (7 linear feet)

This collection of material acquired by Jean Long deals with the history of Maryland including the islands of Deal, Smith and St. Michael's and customs. It contains booklets, articles, scrapbooks, Maryland Hall of Records Bulletins and several Wheeler leaflets. In addition, it contains newspapers, magazines and material covering historic homes and places such as Fairmount Academy. The four Maryland Hall of Records Bicentennial Bulletins for April-July 1776 were donated by William Kline to complete the set.

Margaret Robinson collection

by Robinson, Margaret (1772 – 1950)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Margaret Robinson collection focuses on the genealogy of the Dunn family. The family is able to trace their roots to Thomas Dunn (1772-1829). The majority of the family resides in Somerset and Wicomico County, Maryland. The genealogy includes births, deaths, marriages, and children of the Dunn family.

Unbound Newspaper collection

by Unknown (1773 – 2011)

38 oversize boxes (81 linear feet)

The Unbound Newspaper collection includes loose newspapers from various geographic locations across the Eastern Shore, the United States, and internationally. The majority of the newspapers within the collection are from the Delmarva Peninsula and include the Salisbury Daily Times, the Salisbury Advertiser, and the Centreville Record. Related materials can be found in the Bound Newspaper collection (2018.043).

William Smith Wilson Jr. Collection

by Susan West;  The Wilson Family;  William Smith Wilson Jr. (1773 – 1991)

2 cartons,  4 oversize folders (7 linear feet)

The William Smith Wilson Jr. Collection is a genealogical collection relating to the Wilson Family with the bulk of items dating from the 1880s to the 1970s with outliers from 1773 to 1991. The majority of the collection consists of genealogical information on the direct line of the Wilson Family as well as some extended family. This collection also includes family journals, checks, and legal and property documents for the Family Farm at Maple Grove Easton.

Fisher Genealogy Collection

by Unknown (1775 – 1873)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Fisher Genealogy Collection contains the genealogical history of the Fisher family. Most of the family members resided in Sussex County, Delaware. Within the collection, there is detailed information about births, deaths, and marriages of Fisher family members. There are also transcriptions of the Lt. William James Fisher collection (the physical letters reside at the Gettysburg National Military Park Archives).

Powell Family papers

by Unknown (1776 – 2000)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Powell Family papers document the family's history from 1776-2000. Documenting materials include a will from 1776, land records from the 1830s, newspaper clippings from the Civil War, as well as genealogical research completed by an unknown family member.

Levin H. Campbell Family papers

by Campbell, Levin H.;  Campbell, Zacharias (1777 – 2002)

6 boxes,  2 oversize folders (5.75 linear feet)

The papers of the Levin H. Campbell family document the extensive family lineage of the Campbell, Hicks, Hooper, Goldsborough, Denwood, and Hollyday families of Dorchester and Talbot counties, Maryland. Records include handwritten family histories, newspaper clippings and comprehensive biographical information, original and facsimile, were acquired over the course of several decades by Hon. Levin H. Campbell, a direct descendent of Zacharias Campbell and date from 1777-2002. Of note, is a vital records diary begun in 1844 by Levin Hicks Campbell (1820-1868), which was maintained by family members through the 1940s. The diary also includes pages from the Campbell family Bible, and notes histories of Zacharias and his son, Levin.

Howard Adkins Collection

by Adkins, Howard (1778 – 1990)

8 boxes (6 linear feet)

This collection consists of (8) boxes containing miscellaneous documents collected (and in some cases written by) local historian, J. Howard Adkins. The collection spans primarily the 19th and 20th centuries with material drawn from a variety of commercial, cultural and religious enterprises primarily related to Delmarva, but also including references to Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia. A smaller portion of the collection includes documents sourced from the National Society DAR Library in Washington, D.C. outlining members of the local militia (Somerset, Worcester and Dorchester Counties) who took “Oaths of Fidelity”during the American Revolutionary period and the War of 1812, locally written histories of Riverton, Salisbury, Vienna, Sharptown, Mardela, Barren Creek, the Bradley family among others.

Maryland Supply Tax Lists

by Ford, Harold;  McCabe, Tilghman Junior;  Sinks, John D. (1778 – 2013)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Digital copy of the Maryland Supply Tax lists documenting the property owner's name, geographic location, trac name where applicable including real and personal property ie: land and slaves, 1778-1783.

Anne Gootee Henderson collection

by Henderson, Anne Gootee (1779 – 1943)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical information regarding the Metcalf and Marsh families. There is a marriage license for a Joseph Metcalf and Roberta Hammon. There is also a list of birth dates, death dates, and marriages for the Metcalf families. The Marsh families have a list of family members names, with a funeral news clipping for Franklin Marsh.

Tisinger Collection

by Unknown (1779 – 1975)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Tisinger Collection is a detailed genealogy on the Hudson Family of Worcester County, Maryland. The collection contains census data, marriage licenses, and birth and death dates of the Hudson family.

Daniel Family Collection

by Unknown (1780 – 1977)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Daniel Family collection contains genealogical history of the Daniel family. The main focus is on Travis Daniel, Mary Wallace, and David Wallace, of Somerset County, Maryland in the mid 1800s. Along with a family history, there are wills and deeds for the three people mentioned.

United States and Maryland Pictorial Collection

by Unknown (1781 – 1945)

1 box (0.75 linear feet)

This collection contains a pictorial history of the American Soldier, Abraham Lincoln and locations within Maryland. It also includes printed articles about locations in this area including Poplar Hill Mansion and the Nassawango Iron Furnace. An article on Beverly Farm House discusses how it almost became Napoleon Bonaparte's final resting place. Most notably is a published poem by prominent Eastern Shoreman, William B. Tilghman about his home in Snow Hill, Maryland.

Cato Family papers

by Cato, Joanna Hauk (1782 – 1980)

2 boxes,  1 oversize box (3.75 linear feet)

Cato Family papers document the family activities and lineage of the Cato and Wyche families of Greensville County, Virginia and Salisbury, Maryland spanning two centuries. Hand-drawn lineage charts as well as land deeds, account bills, correspondence, and photographs are included and document the extensive family ancestry.

Papers of J. Millard Tawes

by Crisfield Heritage Foundation;  Tawes, J. Millard (1782 – 1994)

61 boxes,  7 oversize folders (75 linear feet)

The Papers of J. Millard Tawes consist of the political and personal papers of J. Millard Tawes and of historic Maryland records. The collection documents Tawes’ career as a politician from 1930-1979, including his service as the 54th Governor of Maryland from 1959-1967. It contains speeches, correspondence, photographs, publications and ephemera offering insight into fifty years of state and national politics. The collection includes Tawes’ speeches on the Freedom Riders and on the Cambridge Riots of 1963. It also includes correspondence between Tawes and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

Trader and Garretson Collection

by Unknown (1782 – 1996)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Trader and Garretson Collection contain personal information on Purnell Trader and Leah Garretson. There is also a land survey and land plat for Adaline Trader. There is also genealogical information on the Groves and Tuitt families. The last included material is a brochure for the Adkins Farm in Salisbury, Maryland.

Bill Satterfield collection

by Satterfield, Bill (1783 – 1945)

15 folders,  1 oversize folder (0.2 linear feet)

The Bill Satterfield collection documents life in the United States from circa 1783 to 1905 and as a soldier in World War II from 1943 to 1945, although the collection dates from 1783 to 1945. This collection includes foreign currency, bonds from various railroad companies, correspondence between friends and family members, receipts of purchasing powder, a church report, a witness record for Seaborn Goodall, a labor agreement between Samuel Wayde and Nathan Lapstein, return of compensation of land to William Nathan Harper, a blank account book, two copies of The Church Quarterly Lesson Leaflet for Middle and Senior Grades, a 1906 almanac, an U.S. Army worship bulletin, a 1943 map of Naples, Italy, and The Story of the Corps of Military Police.

E. Niel Carey papers

by Carey, E. Niel (1783 – 2016)

2 cartons (2 linear feet)

The papers of E. Niel Carey collectively document his professional endeavors as an educator and facilitator of career education at the Maryland State Board of Education and the National Council on Career Advancement, 1967-1997. Records include his service in the United States Air Force; however, the majority of materials focus on the development of career education as one of the first programs of its kind. Additionally, records document Carey’s publication activities and public service. A transcription of a 1783 letter written by Carey's ancestor is attached.

Samuel Dawson family papers

by Dawson, Samuel (1783 – 1920)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The Samuel Dawson family papers document the activities of Dawson of Virginia and his descendants before, during and after the Civil War from 1783-1920 with the bulk of the material dating from 1861-1868. Materials include legal judgment and the estate inventory of Samuel Dawson, a receipt for horses sold to the Confederacy by Samuel A. Dawson, a diary written by Charles G. Dawson documenting his experience in the Gettysburg campaign, a record of family slaves, a handwritten cookbook and a travel account from Philadelphia to Fauquier, Va. by Henrietta Horner Wyeth during the 1860s as well as Dawson and Cooper family histories. Also included is a handwritten constitution for the Society of the Cincinnati and an abstracts of correspondence from General Thomas Jesup from his campaigns in Florida during the Seminole Wars.

Henrietta Jones Moore collection

by Moore, Henrietta (1784 – 2016)

4 boxes,  1 oversize box (4 linear feet)

The Henrietta Jones Moore collection documents several historical aspects of Eastern Shore history including Salisbury and Cambridge, Maryland and Cape Charles, Virginia. Documenting materials include family history, religion, education, and economic perspectives through essays, ephemera, newspaper clippings, obituaries and photographs from 1860-1998 with the bulk of the material dating from 1930-1948.

Washington Academy Collection

by Unknown (1784 – 1939)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The Washington Academy Collection contains general historical information about Washington Academy. Within the collection, there are some board meeting minutes, some photographs, and some personal letters. The majority of the collection focuses on 1892, and includes the programs and ceremonies performed that year.

Bethlehem Methodist Church Records (Taylor's Island, Md.)

by Bethlehem Methodist Church (1785 – 1978)

4 cartons (4.6 linear feet)

The Bethlehem Methodist Church Records document the membership and activities of the Dorchester County church, as well as Taylor's Island's Methodist congregation before the official church's establishment in 1858. This collection includes minutes from church conferences, membership rolls and congregation registers, and records from meetings, contribution records, Sunday school records, attendance lists, marriage licenses, deeds, and other material related to the church's history.

Captain William Edward Wheatley papers

by Wheatley, William Edward (1786 – 1921)

1 box (0.25 linear feet)

The Captain William Edward Wheatley papers document the commercial activities of the Sussex County, Delaware merchant. Wheatley bought, sold, traded, and shipped quantities of wood (including planks and shingles), ashes, agricultural produce, and more to markets mostly in Baltimore and Philadelphia. Included are his correspondence from 1843 to 1873, mostly from merchants including his son William in Philadelphia; Laurel and Broad Creek, Delaware real estate indentures, deeds, and legal agreements that date between 1786 and 1884; twelve notebooks and ledgers documenting the repair of scows and Wheatley's trade between 1822 and 1862; business receipts dating between 1814 and1873; and printed ephemera and loose papers dating between 1854 and 1921. Three indentures relate to an 1862-1863 real estate transaction between Wheatley and an African American, Isaac Morris.

Charles Robert Virgil Hall collection

by Hall, Rob (1789 – 1987)

1 carton,  1 oversize box (2.5 linear feet)

The Charles Robert Virgil Hall collection documents various Eastern Shore families and their activities from 1789-1987, with the bulk of the records dating from 1885-1920. Eastern Shore communities are documented via land records, fraternal organizations, church materials including programs and the Journal of the Diocese of Easton, printed advertisements, family histories, and photographic prints.

Records of Perdue Farms, Inc.

by Perdue Farms, Inc.;  Perdue, Franklin P. (1790 – 2018)

208 boxes,  4 oversize boxes (99.08 linear feet)

The Records of Perdue Farms, Inc. consist of correspondence, agendas, memoranda, handwritten notes, reports, speeches, minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, slides, audio and video documenting the Salisbury, Maryland company Perdue Farms, Inc, which includes both Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. The collection also houses records pertaining to the Perdue Family, as well as some of Frank P. Perdue's personal papers, dating from 1790 to 2018 (though primarily from 1970 to 2000).

Covington Family papers

by Unknown (1792 – 1880)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

The Covington Family Papers contain original documents on will abstracts, land deeds, and correspondence of members of the Covington family who resided near Snow Hill, Maryland. A majority of the documents date from the 19th century.

Nancy Insley Gribbon collection

by Insley Family (1792 – 1914)

6 oversize boxes (9 linear feet)

This collection is comprised of original papers including deeds, plats, wills, letters, bill of sale, mortgage, receipts, oyster lots, lease, notice, survey, and account pages in the possession of Nancy Insley Gribbon relating to the Insley and allied families of Somerset County, Maryland. The original documents have been photocopied and these photocopies are housed with the original documents. The date range of the material is from 1792 until 1914.

Furbush Family Papers

by Furbush, George Washington;  Furbush, Mary Russell (1793 – 1918)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

This collection contains assorted letters and receipts found in the "Old Furbush or Old Watson" farmhouse on Wetipquin Road in Tyaskin, MD in 1977, ranging from 1840 to 1918, of Mary Russell Furbush and her husband George Washington Furbush. Other correspondents are Ebenezer Russell, Ann M. Russell Bush and Leah J. Russell Markwell, siblings of Mary Russell Furbush as well as William Birckhead, Rider and Toadvine, Dr. William H. H. Dashiell, Dr. William T. Smith and James A. J. Willing. Also, included in the collection is a 1793 Maine newspaper which can be found in oversize.

Somerset County Bible Society records

by Somerset County Bible Society (1794 – 2018)

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

The Somerset County Bible Society records document the activities and extensive membership of the religious organization whose purpose was to distribute Bibles and promote further interest in the scripture. Located in Somerset County, Maryland, the organization’s records date from its inception in 1828-2018 with the bulk of the material encompassing the annual meetings and membership rosters, 1875-1986. Corresponding organization material also includes a scrapbook from annual meetings, correspondence and deposit receipts from the Maryland Bible Society and a Bible from 1794.

Albert Laws papers

by Engle, Margaret Laws;  Laws, Albert;  Laws, Victor Jr;  Truitt, Maude Perdue Laws (1795 – 1997)

13 boxes,  2 oversize folders (10.25 linear feet)

Abstract: The Albert Laws papers consist of the official and personal records of Albert Laws, and the family records of Margaret Laws Engle, Victor Laws Jr., and Maude Perdue Laws Truitt. The collection documents Albert Laws’ career as an officer in the United States Army, including his service in the Spanish American War and in the Philippine-American War from 1889-1908. The papers include a photograph album and ephemera from the West Point Class of 1893; correspondence, documents and photographs of the 24th US Infantry and 35th Infantry, USV; an eyewitness account of the Battle of San Juan Hill; and a proclamation signed by Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines. The papers also include Albert Laws’ personal correspondence from 1889-1908, with notes by his niece, Margaret Laws Engle. The collection also documents the family genealogy of the Bacon, Laws and Truitt families of Sussex County, Delaware and Wicomico and Worcester Counties, Maryland from 1795-1997. The papers include the personal correspondence and financial records of William L. Laws from 1853-1924 and genealogical notes from Margaret Laws Engle, Victor Laws Jr and Maude Perdue Laws Truitt. The papers also include a survey from 1795, records of the 30th Virginia Infantry Regiment, CSA from 1862 and a business ledger from 1864-1896.

Guy Peck collection

by Peck, Guy (1795 – 1979)

3 boxes,  1 oversize folder (1.75 linear feet)

The Guy Peck collection documents Peck’s devotion to history through the documents he acquired and includes those on education and business practices. Records date from 1795-1979 with the bulk of the material dating from 1915-1940. Specifically, records document the education and life of Conrad or Conard Williams, an African American man from Eden, Maryland who studied at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, and the secretarial training of Elva Chandler who attended Goldey College in Wilmington, Delaware. Monetary transactions are also documented through a wide variety of receipts, goods purchased and accounting practices from different Eastern Shore families including Hitch and Ruark. Military research on the 1943 Algiers Campaign and correspondence from an enlistee to his mother during the Korean War is also included.

Eastern Shore Recipes Collection

by St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church (1800 – 1999)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Various recipes from the Eastern Shore, including a published cookbook entitled, "Eastern Shore Vittles" compiled by the Junior Guild.

George B. Cropper collection

by Cropper, George B. (1800 – 1900s)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The George B. Cropper collection contains topographical surveys of Ocean City, created by George B. Cropper. There are also transcriptions of original 19th Century land deeds and parceling of land, and right-of-way and other 20th Century governmental agreements.

Godfrey Family Collection

by Williams, Margaret F. (1800 – 1946)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Godfrey Family Collection contains genealogical information on the Godfrey family. Included in the collection are letters from members of the Godfrey family who sent Margaret William a quick description of their life. There are also lists of family member birth, death, and marriage dates.

Mia Vye collection

by Unknown (1800 – 1911)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains artifacts from the donor's grandfather of Talbot County, Maryland. Included is the Ulster County (NY) Gazette dated January 4, 1800 discussing the John Fries's Rebellion in Pennsylvania and a poem submitted by a young lady about the death of George Washington. Additionally, this collection contains a copy of "All That's Lovely" published in 1907, and two copies of Harpers Weekly one from 1878 and the other seems to be Civil War Era.

Minson Family Collection

by Unknown (1800 – 1991)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Minson Family Collection contains genealogical information regarding the Minos family. There are multiple drafts contains information on three male members of the family: William Minson (1800-1860), Utillis Minson (1843- ), and Alexander Minson (1832-1922). The genealogy information details birth, death, and marriage dates, along with the location of those dates. There is also information for each child of the three focused men.

Tudor Hall Collection

by Unknown (1800 – 1961)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

This collection contains various photographs from the Tudor Hall and family photo albums of the Webster and Ballard families.

Wicomico County Library Photograph Collection

by Unknown (1800 – 1900)

2 folders (1 linear feet)

This collection contains various photographs from the 19th Century and early 20th Century, as well as postcards, greeting cards, and an autograph book.

Polk Family History Collection

by Polk Family (1801 – 1994)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Polk Family History Collection contains genealogical information regarding the Polk family. Specifically, the collection is focusing on the descendants of John Polk. The genealogy contains birth and death dates. There are postcards from Berlin, Maryland from Wade Polk and his wife. There are also printed photographs of a Polk family house in Princess Anne, Maryland.

Tawes and Porter Geneology Research Collection

by Trader, James R. (1802 – 1997)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Tawes and Porter Geneology Research Collection contains genealogical information on the Tawes and Porter family. James R. Trader researched the family, and compiled the genealogy into a family tree. There are also secondary articles pertaining to the family histories.

Young H.E. Hitch papers

by Hitch, Young H.E. (1803 – 1871)

2 boxes,  1 oversize box (1.75 linear feet)

The Young H.E. Hitch papers consist of the correspondence and papers of Young HE Hitch and members of the Hitch family. The collection documents Hitch’s life as a farmer in South Carolina and his experiences as a private in the Confederate Army. The papers include a mathematical workbook dating from 1814 and belonging to Hitch’s father, Joseph Hitch. The workbook is lined with newsprint from 1803, with notices of the Louisiana Purchase and advertisements for the recapture of runaway slaves. The papers also include a journal of Hitch’s farm work from 1858; a receipt for the purchase of Confederate bonds; examples of Confederate postage stamps; and dozens of letters written by Hitch to his wife and sons while he served in the Confederate Army.

Newtown Historic District Collection

by Unknown (1805 – 1970)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Newtown Historic District Collection contains historical information on the architecture of the Historical Newtown District in Salisbury, Maryland. The collection contains notes detailing different architectural influences from different time periods within the district. There are also maps of the district to understand how it looks. There are brochures for houses and businesses in the district. The collection also includes the names of people who have lived in the district from 1805-1970.

Joe and Carolyn Waller Ballou Family Papers

by Joe and Carolyn Ballou (1810 – 2008)

3 cartons,  2 oversize folders (3 linear feet)

The Waller Family Collection is a genealogical collection relating to the Waller family from 1606-2008 with the bulk of the collection ranging from 1982-1998. The majority of the collection contains genealogical information of the direct line of the Waller family as well as the various extended family lines. The collection also includes topical publications on Somerset County and the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland as well as online and genealogical research manuals. The collection documents the family with images, newspaper clippings, tax documents, church and census documents, and letters.

Josiah Campbell Collection

by Campbell, Josiah (1810 – 1885)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Josiah Campbell Collection contains an autobiography of Josiah Campbell (1810-1899). Campbell describes growing up in Delaware, moving to Ohio and starting his business ventures. He also credits the Methodist church with saving his marriage and strengthening his resolve. The end of the autobiography contains a genealogical family tree of the Campbell family.

West Family Reunion collection

by West Family (July 2009)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains two digital video disc’s containing information relating to the West family and their family reunion of July 2009.

Edward Stevenson Ledger Transcription Collection

by Green, Ann;  Stevenson, Edward (1811 – 1957)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a 1957 transcription by Anne Green of a business ledger believed to have belonged to Edward Stevenson, a merchant from Newtown, Maryland. The transcription includes various business transactions between the dates of January 1811 to November 1812.

Betty Murrell Collection

by Murrell, Betty (1815 – 2012)

1 oversize folder,  5 boxes (7.5 linear feet)

The Betty Murrell Collection spans from 1815 (copy) – 2012 and consists of Elizabeth (Betty) Gillis Murrell’s personal documents from her family and finances, local history books and records for the Salisbury and Delmar area, and genealogical research for local families. The collection also includes newspaper articles and a hand-drawn map of Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury, Maryland.

Lester Laws papers

by Laws, Lester (1816 – 1994)

6 cartons,  3 oversize folders (10.5 linear feet)

The Lester Laws papers consist of the records of Laws Construction Company and of the personal papers of Lester Laws and of his family from 1816 to 1994. The collection contains advertising, photographs, financial ledgers, correspondence, receipts and blueprints offering insight into the development of the infrastructure of the Delmarva Peninsula between 1920 and 1959. The company records include dozens of advertisements for construction equipment, tools and building materials and photographs of construction projects in progress. The collection also includes Lester Laws’ genealogy notes, and the personal papers of his daughter, Helen Laws Pomar. Pomar attended Salisbury State Teachers College, now Salisbury University, and served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. Her college score reports, military manuals, and copies of a post-newspaper from Camp White, Oregon, provide a glimpse into the educational and military experience of women in the 1930s and 1940s.

Loveta M. Schweers Collection

by Unknown (1816 – 1893)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains various photographs and portraits of the J. McMadden family.

Alfred Melson Delmarva ephemera

by Unknown (1818 – 1881)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The Alfred Melson Delmarva ephemera contains two postcards, an 1835 list of the inhabitants' rates and road taxes of Little Creek Hundred in Delaware, a Pittsville-business ledger book from 1876 to 1881. Additional materials include an 1878 indenture between Hiram D. and Thomas H. Truitt and Isaac Smith and an 1818 Sussex County, DE indenture between Arthur and Rhoda Milby and John Burbage.

Elsie A. Tourville collection

by Unknown (1819 – 1918)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

This collection contains a rough draft, appendices, and other ephemera relating to Elsie A. Tourville's publication on book collector and Wicomico County Church Father, Isaac Levin English. English's books were transferred to the Burgess Eastern Shore Early Americana Museum in Marion Station, Maryland. Tourville's book is a detailed list of those books transferred.

Amy Crittenden papers

by Crittenden, Amy (1820 – 1991)

2 cartons,  1 oversize folder (1.75 linear feet)

The Amy Crittenden papers documents the research that contributed to Amy Crittenden’s graduate thesis at Salisbury University. Amy Crittenden’s thesis entitled Southern sympathies: The Civil War on Maryland's Eastern Shore focuses on the Civil War in Dorchester and Worcester counties. The collection includes drafts of the thesis, biographies of local figures, newspapers, as well as ledgers from local businesses. In addition research related to the Confederate and Union armies. The Amy Crittenden Papers dates from 1820-1991, with the bulk of the material dating to her graduate research from 1990-1991

George Chevallier Collection

by George Chevallier (1820 – 2010)

4 boxes (2 linear feet)

The George Chevallier Collection documents Salisbury and Delmarva history through a variety of business ephemera and other documents, especially related to fruit, vegetable, and seafood canning. The series includes business advertisements, letterheads, receipts, and more primarily ranging from the 1880s to the 1940s. Manuscript items in the collection date back to 1820 and include financial notes, deeds, and correspondence. The collection includes many postcards (especially of local motels), directories, yearbooks, and photographs.

Nutters Election House Collection

by Wicomico Historical Society (1820 – 1986)

3 boxes,  13 oversize folders (22.75 linear feet)

The Nutters Election House Collections consists of over 2,500 objects and archival items from national state and local political campaigns spanning from 1820-1986. The archival portion of the collection consists of nearly 700 items covering aspects of local, state, and national political campaigns from advertisement to completion. Additionally, the collection contains newspapers, as well as some general business concerning the Nutters Election House Museum.

Porter, Humphreys, Fears Collection

by Trader, James R. (1820 – 2006)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Porter, Humphreys, Fears Collection contains biographical information on Richard Twilley Porter, Frederick E. Humphreys, and Alfred B. Fears. The research was conducted by James R. Trader, who wanted to identify three gravestones, and the life of those people. The majority of the research revolves around Frederick E. Humphreys who was the first person to fly a plane alone.

William Middleton collection

by Middleton, William (1821 – 1999)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The William Middleton collection documents the financial records of Joshua Hamblin located in Worcester County, Maryland, and ephemera from Wicomico and Worcester counties, Maryland. The materials date from 1821-1999 with the bulk of the material dating from 1830-1869 and document the financial records of Joshua Hamblin which include receipts, court records, and land records. The materials from Joshua Hamblin came from William Middleton’s grandmother Margaret M. Middleton, who is the granddaughter of Joshua Hamblin. Wicomico and Worcester County ephemera is documented by tourism brochures and menus from local restaurants.

Charles Covington papers

by Covington, Charles (1822 – 2014)

1 carton,  2 boxes (2 linear feet)

The papers of Rev. Charles Covington document his enthusiasm for the Methodist church from 1822-2014 with the bulk of the material dating from 1950-1974. Over the course of his career, Rev. Covington obtained numerous bulletins, booklets and ephemera documenting the many Methodist, United Methodist and Methodist Episcopal Churches across the state of Delaware from Wilmington to Delmar and also includes those on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also documented is military memorabilia from the time that he served as a United States Army Chaplin.

Evelyn Jefferson Fox papers

by Cator Family;  Fox, Evelyn Jefferson (1822 – 1927)

1 box,  1 oversize box (3 linear feet)

The Evelyn Jefferson Fox papers document the activities of her family members who resided on Taylor’s Island and in Federalsburg, Maryland. Records document the family’s activities through nineteenth-century correspondence and photographs. Two photographic scrapbooks from 1910-1920 also document the cultural landscape and family activities through photographic images and newspaper clippings of Ocean City, Federalsburg, and Taylors Island.

Worcester County Court records

by Worcester County Court (1823 – 1991)

22 boxes,  1 folder (24 linear feet)

Worcester County Court records consist of records of the Register of Wills, the Orphans’ Court, the Circuit Court, and the Department of Public Works of Worcester County, Maryland from 1823-1991. The bulk of collection is related to the settlement of estates from 1825-1919. These estate vouchers, or debts owed by and to the deceased, include those not only of white farmers, merchants and attorneys, but also of Robert Henry, an African American ship captain, and of Wong Bong, a Chinese laborer. Among Henry’s estate vouchers is a receipt from 1905 for repairs to the schooner BEERSHEBA, while among Bong’s estate vouchers is an example of Chinese calligraphy from 1914. The collection includes papers of Thomas D. Purnell, a Register of Wills, from 1890-1897, and of William Kerbin, an attorney, from 1921-1930. It also includes circuit court records of the dissolution of a business partnership between Calvine Howerton and William Duncan from 1916-1931, and records of the Department of Public Works from 1948-1991. The collection offers insight not only into Worcester County’s legal proceedings, but also into the diversity of the county’s population and into two centuries of the county’s economic development and growth.

Serrell Family Collection

by Beahm, Laura Serrell;  Demetre, Andre;  Odier, Adolphe;  Odier, Antoine;  Odier, James;  Serrell, Andrew;  Serrell, Edith;  Serrell, Jeanne M. Demetre (1824 – 2020)

15 cartons,  1 drawer (20 linear feet)

The Serrell Family Collection documents the personal and family history of Andrew Serrell (1923-2018) including the Serrell family, Demetre family, Odier family, and other ancestors. Personal items relating to Andrew Serrell's career in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1974 include pilot logs, photographs, naval orders, and other service-related documents. Serrell's paternal family, including the puppeteer Edith Serrell, lived primarily in Dobbs Ferry, New York and are documented through photographs, correspondence, and other documents. Serrell's maternal family--the Demetre and Odier families--frequently went back and forth between France, New Orleans, and New York City. This branch of the family is heavily documented through family histories, correspondence, photographs, drawings, and business papers. There are also three framed portrait paintings and several artifacts.

Waugh United Methodist Church collection

by Waugh United Methodist Church (1826 – 1991)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a booklet written by Shirley Jackson in 1991 entitled "The One-Hundred Sixty-Fifth Anniversary of Waugh United Methodist Church."

Peter Whaley Collection

by Whaley, Peter W. (circa 1827, 2009)

4 boxes,  1 oversize folder (2 linear feet)

This collection contains financial, personal, and business documents from the Whaley, Dale, and Watson families of the Eastern Shore from 1827-1944. This includes insurance papers, railroad receipts, letters, and bills from the Whaley and Dale family, as well as receipts and papers from Mrs. M. Pasha Watson’s funeral business. The collection also consists of several maps of Maryland and Delaware, dating 1901-2009.

Ralph Gootee Collection

by Gootee, Ralph L. Jr. (1827 – 1991)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Ralph Gootee Collection covers local history of Laurel, Delaware, with Gootee genealogy history. Ralph L. Gootee Jr. marked every grave within Laurel, Delaware with a description of who was buried there. There is also a detailed description of Gootee family members births, marriages, and deaths.

Arthur Leonard collection

by Unknown (1828 – 1950)

2 cartons,  1 oversize box (3.5 linear feet)

The Arthur Leonard collection takes a look at mid to late 19th century Salisbury through photographs and print material. Series one centers on the economic life of Salisbury. It includes advertising, printed material and photographs of many of the leading and lesser known companies including oil drilling.

Elmer Ruark papers

by Ruark, Elmer (1830 – 1970)

1 carton,  1 oversize folder (1 linear feet)

The Elmer Ruark papers document the religious work of the former mayor of Salisbury, Maryland. The collection spans Ruark’s research into the history of Allen Memorial Baptist Church of Salisbury. In addition, the records include research and publications related to Rev. Noah Davis, founder of the Baptist Publication Society; Elmer Ruark and Noah Davis are distant relatives. The collection dates from 1830-1970 with the bulk of the material dating from 1930-1958.

Grace Atkinson Morris papers

by Morris, Grace Atkinson (1832 – 1992)

4 boxes,  1 oversize folder (3.75 linear feet)

The Grace Atkinson Morris papers document her genealogical research on families from the Eastern Shore of Maryland with materials dating from 1832-1992, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1979-1992. The papers identify the genealogical connections between the Atkinson, Riggin, Miller, and Trehearne families of Maryland and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Documents within the collection include Grace’s handwritten notes, her correspondence with genealogists and relatives, Atkinson family ledgers, and family photographs.

Old School Baptist Church publication

by Beebe, Gilbert (1832 – 1890)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a CD entitled "Signs of the Times" and informational page on the preservation of a self-proclaimed ultra-conservative Old School Baptist organization. The CD contains the digitized version of the semi-monthly Old School Baptist publication, "Signs of Times," which was edited by Gilbert Beebe.

Pittsville Historical Material collection

by Unknown (1832 – 1982)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a photocopy of an agreement between Benjamin H. Byrd and James M. Fooks in 1832. In the agreement Byrd and Fooks entered into a partnership to open a store located in Derrickson's Crossroads now Pittsville.

William H. Wroten Papers

by Wroten, William (1832 – 2011)

10 cartons,  1 box (10.5 linear feet)

Dr. William H. Wroten was an Easton native and worked as a professor and chairman for the history and political science departments at Salisbury University for 25 years prior to his retirement in 1980. The majority of Dr. Wroten's collection is his research notes, which cover a large number of topics such as Assateague, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, pirates, and the history of the Delmarva area. Dr. Wroten's teaching materials include articles and notes he had for specific topics, such as the American Civil War, Native American history, early colonial life, and local history, as well as syllabi and research papers from students. Included in this collection are also a number of his published articles from his newspaper column as well as scripts from his TV program on WBOC.

Coulbourne Family papers

by Coulbourne Family (1834 – 1866)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

This small collection of nineteenth century documents is comprised of a number the land records, receipts and wills of two generations of the Coulburn family: Elijah (d.1853) and Hetty Coulburn (d.1865) and their son Sampson , all of Worcester County, Md. Elijah and Hetty lived on a parcel of land known as “Dower,” and upon Elijah’s death, the land was deeded to her son, who owned a number of parcels of his own in Worcester County, including “Fox Harbor.” In 1854, Sampson received a patent to consolidate a number of his properties as one. These include parts of “Golden Purchase,” “Sod,” “Bevan’s Choice,” “Aquintico Savannah” and “Greenland.” Sampson was the executor of both Elijah and Hetty’s estates. Throughout the collection, the name Coulburn appears in a number of variations: Colburn, Coulburn and Coulburne. For example, the payments made on Hetty Coulburn’s estate include two different spellings of her name: Coulburn is spelled both as Coulburn and Colbourne. Spelling issues also arise in the overlapping spellings of Sampson and Samson, who may or may not be the same person. The receipts of Sampson Coulbourne (Colbourn)

Furnace Town correspondence

by Unknown (1834 – 1866)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Furnace Town correspondence contains a series of photocopied letters on the topic of Furnace Town near Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland. The letters come from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Papers of the Jones and Taylor families (#2037; finding aid linked). These letters are placed in chronological order from July 18, 1834 to August 4, 1866. The letters vary in topic; however, the bulk of the conversation covers the construction of the town and the furnace.

Cannon Ferry Ledger

by Neal, J.L. (1835, 1888)

1 oversize box (1.5 linear feet)

Cannon Ferry Ledger, January-December 1835. The Cannon Ferry Ledger details the transactions between customers and those operating the ferry. Mr. J. L. Neal was in control of the ferry and ledger circa 1885-1888, and his personal papers and business documents have been pasted into the ledger. The transcribed ledger is attached.

Howard and Marvin E. Cox Ledger and Journal

by Cox, Howard;  Cox, Marvin (1838 – 1982)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Howard and Marvin E. Cox Ledger and Journal contains detailed handwritten vital information on individuals in Nanticoke and other Wicomico County communities, in addition to narratives recorded by Howard and Marvin Cox. Included are records listing marriages (1865-1979) and deaths (1838-1982) with a separate section for African American deaths (1898-1980). At the end of the ledger is a journal written by Marvin Cox from 1918 to 1964 describing the oyster and construction business in the community, including the meeting minutes of the Willing Workers of Nanticoke. The entire ledger is transcribed and attached to the finding aid.

The Washington Correspondence Collection

by Buchanen, James;  van Buren, Martin (1838 – 1864)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains letters from significant Washingtonians including Presidents Martin Van Buren and James Buchanen and other government agencies, 1838-1864.

Vinson and Buck Family Collection

by Allen, Betsy;  Allen, Fulton;  Allen, Lois;  Buck, Leonard;  Buck, Ruth Valesca Allen;  Gorrell, Marlene Buck;  Gorrell, William;  Hancock, Julia "Betsy" Allen (1838 – 2012)

22 boxes,  7 oversize folders (10 linear feet)

The Vinson and Buck collection is made up of the personal papers and artifacts of the Buck family. The collection contains personal documents dating back to 1838 and includes the records and belongings of several families related to the Bucks, including: the Allens, the Gorrells, the Raudenbushes, the Klines, the Jennings and the Phillips. The bulk of the collection is made up of photographs that document Leonard Buck’s time in the military, the travels and home life of the Buck family, and local history. Other items include religious papers, personal and business correspondence, and family mementos.

Doctor's Journal of H.B. Mathiot

by Mathiot, Henry Bernard (1839 – 1891)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This medical journal was written between 1839 and 1891 by H.B. Mathiot, a physician who lived in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Included are notes on anatomy, recipes for medicine, lists of patients (races noted), and recording of births. Mathiot studied medicine in Newark, Ohio from 1837 to 1840 and began practicing in Smithfield, Pennsylvania afterwards. He eventually graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1852. Mathiot was also ordained as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1872; there is a list of people whom he married. The transcribed journal is attached.

Emerson C. Harrington collection

by Harrington, Emerson;  State of Maryland (1839 – 2004)

1 box,  1 oversize folder (80.5 linear feet)

The Emerson C. Harrington collection documents the prolific legal career of the former state of Maryland Governor and his son, attorney Emerson C. Harrington Jr. The bulk of the collection, direct from their law office, located in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland, is comprised of law books that include the Laws of Maryland,1839-1939; The Maryland Reports, Vol. 1, 1851 – Vol. 380, 2004; and Decisions of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, Vol. 1-34, 1883. In addition to the legal volumes, the materials include a series of photographic prints of the city of Cambridge, and speeches presented at the Maryland Club during dinners and parties in the mid to late 1960s and early 1970s.

Joseph Phillips collection

by Phillips, Joseph (1839 – 1907)

12 folders (0.12 linear feet)

This genealogical collection includes the Phillips family papers along with a small portion of material dealing with area life such as a Pennsylvania Railroad Timetable. Also includes a photocopy of the farming and business account ledger of the family from Hebron, Maryland, 1920-1929.

Bay Street Property (Berlin, MD) Records

by Unknown (1840 – 2010)

1 box (0.25 linear feet)

This collection contains various papers and histories related to the historic house on 16 Bay Street in Berlin, Worcester County, MD. The collection includes various photographs, compact discs containing maps, layouts, and histories of the Burkhead property, as well as miscellaneous histories, land and court records of Worcester County, MD itself.

Home Remedies and Recipes Journal

by Unknown (circa 1840 – 1878)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This journal primarily contains circa 1840s home remedies for afflictions and recipes for common household items such as cologne, ice cream, hair oil, shaving cream, soap, ink, ointment, bitters, and tooth paste. Several entries concern the health of horses. The journal also includes geometry notes, ephemera from 1878, and farming notes and publication cuttings from the 1850s.

Maddox Genealogy Collection

by Maddox Family (1840 – 1942)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Maddox Genealogy Collection contains family records over the Maddox family. The Maddox family records are taken from their family bible. The information contains birth, death, and marriage dates for the family. The majority of the collection dates from 1850s-1950s.

Salisbury Bank Note collection

by Bank of Salisbury (1840 – 1870)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains various digital images of bank notes used by the Bank of Salisbury, 1840-1870.

Benjamin Marsh Diary

by Marsh, Benjamin F. (1841 – 1922)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Photocopied diary of Benjamin F. Marsh, (1841-1922), he was a native of Smith Island, Somerset County, Maryland. The diary documents Marsh's life on Smith Island along with national events from around 1900-1905. Transcribed by his daughters, Addie, Sadie and Sally.

Bethesda United Methodist Church records

by Bethesda United Methodist Church (1841 – 1992)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

This collection contains the following ephemera from Bethesda United Church in Salisbury, Maryland and includes: "A History of Bethesda Methodist Church 1841-1964," "A History of Bethesda Methodist Church 1841-1964, 1965-1976," "Sunday-School Rally Bethesda Methodist Protestant Church September 29, 1912," "Bethesda United Methodist Church" circa 1995, "Bethesda United Methodist Church, 1987," and "Bethesda United Church, Salisbury, Maryland:1841-1992."

Henrietta Moore Wicomico County collection

by Unknown (1841 – 1994)

10 folders (0.1 linear feet)

The Henrietta Moore Wicomico County collection contains a variety of material covering activities in Wicomico County, Maryland. Included in the collection are news clippings covering changes in the Methodist Church on the Eastern Shore, activities and history of the American Legion Maryland Department including treasure's reports and meeting minutes, clippings on people related to Salisbury University; pages from the Gordy Family Bible along with photos, planning and publicity activities relating to the 50th High School reunion of the 1939 class of Wicomico High School and an article on the class of 1979 High School graduates.

Sylvia Bradley collection

by Bradley, Sylvia (1841 – 1993)

7 boxes,  2 oversize folders (7 linear feet)

The Sylvia Bradley collection documents her research on the history and culture of the Delmarva Peninsula with materials dating from 1841-1993, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1970-1989. The documents encompass research done by Bradley on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for several of her published histories and articles, including Mardela Springs, Maryland: a History. Documents within the collection include manuscripts on Eastern Shore women during the Civil War, student papers, Berlin Advance newspapers, correspondence regarding Delmarva, and photographs of Eastern Shore cities.

Henrietta Byrd papers

by Byrd, Henrietta (1842 – 1891)

1 box (0.25 linear feet)

The Henrietta Byrd papers are deeds, wills, lease, transactions, and correspondence of a 19th Century businesswomen in Salisbury, Maryland, 1842-1891. Following the death of her husband, Henrietta sought legal counsel from Congressmen and Attorney, John Rankin Franklin, to understand her rights as a widowed entrepreneur in the Antebellum Era. She later owned at least two properties, including the “Wicomico House,” which was four-story restaurant and hotel on Main Street, Salisbury.

Miles Family survey collection

by Miles, Samuel F.;  Miles, William Ballard Jr.;  Miles, William Ballard Sr.;  Miles, William F.W. (1842 – 1978)

11 cartons (11 linear feet)

The Miles Family survey collection documents numerous Eastern Shore land boundaries. Until the mid-twentieth century, the state of Maryland did not emphasis accuracy of land surveys or the collection of deeds. The work of the Miles family allowed the State of Maryland to utilize original Eastern Shore deeds to legally designate boundary and partition lines. In numerous cases, the Miles’ family records were the only form of land documentation on the Eastern Shore. Consequently, the State of Maryland legally recognized the Miles Family Survey Collection in the court of law and have been used to settle land disputes such as the D379 Assateague Island Land suit. The collection has been the basis for issuing boundary lines, prep construction areas, mapmaking, and engineering. Many of the plats, surveys, and deeds are predominately from Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico counties, but the collection also extends to the Upper Shore of Maryland, Delaware in Kent and Sussex, and Accomack County, Virginia. The collection is narrowed into election districts. The materials date from 1842-1978 with the bulk of the material dates from 1929-1977.

Scott Family Papers

by Lankford, Scott, and Porter families (1842 – 1995)

2 boxes,  1 oversize folder (2.25 linear feet)

The Scott family papers document the Scott, Marshall, and Lankford families of Princess Anne, Maryland from 1842 to 1995, though primarily from the 1880s to the 1940s. Included are four photograph albums and many other photos; correspondence, autograph books, and programs related to Washington High School from Harriet "Hattie" Marshall Scott; Second World War correspondence and Boy Scouts of America documents from William Marshall Scott; World War II homefront and Somerset County Board of Education materials from Jeanette Gore Scott; and handwritten poetry and autograph books of Sally and Mollie Porter.

Mears Family collection

by Unknown (1843 – 1957)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Mears Collection contains birth and death records from the Mears family bible, as well as a certificate of marriage between William Mears and Virginia Belwade on December 20, 1866. The collection also contains a photograph of Ellen Mears.

Fraktur Birth and Baptism Certificates (Berks County, Pennsylvania)

by Unknown (1844 – 1866)

1 drawer (0.1 linear feet)

These two fraktur birth and baptism certificates, written in German, were created as ornamental records in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The first record was done for Cläre Elisabeth Folck, daughter of Moses and Lusette (Boÿer) Folck, who was born on 23 December 1865 in Fleetwood in Berks County and baptized in 1866 by Pastor Lampe. The second record was done for Mende (Amanda) Althaus, daughter of William and Elisabeth (Guldin) Althaus, who was born on 14 December 1844 in Cumru Township, Berks County, and was baptized in April 1845 by Pastor A. Herman.

Caroline Gunby and Eleanor Gunby Watts papers

by Gunby, Caroline;  Watts, Eleanor Watts (1845 – 1999)

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

The Caroline Gunby and Eleanor Gunby Watts papers document the travels and fifty year teaching career of Caroline Gunby and the genealogical research of her niece, Eleanor Gunby Watts. The eclectic collection from Somerset County, Md. dates from 1845 to 1999, with the bulk from 1920 to 1956. It includes a doctor’s bill for the treatment of slaves in 1845, historical records from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marion, Md., and Caroline Gunby’s cross-country travel diary from 1939.

L.W. Gunby papers

by Gunby, L.W. (1845 – 1991)

7 cartons,  2 oversize boxes (9.5 linear feet)

The L.W. Gunby papers consist of the personal papers of L.W. Gunby and of his family and of the records of his businesses on the Delmarva Peninsula from 1845 to 1991. The collection contains financial ledgers and hundreds of letters, deeds, mortgages, stock certificates and tax returns, offering insight into a century of economic life on the Delmarva Peninsula. It includes the testimonial of Rev. George Handy Wailes on the occasion of Gunby’s selection as Salisbury’s Man of the Year in 1936. Wailes, the Visiting Professor of Hebrew at Princeton Theological Seminary, honors Gunby’s business and civic contributions to the city of Salisbury. The collection also includes a scrapbook commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Gunby’s Hardware in 1972.

The Lady's Wreath Collection

by Medical Bureaus of Information on Birth Control (1845 – 1930)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a copy of the Lady's Wreath from January 1845. Additionally, this collection contains a pamphlet on birth control published in 1930 by Dr. Norman Carr in London.

Carel Langeler collection

by Langeler, Carel (1847 – 1968)

3 cartons,  2 oversize boxes (5.25 linear feet)

The Carel Langeler collection includes a considerable number of publications from late-19th to early-20th-century American society. Of particular interest are several popular literary journals, monthly magazines for women and children, and influential national publications such as Harper’s Weekly and Pucks. These publications document contemporary social and political thought in the United States from a variety of perspectives. The majority of the materials were acquired by Carel Langeler from thrift and antique stores throughout the eastern United States during the mid-20th century. The collection also includes personal material relating to Carel Langeler and his immediate family.

Claggett Society of Maryland collection

by Claggett Society of Maryland (1847 – 1917)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains photocopies of materials referring to the "Claggett Society of Maryland" and the mitre of Bishop Claggett from the Diocese of Maryland.

James R. Trader papers

by Trader, James R. (1847 – 2012)

21 cartons,  3 boxes (24 linear feet)

The papers of James R. Trader (1931-2012) cover his efforts to document family history on the Delmarva Peninsula and burial sites in Maryland through both independent research and as a member of the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites (CPMBS) between 1988 and 2012. The family history research is most substantial series in the collection with particular focus on the Trader surname. The burial site research features records for sites in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. The bulk of the CPMBS records document the Coalition’s activities, correspondence, and legislative efforts while Trader served as president and on the board of directors. A small portion of the collection contains the early records of the social club, Eastern Shore Singles.

Lawrence Webster Bates Methodist Protestant Church Scrapbook Collection

by Bates, Lawrence Webster (1847, 1896)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains photocopies of a scrapbook consisting mainly of clippings from newspapers concerning or by Reverend Lawrence Webster Bates and the Methodist Protestant Church.

Ledgers of William F. Robinson

by Robinson, William (1847 – 1872)

1 oversize box (2.5 linear feet)

Two ledgers documenting the transactions between William F. Robinson, a bootmaker and his customers. The first ledger documents transactions during Robinson's time in Dorchester County, Maryland, 1847-1854 and the second also documents business transactions in Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware, 1868-1872. The transcribed version of the ledgers is attached.

Saw Mill and Bobbin Factory Ledger (Scituate, Rhode Island)

by Knight, Richmond (1847 – 1868)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This Saw Mill and Bobbin Factory Ledger was kept by Baptist minister Reverend Richmond Monroe Knight of Scituate, Rhode Island between 1847 and 1868. The mill was founded by Knight's father, Angell Knight. The entries pertain to transactions with local people and the milling and wooden bobbin making activities.

Trehearne Family collection

by Unknown (1847 – 1893)

1 oversize folder (2 linear feet)

This collection contains material on the Trehearne family. Also included is a receipt into the Treasury of Maryland from 1847 from the Clerks of the County Court of Baltimore City Court and, the Methodist Advance, February 1893.

J. Howard and Louise H. Adkins Sharptown scrapbook

by Adkins, J. Howard;  Adkins, Louise H. (1848 – 1911)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The J. Howard and Louise H. Adkins Sharptown Scrapbook contains a scrapbook entitled "To Speak of Many Things About Sharptown, Maryland: A Collection of Historical Bits and Pieces" by J. Howard Adkins and Louise H. Adkins. The scrapbook discusses the history of Sharptown.

Joseph Moore collection

by Moore, Joseph (1849, 2006)

10 boxes,  1 oversize folder (13 linear feet)

Joseph Moore, a Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland attorney, devoted the better part of 20-plus years to researching and writing on the trial and outcome of the murder of Green Davis and his family by Euel Lee aka Orphan Jones, 1863-2006. The series of documents culminated in the publication, “Murder on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Race, politics, and the Case of Orphan Jones”. Records document the proceedings of the events surrounding the Davis family murders. Presentments and court materials by Lee’s attorney Bernard Ades with corresponding newspaper accounts reflect the legal proceedings of confessed murderer Euel Lee / Orphan Jones, and his ultimate death by lynching in the Baltimore County Jail, 1933. Records within this set also reflect Moore’s vested interest in Worcester County history, including the Henry and Dirickson families, as well as the Civil War, specifically Purnell’s Legion, and the freedmen of color who served for the Union and Confederate Armies. Photostatic copies of manumissions, and general enrollment records for the duration of the war, as well as an original receipt for enslaved persons in 1863, reveal Moore’s commitment to Worcester County, Maryland.

Robert L. Burton Collection

by Shepherd, James S.;  Stockly, John (1849 – 1919)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

The collection contains a letter dated November 16, 1849 and is between two brothers John and Aynes Stockly. The second folder contains a report on the land office of Maryland dated 1919, and a book celebrating 150 years of banking on the Eastern Shore dated 1955.

Robert Parker Fondes papers

by Parker-Fondes Family (1849 – 1997)

6 boxes (3.25 linear feet)

The Robert Parker Fondes papers document the lives of the Fondes-Parker family from 1849-1997 in Parsonsburg, Maryland and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic region. Documenting materials include financial records of the Parker family, family heirlooms, photographs, and newspaper articles on Robert Parker Fondes’ genealogical research. The bulk of the materials span from 1920-1955, documenting the farming business and personal lives of Clifford and Maude Parker. Correspondence pertaining to family events is also included.

Ancestral Record Book of Alan Tybalt Harrison and Butler Family Book CD

by Goodman, Mary M. Butler;  Harrison, Alan Tybalt (circa 1850, 1996)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This collection contains an ancestral record book documenting the family tree of Alan Tybalt Harrison through genealogical information paired with portrait photographs. The book covers families in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York including the Harrisons, Butlers, Johnstons, Lelands, and more. Photographs date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also included is a CD with the Butler Family Book by Mary M. Butler Goodman, revised in 1996.

Coulbourne Family History Collection

by Unknown (1850 – 1990)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Coulbourne Family History Collection contains genealogical information regarding the Coulbourn Family. The documents date back to Joshua James Coulbourne, (1850-1926). The information details obituary records of family members, along with family bible information about the lineage detailing birth and death dates.

Diary of E. Amelia White

by White, E. Amelia (1850 – 1866)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

The Diary of E. Amelia White was written between 1850 and 1855, but includes at least one entry from 1866. White lived in North Springfield, Vermont and, during the time of this diary, attended music lessons in Boston, Massachusetts, turned 18, visited New York, and witnessed the devastation of her community from a smallpox epidemic. White also shared her thoughts on religion, death, and culture after she visited Boston. Several pages were removed from the diary. Also included are a lock of hair and two calling cards.

Laws and Hastings Families Photographs

by Hastings, Elmer F.;  Laws, Agnes B. (1850, 1970)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The photographs of the Laws and Hastings collection portrays an extensive family lineage of the Laws, Hastings, and Holland families of Parsonsburg and Ocean City, Maryland from 1850s and 1970s. Photographs include family portraits, individual portraits, group photos, and the family business enterprises, such as Hastings Hatchery and the family farm. These photographs were acquired over the course of several decades by granddaughters Sandra Anderson and Marlene Mumford.

Messick Family Photographs Collection

by Columbia Portrait Co. (1850 – 1920)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)

This collection consists of numerous mid-19th century to early 20th century photographs found in the barn loft of Harry Messick in Allen, Maryland. Also included is a surveyor's field book by an unknown author from 1853 to 1855. In the field book are tracts from East Princess Anne area: Woterford Corrected, Arabia, Woolf's Denn, Wolf Worth, Miles Good Luck, Middle Pasture, Foul's Meadow, Tilghman's Fortune and Turpins Choice.

Orlando Wootten Photograph Collection

by Wootten, Orlando (circa 1850 – 1990)

4 boxes,  3 oversize boxes (6.25 linear feet)

This collection contains photographs both taken by and collected by Orlando V. Wootten, a notable local photographer on the Delmarva Peninsula. Included in this collection are color and black and white photographs and negatives of aerial, street and nautical views of Salisbury, Maryland, Laurel, DE and surrounding regions. The collection of images captures local businesses, school buildings, public events, watercraft, natural settings and area attractions from the mid-1950s to the 1990s. There are reproductions of historic photographs of Salisbury and the Delmarva Peninsula dating back to the 1850s that Wootten collected. Also included are documents pertaining to Wootten's Coast Guard service and his family's history.

Record Book for School District No. 12, Union Township, Fayette County, Ohio

by Henkle, E. (1850 – 1871)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

The Record Book for School District No. 12, Union Township, Fayette County, Ohio dates between 1850 and 1871. The minutes detail officer elections, the building of a school house (cost specified), erection of a plank fence around the schoolyard, the amount of taxes levied per tax-payer and voluntary subscriptions received "for school purposes." The record also specifies the number of scholars during each quarter (boys outnumbered girls 2:1), average daily attendance, teacher salaries, firewood purchases, diverse repairs to the building, and the acquisition of a pump.

Tintype Photograph

by Unknown (1850 – 1900)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a single tintype photograph of unknown origin.

Walter Thurston Photograph Collection

by Thurston, Walter (circa 1850 – 1970s)

13 boxes,  2 oversize folders (7.75 linear feet)

This collection contains photographs both taken by and collected by Walter C. Thurston, a skilled local photographer. Included in this collection are color and black and white photographs and negatives of aerial, street and city-scape views of Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland and surrounding regions including Somerset, Dorchester and Worcester Counties and Sussex County, Delaware. The collection of images captures local businesses, school buildings, public events, neighborhoods, and area attractions from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.  Also included in the collection are historic photographs of Salisbury and the Delmarva Peninsula dating back to the 1850s that Thurston collected.

Diaries of Traveling Preacher Thomas Davies

by Davies, Thomas W. (1851 – 1879)

6 folders (0.25 linear feet)

The Diaries of Traveling Preacher Thomas Davies document the life and profession of Thomas W. Davies from 1851 to 1879. The collection consists of five journals and a group of loose papers. Within the journals, Davies describes his early life, how he became a preacher, his travels from Minersville, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia to Ohio, some of his sermons, donations from his parishioners, being run out of town after an accusation that he was an impostor, and surviving typhoid fever along with other daily encounters. Davies switches between writing in English and Welsh.

Jim Jackson Delmarva ephemera collection

by Jackson, Jim (1851 – 1992)

4 boxes,  1 oversize box (5.5 linear feet)

This collection consists of assorted local paper ephemera from 1852 to 1990. Most of the items originated from the George Bounds & Company of Hebron, the J. H. Farlow & Brother of Salisbury and the Wimbrow & Company of Whaleyville and William and Edwin Sirman. Included are cannery tokens from the Harold B. Kennerly & Son in Nanticoke, Maryland. Also included are over 925 postcards of Salisbury from the 19th to the 21st century arranged by subject.

Stevens and Thomas Family Collection

by Stevens, Herman (1851 – 2019)

1 box,  2 oversize folders (1 linear feet)

This collection contains business and personal papers collected by Herman Stevens, including copies of the Daily Banner, personal photographs, certificates, obituaries, and papers from the Methodist Church. This collection also contains a large tintype portrait of a man dated circa 1870s, a large crayon portrait of a child, a copy of the Cambridge Democrat Newspaper from 1851, a 1912 cruise brochure booklet, and a July 1917 copy of National Geographic.

Avery W. Hall papers

by Hall, Avery W. (1853 – 1982)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

Avery W. Hall papers document Hall’s participation as a civic leader in Salisbury Maryland and surrounding regions from 1853-1889, 1932-1982 with the bulk of the material dating from 1945-1970. Hall’s leadership is identified through a series of political memorabilia including correspondence from Governor Millard Tawes and Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Also included in the collection are booklets from Avery W. Hall Insurance Agency relating to Peninsula Regional Hospital and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Project.

Fairmount Academy collection

by Fairmount Academy (1853 – 1968)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

The Fairmount Academy collection contains unofficial records of students enrolled in Fairmount Academy from 1925 to 1968. The records have the names of the students, birth dates, tardies, absences, and academic information, as well as a class photograph. There are also papers of Frank Haynie, a local water-man, in this collection. Student records dating after 1945 are restricted and can only be viewed with special permission from Nabb Center staff.

Fletcher Genealogy Collection

by Unknown (1853 – 1919)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Fletcher Genealogy Collection contains one sheet of paper that has a list of many Fletcher family members. This genealogical collection has the birth and death dates of the people included.

Diary of Charles Mathews

by Mathews, Charles (1854 – 1884)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This journal documents the life and business of Charles Mathews, who lived in Waterville, Maine. Mathews owned a stationery or book store in the city, which is mentioned throughout the journal. However, the entries focus primarily on major life events such as a local student who was expelled for stealing from his store, the births and deaths in his family and community, and the death of a family of acquaintances in an 1876 railroad accident. Also included in the journal is a genealogical account of the Mathews family.

Fraktur Birth and Baptism Certificates (Lehigh and Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania)

by Unknown (1854 – 1869)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

These two fraktur birth and baptism certificates, written in German, were created as ornamental records in Lehigh and Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania. The first record was done for Ida Victoria Bittenbender of Lower Macungie Township in Lehigh County, daughter of Daniel Y. Bittenberner and Eliza Breinig, who was born 12 August 1869 and baptized on 12 September 1869 by Pastor Jäger. The second record was done for Annah Charilah Stricker of Penn Township in Snyder County.

Fred and Frances Breuckmann collection

by Unknown (1854 – 1976)

1 box,  1 oversize box (1.25 linear feet)

The Fred and Frances Breuckmann collection consists of papers and reproductions related to the Fitch family in Michigan and Wisconsin; 27 glass plate negatives from a circa 1940s Talbot County photographer; and various publications dating between 1854 and 1912 primarily related to woodworking and carpentry.

Gunby Family papers

by Gunby Family;  Hann, George;  Huffington, Clara Gunby (1854 – 2000)

11 boxes,  2 oversize boxes (10.25 linear feet)

The Gunby Family papers document the Gunby family lineage which began in Somerset County, Maryland in the late 17th century. Also documented are the activities of southern sympathizer Clara Gunby which occurred in Maryland and Virginia. The materials date from 1854 with the bulk of the materials dating from 1971 to 1994 when Mr. George Hann began to conduct research on the lineage of the Gunby family and associated family lines. Earlier records are included; however, they are photocopies of originals. Documenting records include Clara Gunby’s journal, family history lineage, and correspondence from George Hann to Gunby family members in the United States, Canada, England, and the South Pacific.

Records of the Limaville Philomathic Literary Society and the Lima Mutual Improvement Association

by Limaville Philomathic Literary Society (1854 – 1861)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This bound journal contains the records of two different Ohio organizations at different time periods: the Limaville Philomathic Literary Society from November 9, 1854 to March 29, 1855 and the Lima Mutual Improvement Association from October 15, 1860 to April 8, 1861. The records for both organizations include the constitutions, by-laws, preambles, and minutes. The Limaville Philomathic Society's stated purpose was "the mutual improvement of its members in Literacy and Scientific exercises such as original compositions, declamations, the reading of selected pieces, and debates or polemics." The youth-oriented organizations met weekly at a local schoolhouse and was divided into three classes: Composing, Declaiming, and Polemic. The Lima Mutual Improvement Association was similar in purpose to the Limaville Philomathic Literary Society. Topics of discussion in both organizations include slavery, religion, and the United States, which make the records significant for understanding small Midwestern towns prior to the American Civil War.

Mary Anne Pieper Collection

by Dixon, Maggie;  Pieper, Mary Anne;  White, Anne;  White, Evelyn (1855 – 1987)

14 cartons,  1 oversize folder (17 linear feet)

This collection consists of correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, and journals of the Dixon, White and Pieper Families of Pocomoke City, Maryland. Beginning in the mid-19th century, extensive personal correspondence between family members chronicles a broad family history over 100 years. Family bibles and photographs capture births, marriages and deaths of the Dixon and White families of Pocomoke City as well as life on the Eastern Shore in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Whitehaven Heritage Association collection

by Methodist Protestant Board of Publication;  Norman Remington Company;  Salisbury National Bank;  Savings Bank of Nanticoke;  The Board of Education;  The Wicomico News (1855 – 2000)

2 folders (0.02 linear feet)