Talbot County Free Library

Local History and Genealogy Special Collections
The Maryland Room Collection features materials that contribute to the knowledge of the social, civic, religious, economic and cultural life of Marylanders both past and present. Within the collection there is a particular emphasis on material relating to Talbot County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

The collection was started in 1941 through the generosity of Mr. And Mrs. James Dixon and Mrs. David Lindsay Gillespie with a donation of 1500 books, pamphlets, periodicals, maps and other material. In 1966, the library acquired the James Clayland Mullikin collection of Marylandia which consisted of books, newspapers, maps, letters and books.

The Maryland collection currently consists of over 4,500 books, 96 reels of microfilm of newspapers; 33 reels of census data (Talbot County complete, scattered of other counties); 30 reels of microfilm of church records; 6 reels of microfilm of tax lists; 400 maps; 18 vertical file drawers containing thousands of clippings, pamphlets, etc., 87 boxes of manuscript material, and numerous journal subscriptions.

The books and pamphlets are currently cataloged and available via the library's online card catalog. There are finding aids available for the Manuscript and Ephemera Collections.

Some of the highlights of Maryland Room's Collection are the manuscripts of James A. Michener's Chesapeake; Dickson Preston's Young Frederick Douglass and Talbot County: A History; Nelson Pusey's 1000 photographs of Easton and Talbot County; Arthur and Mary Louise Gutman Map Collection of 38 rare maps of Maryland and the Eastern Shore; and numerous post cards and other ephemera items.

The Collection is open to the public for all areas of research. Prior to visiting you might want to look at the policies governing use of the collection.

The Maryland Room is open during regular library hours. But as the Librarian is only available at certain times, it is recommended that you call or email to schedule an appointment.

Becky Riti, Maryland Room Librarian Maryland Room 100 W. Dover Street Easton, Maryland 21601 410-822-1626 410-820-8217 (fax)