Revolutionary War collection

Two main catagories compose the Collection: government records and personal papers. Items created or received by the government (local, state, or national) in the course of official business fall into the records category. All items not covered by this definition are defined as personal papers and covered separately. A strict chronological arrangement is followed throughout the Collection.

The two main sections are further broken down into functional sub-groupings as follows:

Government

A. Military - all records other than correspondence dealing with official military activities or concerns. Enrollment lists, pay rolls, returns, reports, accounts and bills, muster rolls, certificates of enlistment, communications, orders, commissions, certificates of substitution, discharges, and financial accounts of disabled soldiers make up most of this section.

B. Correspondence - letters, notes, and memos sent and verified by government officials relating to official concerns, Correspondence of Maryland Governor Eden, Johnson, Lee, and Paca is abundantly represented, as are letters to and from other prominent state, civil and military figures.

C. Oaths of Fidelity - County returns of loyalty oaths sworn to the state from January to March, 1778.

D. General - all official records not falling into the above categories. Included are reports, legislative enactments, depositions, financial accounts, prodeedings of meetings, tax lists, assorted compilation and lists, licencer, petitions, and documents connected with administration of confiscated British property.

Personal Papers

A. Correspondence - letters, notes, and memos of a non-official character sent and received. Items deal with the full range of revolutionary activity.

B. Captain John Eager Howard accounts and receipts - personal records of military pay tendered soldiers under Howard's command. At the time of their creation, these documents were private accounts of Howard's own funds used for troop payments, and kept in hope of future reimbursement.

C. General - Material other than described above. Includes newspaper clippings, literary works, legal documents, diaries and reminiscences, accounts and receipts, membership certificates, speeches, and commemorative materials. Much of this section post-dates the American Revolution.