Collections and Archives

  The Historical Society of Talbot County actively collects and accepts items of cultural or historical value for its permanent collection of materials that document and represent the cultural history of Talbot County. The society currently collects four categories of materials: artifacts, photographic materials, archival materials, and books.

Artifacts.

	New Acquisition - Weathervane from Bullen's Chance Farm (Trappe, MD), circa 1900

The object collection consists of approximately 10,000 artifacts representing Talbot County's past. The major groupings are decorative arts and furnishings, textiles, paintings, prints and artwork by local artists, personal and business papers, toys, and domestic equipment. Approximately 15% of the collection is currently on display in the museum and historic houses.

Photographic Materials. By far, the largest and most outstanding component of the Society's collection is the photograph collection. It is the most important photographic record of life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in a public collection. It is primarily the work of three local professional photographers-H. Robins Hollyday, Laird Wise, and C. C. Harris-whose combined work presents a thorough documentation of life in our region from c.1870 to about 1950. There are in excess of 100,000 negatives, prints and slides in the society's photograph collection.

	1898 Ledger Book

Archival Materials. The archival collection has a variety of materials including personal papers and diaries, business and farm ledger books, correspondence, land grants, manumissions, maps, and genealogical materials. The archives collection is all primary source material and is approximately180 linear feet in size.

Library. The historical society has a small collection of about 300 volumes of books on or relating to the history of Talbot County. It is a non-circulating collection meant primarily for staff and volunteer use. Copies of most of the books are currently available at the Talbot County Free Library

Visit our Online Galleries!

Quilt Collection

Mystery Photo Gallery

Frederick Douglass

What Is It?

Highlights of the HSTC Collections

Research

Since 1999 the Historical Society of Talbot County has been creating a computerized catalog of its collections using Past Perfect Museum software. Research can be done by appointment. Please call 410-822-0773 or email staff to make an appointment.