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St. Mary’s County Historical Society

The St. Mary’s County Historical Society collects, preserves, researches, and interprets the history of St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Our collections are held in trust for the use and education of the public.  They are primarily composed of documentary and archival materials with a focus on St. Mary’s County’s people, places, and events.

This information is made available at the Historical Society’s Research Center, through publications such as The Chronicles of St. Mary’s and the Tudor Hall Times as well as through programs and exhibits. The Historical Society also provides stewardship of 18th century Tudor Hall which serves as its headquarters.

Contact/Location

41680 Tudor Place Leonardtown, MD 20650
503.970.2399

https://www.stmaryshistory.org

Hours of Operation

Visitor Center

Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm

Offices and MAC

Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm

Park Grounds

7 days a week, dawn to dusk

Wednesday – Thursday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Research Center opens at 11:00a.m.

Open 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month.  The Research Center open only 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Highlights

Provides information and resources regarding the history of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color in a variety of formats:

We have a continuing digitization project that is expected to span two-years.
Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions Oral History Collection is an online digital exhibit on website. Their complete oral histories and transcripts will be available Spring 2024.

Archaeological sites with interpretive panels. These sites and panels are accessible on Park trails.

FAQ Archaeology Exhibit in the Visitor’s Center includes segments on pre-contact period sites and on Sukeek’s Cabin site.

JPPM Library has over 15,000 titles relating to all aspects of Maryland’s history. Books do not circulate, but an online catalog is available. Southern Maryland Regional Files are also housed in the MAC Lab.

Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab has over 10 million artifacts spanning from 10,000 years ago until the early-mid 20th century. Portions available online; physical access upon request during MAC Lab hours. Qualifying institutions can borrow artifacts for display or study.

Audio and transcripts of oral histories of local Black families. Available upon request.

Portraits, daguerreotypes, and primary documents of local Black families. Available to view upon request.

Through Ebony Eyes digital exhibit can be viewed on large screendisplay.

Field trip programs for school age children on rural life and sharecropping are scheduled through the Education Department.

Park-wide special events like Discovering Archaeology Day and American Indian Heritage Day are free and open to the public.

Educators, docents, and archaeologists give tours, talks, and participate in outreach programs upon request.

JPPM hosts Calvert County’s NAACP Family and Community Day each June

Explore Resources

Old Jailhouse Museum and Visitor Center – Leonardtown, MD

Description:
The Old Jail and Museum is one of four sites in St. Mary’s County on the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action
Access:
The Old Jail and museum are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.

St. Mary’s Historical Society: Documents from Enslavers

Description:
The St. Mary's Historical Society has in its collection materials and records from families who were enslavers. These reveal such information as enslaved fleeing to the Union forces.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture
Access:
Available physically at the Historical Society; under consideration for future digitization project

 Records in generally good condition, though varies by collection, with some requiring special handling

 PastPerfect Public Access finding aids available online through the Historical Society website

St. Mary’s Historical Society: US Colored Troops Memorial Collection

Description:
United States Colored Troops Memorial Collection. The SMCHS has a collection of materials relating to the Unified Committee for Afro- American Contributions and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War’s joint effort to fund and commission a memorial for African American troops during the Civil W...
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Themes:
African American People and Culture
Access:

The collection can be viewed at Tudor Hall Wednesday – Thursday – Friday 9:00a to 4:00p (Research Center opens at 11:00a) 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month (Research Center only) 11:00a – 4:00p

Timeframe:

Early to mid-20th century

Themes:

African American People and Culture, Indigenous People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Women’s History

Access:

During open hours for JPPM Visitor Center: Wed-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Contact Visitor Center at [email protected] or 410-586-8538.

Description:

Located at the Visitor Center, this exhibit shows a number of archaeological artifacts from across the state of Maryland, with detailed panels on a pre-contact period site (and its environment) and on the Sukeek’s Cabin site.

Visit Website

faq archaeology

Item #1

Join us to discover a hidden chapter in history.

Southern Maryland
Equity in History Coalition

The Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition is a transformative collaboration of local organizations and educational institutions, committed to elevating the history of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in our region.

Learn how you can support our mission.

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Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
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