Maryland State Archives

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Search Strategies

General Search Tips

• For browsing or simple searches, use Keyword search under Quick Search.
• For more specific searches, use the Advanced Search.
• To navigate directly to a specific collection, series, or item with its collection number, use Collection Number search under Quick Search.
• Be as general as possible with search terms. For example, the Baltimore Sun is cataloged as “Sun” and a search for “Baltimore Sun” will not return the right result.
• If a search returns too many results, try refining your terms. If that is not possible you can use CTRL + F to find a desired term on the page.

"+" Search Modifier

• Example: "Baltimore + Photographs" searches for "Baltimore" AND "Photographs".
• Example: "Baltimore American + 1915" searches for "Baltimore American" AND "1915".

Quick Search

Provides easy access by keyword or by collection

• Keyword Search searches multiple fields for the given keywords. It allows the use of the '+' search modifier.
  • Keyword searches the following fields:
    • Collection Name
    • Author
    • Description
    • Medium
• Collection Number search navigates the user to the information page of the collection, series, or item of the given collection number.
  • Collection Number search uses only the numerical portion of the collection number, and does not require the "MSA SC" prefix.
    • Examples:
      • Collection Level: "1399"
      • Series Level: "1399-1"
      • Item Level: "1399-1-597"
      • Sub-Item Level: "1399-1-597-1"

Advanced Search

Search based upon selected criteria.

• Collection Name searches name of collection, which often is named after a newspaper title, family, or the collection donor.
• Collection Number searches collection number assigned to each collection. It is a unique number, like a Library call number. It does not require the "MSA SC" prefix.
• Author searches author of collection. Different collections use multiple formats for the author field. If searching by name, use last name. Only use last name, first name syntax if necessary.
• Description searches description field of collection. It allows use of the "+" search modifier
• Date searches date field of collection for the text entered. For example, if "1896" is entered, "1896", "1896/12/30", and "1640-1896" would be returned but not "1890-1900". When searching for a specific date, use the format year then month then day including leading zeros, example "1663/09/09".

Additional Search Strategies

Access specific types of records.

For General historical photograph inquiries and thumbnail images of our most-requested collections of photographs circa 1860 to 1939, see: Historical Photographs of Maryland (mdhistpics). For descriptions of photographs in other collections, keyword search our Guide to Special Collections.

For Church record inquiries, see: Guide to Religious Institutions in Maryland.

For Map inquiries: The Maryland State Archives Atlas of Historical Maps of Maryland 1608-1908, by Edward C. Papenfuse and Joseph M. Coale III (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), provides an excellent overview. See: Map Collections Guide for historic maps by cartographer or by title.

For Newspaper inquiries, see: Guide to Maryland Newspapers.

For In-depth historical or genealogical research, see: list of private researchers and genealogists.