Baltimore City Archives, Municipal archive in Waverly neighborhood, Baltimore, United States.
The Baltimore City Archives is a municipal archive in Baltimore that preserves extensive government records, historical photographs, and important documents from city departments. The collections document the city's administration and development across different periods.
The archives began in 1839 when the city first created an office to manage documents in an organized way, replacing an earlier system of keeping papers in a single chest. This marked the start of formal record preservation in Baltimore.
The archives hold records that show how the city made decisions and developed over many generations through ordinances and council meetings. These documents reflect the everyday governance and public life that shaped Baltimore.
Visitors can meet with staff members to get help searching the collections and understand how to access materials. It is helpful to contact ahead to confirm that specific documents are available and to plan your visit time effectively.
In the 1930s, workers in a government employment program created detailed index cards and registers that documented every single name found in the historical records. This careful cataloging work makes searching through old documents much easier today.
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