Donating Collections
Special Collections particularly collects materials complementary to the Maryland State Archives’ overall mission of collecting government records. For example, personal papers of government officials, campaign materials, and records of public advocacy groups.
Special Collections also collects items of significance associated with Maryland history and Maryland families or communities in a variety of formats including collected paper materials such as manuscripts, letters, diaries, maps, drawings, photographs, scrapbooks, historic newspapers, pamphlets, professional files, legal documents, deeds, financial and membership records, and others.
Our Special Collections archivists will work with you to identify documents and records appropriate for donation. In many cases, archivists will want to see the materials prior to physical transfer the collection. If you have Maryland documents that you think might be of interest to Special Collections, please contact us at 410-260-6410 or send email to
msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov.
Donations to Support our Collections and Mission
Monetary contributions from our non-profit, volunteer organization, the
Friends of the Maryland State Archives, helps Special Collections to acquire and to preserve rare documents and objects significant to Maryland’s history. Visit the
Friends of the Maryland State Archives website to learn how you can support our mission.