Maryland Genealogical Society

08/31/2026

X is for "X" a Signature Mark
In earlier centuries, many people signed legal documents not with a written signature but with a simple "X." Far from being a sign of ignorance, this mark carried full legal weight and was witnessed and certified by others present at the signing. Literacy levels varied enormously across time and place, and many respected and prosperous members of their communities signed with a mark rather than a written name. Finding an "X" on a document is a reminder that
our ancestors' lives cannot be measured by their ability to read and write.

For genealogists, a signature mark can be a useful research tool. If your ancestor consistently signed with an "X," you could use that as one way to distinguish them from another person of the same name who signed with a written signature. Marks also came in varieties beyond the simple "X" — some ancestors used a distinctive symbol, initials, or a personal mark that appears consistently across multiple documents, which confirms that you are following the right person through the records.

Maryland's colonial and early national records are full of signature marks, particularly in deeds, wills, and court records held by the Maryland State Archives. Seeing the actual mark your ancestor made on a document — however simple — is one of those quietly moving moments that reminds us why we do this research.

Tip for beginners: When you see an "X" or other mark on a document, look carefully at the witnesses named alongside it. Witnesses to a signature were often neighbors, friends, or relatives, and their names can point you toward new research leads.

Tip for experienced researchers: When transcribing a document where your ancestor signed with a mark, note it carefully in your research log rather than simply recording the name. Distinguishing between a signed and a marked document can be an important detail when building a case for or against a particular identification.

Now it's your turn! Have you ever found an ancestor's signature mark on a document — and did it change the way you thought about them or their life?

08/30/2026

It is with sadness that we share the passing of Jim Burgess, husband of MGS past Board Member and Journal Editor Jane Burgess. We wish all of Jim's friends and family comfort in their time of loss.

View James Perry Burgess, III's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

08/29/2026

Register Now! Maryland Public Television and MGS partner once again for another exciting virtual workshop series - Death Is Only the Beginning, featuring Annette Burke Lyttle. This 4-part webinar series begins September 9. Learn more and register here: www.mdgensoc.org

08/28/2026

It has been a sad week for so many. The passing of the beautiful Dolly Parton has triggered worldwide mourning and sales of all of her popular songs. Film fans then learned of the death of the talented Tim Curry, and streaming of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" hit record levels as Gen-Xer's wanted to share the cult classic with the next generation. Those same 80's kids were then heart-broken to learn of the death of the voice of their generation, Peter Cullen, who was their ideal leader Optimus Prime. And today the nation of Norway and people around the world also mourn the death of King Harald, who had been the world's oldest reigning monarch.
We deal with loss in many ways. Writing our memories helps to preserve our stories for future generations, and helps us grieve. What is your favorite Dolly song? Have you danced the Time Warp? Are you an Autobot or a Decepticon? Do you have Norwegian lineage? Be a good Ancestor. Write your story.

08/26/2026

On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified into law, granting women the right to vote.

This photograph depicts women from the Just Government League of Maryland, a suffrage organization, marching in Columbus, Ohio. Established by Edith Haughton Ho**er, the organization grew to be the most successful of the suffrage organizations in the state. The Ohio Woman's Suffrage Association (OWSA) organized a parade in Columbus on August 27, 1912, and newspaper articles confirm that members of the Just Government League of Maryland were in attendance.

View more items from the MCHC's collections related to women's suffrage at https://www.mdhistory.org/digital-resource/?srch=suffrage.

Just Government League of Maryland women marching, unknown photographer, 1912. MCHC Library, Group Portrait Vertical File

08/24/2026

W is for Wills
A will is one of the most personal documents an ancestor created — a final statement of who they loved, what they owned, and how they wanted to be remembered. As we discussed in our earlier post on P is for Probate, wills are part of a broader probate process that generates many valuable records. But wills deserve a closer look on their own, because the details they contain can be extraordinary. A well-written will might name a spouse, every child and grandchild, siblings, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and even close friends or neighbors — providing a snapshot of an entire family network at a specific moment in time.

Reading a will carefully can reveal far more than just a list of heirs. The language used to describe bequests can suggest family dynamics — a child left out of a will entirely, or one singled out for a particularly generous bequest, may point toward a family story worth investigating. Personal possessions passed down through generations — a Bible, a piece of furniture, or a piece of jewelry — can sometimes be traced forward through subsequent wills, helping researchers follow a family across generations.

Maryland will records stretch back to the colonial period and are held by the Maryland State Archives. Many can also be found through Ancestry and FamilySearch, making them accessible to researchers wherever they are.

Tip for beginners: When you find a will, read it all the way through rather than stopping at the first mention of your ancestor's name. The most revealing details are often found further down the document, in the specific bequests and the names of witnesses.

Tip for experienced researchers: Pay close attention to the witnesses named in a will — they were required to be present at the signing and were often neighbors, friends, or relatives. Researching the witnesses can lead you to new family connections or help you place your ancestor within their community.

Now it's your turn! Has a will ever revealed a surprising detail about an ancestor — perhaps an unexpected heir, a family conflict, or a cherished possession passed down through generations?

08/24/2026

08/22/2026

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, we are excited to share a three-part podcast that comes from a collaboration with journalism professor Tom Moore of CUNY York College. Episodes 1 and 2 are available for listening now!

We are also excited to announce that on August 22, “Finding the Maryland 400,” the book documenting the lives of the famed Maryland soldiers, will officially go on sale. It will be available online from the Maryland State Archives and Amazon, and in person at the State Archives in Annapolis. In addition, it will be sold at the events in Brooklyn commemorating the 250th anniversary of the battle on August 22. Look for more information about purchasing the book soon!

https://msamaryland400.com/2026/07/29/maryland-400-podcast-episode-one/

08/21/2026

Dear Followers - Please read and share! OPFs are amazing resources. Let's make sure we have the greatest ability to access the greatest number of records for the longest period of time!

Federal civilian Official Personnel Folders (OPFs) can contain valuable genealogical information about a person’s government employment. Today, many OPFs for employees who left federal service before 1952 are archived at NARA. Later files generally remain under OPM control and are much harder to access. The 1952 cutoff was created for administrative filing purposes, not because the records on either side of that date have different historical value.

In 2025, NARA proposed making OPFs for employees separated through 31 December 1973 permanent records, but this schedule has apparently not yet been approved. The National Genealogical Society and the Records Preservation and Access Coalition (RPAC) support that proposal and call on NARA to sign that record schedule.

This new proposal, however, would allow OPFs for employees separated on or after 1 January 1974 to be destroyed after 65 years (right now, all post-1951 OPFs have a 129-year retention).

RPAC seeks to:
• Preserve pre-1974 OPFs permanently.
• Make all employment years consistent with pre-1974 policy.
• Replace the arbitrary 1952 access cutoff with a rolling transfer of older civilian personnel files to NARA.

This is simple: federal civilian personnel files should become more accessible as they age—not disappear.

To submit your comments on the proposal, go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NARA-26-0331-0008.

08/21/2026

Check out this event coming soon at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library:

Visit the African American Department to learn how we can support you in genealogical research. We will have many items of interest on display for you to view. Topics of discussion will include: Descriptions of online resources that we are prepared to guide you through using insights from several in...