Maryland Societies

There are many societies which may help family historians. Genealogical, historical, lineage, veterans, and ethnic societies are especially helpful because of the records and resources they collect, transcribe, and publish. Often their records contain birth, marriage, death, and biographical information. See "Societies". Archives and Libraries are carefully contributed to and maintained by various Societies.

Genealogical Societies
Genealogical and historical societies often maintain a genealogical file for families in the area and may sponsor publications, some of which are cited on the "Genealogy" page. Genealogical Societies are usually staffed by volunteers and rely on contributions, dues and fees to keep their operations up and running. They usually meet in monthly meetings and often have newsletters. A wealth of information can be obtained by joining a society in the area that you are researching.

Statewide Societies

 * Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Enoch Pratt Baltimore City and the Maryland State Library Resource Center Northwood Branch · 4420 Loch Raven Boulevard · Baltimore, MD · 21218 Telephone: 410-396-5430
 * Coalition To Protect Maryland Burial Sites, Inc. P. O. Box 1533 · Ellicott City, Maryland · 21041-1533
 * The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc 143 N. Main St. · Bel Air, MD · 21014
 * Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland Herbert Bearman Campus 15 Lloyd Street · Baltimore, MD 21202 Telephone: 410-732-6400
 * Maryland Genealogical Society 201 West Monument Street Baltimore, MD 21201-4674 Telephone: 410-685-3750, extension 360 E-mail Address: [mailto:info@mdgensoc.org info@mdgensoc.org]
 * Maryland Historical Trust 100 Community Place · Crownsville, MD · 21032-2023
 * Maryland State Archives 350 Rowe Boulevard · Annapolis, MD · 21401
 * The Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS) P.O. Box 241 · New Windsor, MD · 21776
 * The Order of the First Families of Maryland Attn: Stephen Hurst, Secretary General 300 Esplanade Drive · 10th Floor · Oxnard, CA · 93030
 * United Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore-Washington Conference Lovely Lane Museum Library 2200 St. Paul Street · Baltimore, MD · 21218 Telephone: (410) 889-4458
 * Genealogical Council of Maryland P.O. Box 10096 Gaithersburg, MD 20898-0096
 * Maryland Historical Society Library 201 West Monument Street Baltimore, MD 21201-4674 Telephone: 410-685-3750, extension 349 Fax: 410-385-2105 Email:[mailto:library_dept@mdhs.org library_dept@mdhs.org]


 * Cox, Richard J., and Larry E. Sullivan, eds. Guide to the Research Collections of the Maryland Historical Society: Historical and Genealogical Manuscripts and Oral History Interviews. Baltimore, Maryland: Maryland Historical Society, 1981. (Family History Library book .) This index has about 20,000 references to individuals and families.

County Societies
Many counties have their own Genealogical Societies. Lists of the county societies can be found at Census Finder and MDGenWeb.


 * Genealogical Society of Allegany County P. O. Box 3103 · La Vale, MD · 21504
 * Allegany Regional Family History Society Gordon - Roberts House 218 Washington Street · Cumberland, MD · 21502 Telephone: 301-777-8678
 * Anne Arundel Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1553 · Glen Burnie, MD · 21060
 * Baltimore County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 10085 · Towson, MD · 21285-0085
 * Calvert County Genealogy Society P.O. Box 9 · Sunderland, MD · 20689 Telephone: (410) 535-0839
 * Carroll County Genealogical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1752 · Westminster, MD · 21158
 * Cecil County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 11 · Charlestown, MD · 21914 Telephone: (410) 287-8793
 * Charles County Genealogical Society P. O. Box 1537 · White Plains, MD · 20695-1537 Telephone: (301) 843-2442
 * Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River 516 Eastern Boulevard · Essex, MD · 21221 Telephone: (410) 574-6934
 * The Frederick County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 234 · Monrovia, MD · 21770-0234
 * The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc P.O. Box 15 Harford County · Aberdeen, MD · 21001
 * Howard County Genealogical Society Box 274 · Columbia, MD · 21045
 * The Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society P.O. Box 3602 · Salisbury, MD 21802-3602
 * Prince George's County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 819 · Bowie, MD 20718-0819
 * Genealogy Club of Montgomery County Historical Society Beall-Dawson House 111 W. Montgomery Avenue · Rockville, MD · 20850-4212 Telephone: 301-340-2825
 * St. Mary's County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1109 · Leonardtown, MD · 20650
 * Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland P.O. Box 275 · Easton, MD · 21601 Telephone: (410) 745-3050

Historical Societies
Historical Societies collect, preserve and exhibit materials with historical value. These custodians of history keep journals, books, artifacts, and may have a museum that they maintain. The mission of these societies is to showcase their state, regional, local culture and history. Historical Societies activities and interests are often intertwined with those of Genealogical Societies.


 * Afro-American Historical &amp; Genealogical Society, Inc. Central Maryland Chapter P.O. Box 648 · Columbia, MD · 21045-0648
 * Afro-American Historical &amp; Genealogical Society, Inc. Prince George's County, MD Chapter P.O. Box 44252 · Fort Washington, MD · 20749-425
 * Allegany County Historical Society, Inc 218 Washington Street · Cumberland, MD · 21502 Telephone: (301) 777-8678
 * The Allen Historical Society Passerdyke Cottage P.O. Box 31 · Allen, MD · 21810
 * Anne Arundel County Historical Society Maryland Historical Magazine P.O. Box 385 · Linthicum, MD · 21090-0385 Telephone: (410) 768-9518
 * Baltimore County Historical Society Agriculture Building 9811 Van Buren Lane · Cockeysville, MD · 21030 Telephone: (410) 666-1876
 * Caroline County Historical Society Museum of Rural Life 16 North Second Street · P.O. Box 514 · Denton, MD · 21629 Telephone: (410) 479-2055
 * Cantonsville Historical Society Inc. 1824 Frederick Road | Catonsville, Maryland 21228-5503 Telephone: 410-744-3034
 * Calvert County Historical Society 70 Church Street · Prince Frederick, Maryland · 20678 Telephone:(410) 535-2452 Fax:(410) 535-4660
 * Historical Society of Carroll County 210 East Main Street · Westminster, MD · 21157 Telephone: (410) 848-6494
 * The Historical Society of Cecil County 135 East Main Street · Elkton, MD · 21921 Telephone: (410) 398-1790
 * Historical Society of Charles County P.O. Box 261 · Port Tobacco, MD · 20677
 * Chevy Chase Historical Society P.O. Box 15145 · Chevy Chase, MD · 20825 Telephone: (301) 656-6141
 * Dorchester County Historical Society 902 LaGrange Ave. · Cambridge, MD · 21613 - 2009 Telephone: (410) 228-7953
 * Dundalk - Patapsco Neck Historical Society P.O. Box 21781 4 Center Place · Dundalk, MD · 21222 Telephone: (410) 284-2331
 * Emmitsburg Historical Society P.O. Box 463 · Emmitsburg, MD · 21727
 * The Historical Society of Frederick County, Inc. 24 East Church Street · Frederick, MD · 21701 Telephone: (301) 663-1188
 * Garrett County Historical Society, Inc. 111 East Oak Street · Oakland, MD · 21550 Telephone: (301) 334-3226
 * Greenbelt Historical Society 204 Lastner Lane · Greenbelt, MD · 20770 Telephone: (240) 474-5156
 * The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. 143 N. Main St. · Bel Air, MD · 21014. Telephone: 410-592-8693 · 410-838-7691
 * Howard County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 109 · Ellicott City, MD · 21041 Telephone: (410) 750-0370
 * The Jewish Museum of Maryland Herbert Bearman Campus 15 Lloyd Street · Baltimore, MD · 21202 Telephone:(410) 732-6400 · (877) 376-719
 * John Brown Historical Foundation, Inc. c/o Capt. South T. Lynn Southland Farm · 13701 Deakins Lane · Darnestown, MD · 20874 Telephone: (301) 963-3300 or (301) 432-2666
 * Historical Society of Kent County 101 Church Alley · P.O. Box 665 ·Chestertown, MD · 21620 Telephone: (410) 778-3499
 * Kuethe Library Historical and Genealogical Research Center 5 Crain Highway S.E. · Glen Burnie, MD · 21061 Telephone: (410) 760-9679
 * Laurel Historical Society 817 Main Street · Laurel, MD · 20707 Telephone: (301) 286-7031
 * Maryland Historical Society 201 West Monument St. · Baltimore, Maryland · 21201-4674 Telephone: 410-685-3750 *Genealogical Research a guide to research in Maryland.
 * The Maryland Military Historical Society, Inc Fifth Regiment Armory 219 29th Division Street · Baltimore, Maryland ·21201-2288 Telephone: 410-576-1496
 * Montgomery County Historical Society 111 West Montgomery Avenue · Rockville, MD · 20850 Telephone: (301) 340-2825
 * Peerless Rockville Historical Society Historic Red Brick Courthouse · Rockville Town Center 29 Courthouse Square · Room 110 Rockville, MD · 20850 Telephone: 301-762-0096
 * Prince George’s County Historical Society P.O. Box 14 · Riverdale, MD · 20737 Telephone: (301) 464-0590
 * Queen Anne’s County Historical Society Wright’s Chance 121 South Commerce Street · Centreville, MD 21617 Telephone: (410) 758-0980
 * Shady Side Rural Heritage Society, Inc. 1418 East West Shady Side Road · P.O. Box 89 · Shady Side, Maryland · 20764 Telephone: 410-867-4486
 * Silver Spring Historical Society (SSHS) PO Box 1160 · Silver Spring, MD · 20910-1160
 * Somerset County Historical Society Treackle Mansion P. O. Box 181 · Princess Anne, MD · 21853 Telephone: (410) 651-2238
 * Somerset County Historical Trust c/o Mrs. Howard Yerges 10380 Anderson Road · Princess Anne, MD · 21853 Telephone: (401) 651-0788
 * South Mountain Heritage Society P. O. Box 509 · 3 East Main St. ·Burkittsville, MD · 21718 Telephone: (301) 834-7851
 * St. Mary’s County Historical Society 11 Court House Drive · P.O. Box 212 · Leonardtown, MD · 20650 Telephone: (301) 475-2467
 * State of Maryland and Baltimore City Public Library Enoch Pratt Free Library 24 locations Telephone: 410-396-5430
 * Historical Society of Talbot County, Inc. 25 South Washington Street P.O. Box 964 · Easton, MD · 21601 Telephone: (301) 822-0773
 * Thurmont Historical Society P.O. Box 251 · 11 N. Church Street · Thurmont, MD · 2l788-0251 Telephone: (301) 271-2464
 * Washington County Historical Society Jamieson Memorial Library · The Miller House P.O. Box 1281 · Hagerstown, Maryland · 21741-1281 Telephone: (301) 797-8782
 * Wicomico Historical Society PO Box 573 · Pemberton Drive · Salisbury, MD · 21803-0573 Telephone: 410-860-0447 · 410-860-1441
 * Worcester County Historical Society P.O. Box 111 · Snow Hill, MD · 21863 Telephone: (410) 632-1265 or (410) 632-2600

Lineage and Heritage Societies
A Lineage society is an organization whose members have shown proof of their descent from a qualifying ancestor such as a colonist or soldier. There are early settlers, ethnic, religious, and war societies. The Hereditary Society Blue Book is the annual Who's Who or Social Register of Hereditary, Lineage, and Patriotic societies. It also contains information on lineage societies, including the insignia, the membership requirements, and the national address of each organization. Books, articles, and publications that can be very helpful in genealogical research are kept by these societies. The applications for membership in these societies are preserved, and many are on microfilm at the Family History Library. See the Register of U. S. Lineage Societies (mentioned in the "Societies"), for lists of microfilmed records, and publications. Hundreds of organizations are in the United States, here are some with Maryland ties:


 * The Society of The Ark and The Dove
 * The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland
 * Colonial Dames National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland. Register of the Maryland Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1891-1938
 * General Society of Colonial Wars
 * Daughters of the American Colonists
 * Freedmen and Southern Society Project
 * Daughters of Holland Dames
 * General Society of Mayflower Descendants
 * German-American Organizations in Maryland
 * German Society of Maryland
 * American Historical Society of Germans From Russia
 * Holland Society of New York
 * The Maryland Huguenot Society
 * Maryland Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America
 * Maryland State Society United States Daughters of 1812
 * St. Andrew's Society of Mid-Maryland an organization for those of Scottish ancestry and those that love Scottish things.
 * The Sons of the American Revolution Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution centennial history, 1889-1989
 * Sons of Union Veterans - Maryland Division
 * Society of War of 1812 in Maryland
 * Welsh American Group
 * Welsh Societies
 * B-26 Marauder Historical Society WWII Air War Archive

Fraternal Organizations
Fraternal Organizations were begun for a variety of reasons. It could have been work skills, politics, chivalry, economics, and many other causes that the organization started. Trade unions have their roots with fraternal organizations. Ethnicity and religious minorities were common beginnings for a fraternal brotherhood. More can be found at Fraternal Societies and Fraternalism in America. Here are a few organizations in Maryland.


 * The Alexandria Freemasons have an association that includes those in Maryland, Virgina and Washington D.C.
 * Grand Chapter of Maryland Order of the Eastern Star
 * Maryland Delaware and District of Columbia Elks Association Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
 * The Ancient Order of Hibernians in Maryland is a Catholic, Irish-American Fraternal Organization.
 * Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Maryland

Family History Catalog
Records of societies may be found by using the Place-names Search in the FamilySearch Catalog for:


 * UNITED STATES - SOCIETIES
 * MARYLAND - SOCIETIES
 * MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - SOCIETIES

Some records gathered by societies are listed in the Place-names Search under the type of record. For example, cemetery transcripts gathered by a local genealogical society are listed in the catalog under:


 * MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - CEMETERIES.

Websites

 * D'Addezio's Society Hill is a directory of historical societies in Maryland.
 * The Greater Baltimore History Alliance is a consortium of museums and historic sites in the area dedicated to education and preservation.
 * Maryland Genealogical Society provides the links as a help to researchers of Maryland history and genealogy.
 * The MDGenWeb Project - Genealogical &amp; Historical Societies listing with tips for writing to the societies.