Baptist Convention of Maryland - Delaware
Baptist Center History Library
Address: |
10255 Old Columbia Road
Columbia, MD 21046-1716 |
Telephone Number: |
1-800-466-5290 ext. 234
410-667-9169 (home number to make appointments)
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Contact Persons: |
Maryan Brown, Archivist |
Hours of Service: |
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Tuesday--Friday
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9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m.
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Open to the public: |
By appointment only |
Photocopying: |
Yes |
Interlibrary loan: |
No |
Photocopying is limited and there is a charge. Librarian works
one day a week and must be present the first time a researcher comes
to use the library.
- Reference Policy:
- Telephone and mail reference questions are accepted. Long distance
telephone calls are not returned. The Baptist Center History Library
cannot do in-depth research, but will answer questions that take
one half-hour or less if the researcher sends a self-addressed,
stamped envelope. They will also specify related materials on
researcher's topic.
- Borrowing Privileges:
- Not a lending institution.
- Networks/Consortia:
- None.
- Background Note:
- The Maryland Baptist Union Association (MBUA) was formed on
October 27, 1836, by six churches in Maryland and one church in
the District of Columbia to "advance the cause of true religion
in Maryland and that part of the District of Columbia north of
the Potomac." MBUA became the Baptist Convention of Maryland in
1960 and then the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware in 1984.
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- Books and monographs:
- Approximately 200 books primarily from the 19th and 20th centuries
with scattered earlier printings. Subject areas covered include
Baptist history, Southern Baptists, Maryland Baptist history,
Delaware Baptist history, history of individual Baptist churches
in Maryland and Delaware, Baptist biography, Baptist doctrine,
and Baptist missionary biography representing 200 years of mission.
Of special note is a Martin Luther translation of the Bible printed
in 1546. The History Library also has a small but good collection
of hymnals from the 1840s to the present. Most are Baptist hymnals,
particularly Maryland hymnals, but other denominations are also
represented.
There is a card catalog by subject, and a minister's service
catalog for 1837-1989.
- Periodicals and newspapers:
- Approximately 96 linear feet of serials, newspapers, annuals,
and minutes with inclusive dates from 1800 to the present. Six
journals form the core of the serial titles: Maryland/Delaware
Baptist Life (previously called Maryland Baptist,Baptist
True Union; 1800s to present); Baptist History and
Heritage (1965 to present); Baptist Heritage Update
(1985 to 1996); Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
minutes (1836 to present); Southern Baptist Convention
Annuals/Minutes (1860s to present); Maryland/Delaware
Association newsletters (1900s to present - scattered dates).
Collection highlights include Baptist state and national news;
SBC history articles; church archive information; church statistical
information and reports of convention agencies and business
transacted at annual meeting of the state Baptist Convention;
statistical information, agency reports, and business transacted
at annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention; statistical
information and promotional material for church and association
events. Of particular note are Maryland Baptist convention minutes
from 1836 and local Baptist Association Minutes 1920 to present
(scattered dates).
Baptist Life offices (in another area of the
Baptist Center building) have both a card and computer subject
index. The History Library has date and volume listings.
- Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:
- Approximately 60 linear feet of archival material with inclusive
dates from 1836 to the present. Highlights of this collection
include church records and minutes primarily from defunct Southern
Baptist churches in Maryland; records of the Woman's Missionary
Union of Maryland/Delaware (formerly known as Woman's Mission
to Woman, the Maryland Baptist Home Mission Society, the Maryland
Baptist State Mission Society, and the Maryland Baptist Foreign
Mission Society); Rev. Joseph Mettam Marriage Records 1836-1883,
which contains marriage records for many slaves and free blacks;
Dr. Richard Fuller sermons 1846-1876; Rev. Lawrence A. Free sermons
(300 plus); Executive Secretary Files for Joseph Watts, Roy Gresham,
and Ken Lyles; Baltimore Church Extension Society Files; Baptist
Foundation Minutes; miscellaneous information from the Maryland
Baptist College; Baptist Family Children's Aid Society Minutes
from 1900s to 1989; United Baptist Women files 1950s-90s (inter-racial
group); and a transcript of oral history by Dr. Clyde Atkins,
pastor Eutaw Place/Woodbrook Baptist Church, Baltimore.
There is an author/title card catalog for these collections.
- Microforms:
- Approximately 85 microforms which include newspapers, papers,
minutes, and scrapbooks. Highlights of the collection include
the following: the Virginia Baptist Religious Herald1828-1900;
Minutes Baltimore Baptist Association 1793-1836; Minutes Maryland
Baptist Union Association 1837-1958; Saters Baptist Church/Genealogy;
Maryland Baptist State papers 1849- present (scattered early dates);
Local Baptist Associations; Woman's Baptist Home Mission Society
of Maryland Minutes 1886-1911; First Baptist Church of Baltimore
scrapbooks 1776-1960s; Gunpowder Baptist Church Minutes 1806-1966;
Woman's Mission to Woman Minutes 1872-1898.
There is an author/title/subject card catalog for this collection.
- Maps:
- Approximately 35 maps from the 19th and 20th centuries, primarily
in books. Highlights include a map describing the location of
churches (see Maring, A Denominational History of Maryland
Baptists 1742-1882); as well as a 1986 150th Anniversary
map location of churches; and a SBC Historical Sites map.
There is often a listing in the card catalog for these maps.
- Video and sound recordings:
- Approximately 40 videotapes with inclusive dates from 1982 to
present. Highlights of the collection include films on the Rwanda
Mission Partnership; SBC History Collecting Series; Dr. Roy Gresham;
Baptist Beliefs; and BCM/D Promotion tapes. The primary focus
of this collection is overseas Baptist missions.
These tapes are listed in the card catalog. Other departments
in the Baptist Center also have mission and teaching tapes.
Printed catalogs are available.
- Vertical files:
- 15 file cabinet drawers with inclusive dates from the 1800s
to the present. Subjects include biographical information about
pastors and lay people of the Baptist Church, data on Baptist
churches, denominational programs and agencies, and miscellaneous
files on the Woman's Missionary Union.
The files are organized alphabetical by subject areas with
some help in subject card catalog.
- Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:
- Approximately 200 to 300 photographs, with inclusive dates from
1870 to the present. Many are uncataloged. Highlights include
photographs and some glass plates (1890s) of Baptist churches
and Baptist pastors, Baptist mission work, and Baptist missionaries.
The card catalog covers some of this collection. The librarian
will be helpful with the uncataloged material.
- Other holdings not listed above:
- Artifacts from the Women's Missionary Union including the Armstrong
gavel, Armstrong dresses, and prayer altar. There are also missionary
artifacts such as craft items from various continents.
Armstrong, Annie Walker, 1850-1938; Baptist Church--Clergy; Baptist
Church--Delaware--History; Baptist Church--History; Baptist Church--Maryland--History;
Bible--Versions--Luther; Christian biography--Baptist; Church buildings--Baptist;
Church music--Baptist; Church work with orphans--Baptist; Church work
with the aged--Baptist; Dixon, A.C., 1854-1925; Fundamentalism; Hymns
and hymnals; Marriage records--African American; Missions and missionaries--Baptist;
Religious education--Southern Baptist; Sermons; Southern Baptist Convention;
Sunday schools--Baptist; Woman's Missionary Union--Southern Baptist
Convention--History; Woman's Missionary Union--Maryland--History;
Women and religion
Hollowak, Thomas L., ed. Baltimore's Past: A Directory of
Historical Sources. Baltimore, MD: History Press, 1995.
Kanely, Edna Agatha. Directory of Maryland Ministers and
the Maryland Churches They Served 1634-1990. 2 v. Westminster,
MD: Family Line Publications, 1991.
May, Lynn E., Jr., comp./ed. International Directory of
Baptist Archives/Libraries. McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance,
Commission on Baptist Heritage, 1990.
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