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The Historical Society of Kent County Library collection comprises 1000’s of items pertinent to regional history including reference works, manuscript collections, documents, ledgers, maps, genealogies, cemetery records, photographs and oral histories.
Library Hours: The Library is currently closed to the public; Contact: library@kentcountyhistory.org
Research Services and Fees
We have limited research services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please email library@kentcountyhistory.org to see if we can help.
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The Historical Society is undertaking the cataloging of its research collection with PastPerfect Software, purchased with a grant from The Hedgelawn Foundation of Kent County. Please be patient as we undertake this project to provide users with information about our library and archival and photograph collections. Eventually, our object collection also will be included. This database will be a work-in-progress and will be updated periodically. Please visit the Society or contact Society staff if you are looking for information not online.
http://kentcounty.pastperfectonline.com/
Books in the Library collection are in the process of being cataloged using a unique system. The library contains both published and unpublished books and booklets, with a focus on local and regional history, Maryland and Kent County genealogical resources and family histories.
The map collection contains original maps, as well as copies of historic maps primarily of Kent County and its towns and Maryland. Select images of our maps can be found on the “Maps” section of this website.
The Society holds both collections of documents, as well as miscellaneous documents grouped by categories and subcategories. The miscellaneous document categories are: Architecture and Engineering; Business and Industry; Culture; Education; Ethnic and Cultural Groups; Family/Genealogical History; Government; Legal Records; Maps and Atlases; Maryland; Military and War; Natural History; Oral History; Organizations; and Religion. Miscellaneous documents have been categorized as of January 2010; visit the Library to view these documents.
The Society holds collections of photographs, as well as miscellaneous photographs grouped by categories and subcategories. The main categories are: Architecture and Engineering; Business and Industry; Culture; Education; Ethnic and Cultural Groups; Family/Genealogical History; Government; Legal Records; Maps and Atlases; Maryland; Military and War; Natural History; Oral History; Organizations; and Religion. Distinct collections of photographs will be cataloged together, then identified and inventoried individually when possible. This will be a time-consuming process. The Usilton/Kent County News Collection contains over 5,000 images, for example. Eventually, select images may be available online.
The Society maintains files for all historic structures in the Kent County Historic Sites Inventory originally conducted by the Maryland Historic Trust. Additional sites and structures will continue to be added to this “K-file” listing. The files contain the inventory form, photographs and additional documentation collected by the Society.
The Society has a small collection of oral histories, with a goal of expanding these holdings in the future.
The vertical files are collections of newspaper clippings, articles and copies of documents organized into a system of categories and subcategories. The main categories are: Architecture and Engineering; Business and Industry; Culture; Education; Ethnic and Cultural Groups; Family/Genealogical History; Government; Legal Records; Maps and Atlases; Maryland; Military and War; Natural History; Oral History; Organizations; and Religion.
Fairlee Grange Collection 2017.002
Smythe-Willson Collection 2017.007
Richard Bennett Collection 2017.008
These maps come from the Lake, Griffing & Stevenson atlas of Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, 1877. The thumbnails take you to larger maps which you can examine. Our library also holds many other maps from various periods, available for research here.
Printed copies of these maps, on ivory 8-1/2″ by 11″ paper, are available. Several maps are available at 8-1/2″ by 14″ and some actual-size, approx. 20″ by 27″ depending on the map. Society members receive a discount. Check our Gift Shop to see the maps which we have in stock. Copies of many of our maps may also be purchased at Finishing Touch, finishingtouchshop.com in Chestertown, for which we receive a commission on the sale.
Still Pond 1876
Chestertown Area
Sassafras 1876
Galena 1876
Rock Hall II
Georgetown 1876
Chesterville 1876
Chestertown Waterfront
Rock Hall 1876
Kennedyville 1876
Millington 1876
Howell Point & Betterton
Massey's 1876
Eastern Neck Island
Betterton, Lloyds and Turners Creek
Piney Neck
Upper Sassafras River
Shrewsbury Neck
Crumpton is the site of Callister's Ferry across the Chester River. This was the ferry crossing upriver from Chestertown. Crumpton is locally notorious for its auction sales every Wednesday.
Crumpton
Sudlersville
Church Hill
Centreville
Kent Island 1795
Kent Island 1877
These interesting Delmarva regional maps are in our files. The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal maps are from a stock prospectus ca. 1828 while the Wilmington map is a copy of a 1736 map which dates from 1845.
Eastern Shore and the Chesapeake Bay, 1795
C&D Canal 1828 - Route
C&D Canal 1828 - Profile
Wilmington, Delaware 1736
Kent County Courthouse
(see also: http://www.genealogy.com/ for courthouse resources)
The Miller Library at Washington College
Maryland Genealogy/ Kent County
Eastern Shore Regional Library
Other Resources:
Cecil County Historical Society
Other Maryland County Historical Societies
Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland
Maryland State Archives online
Maryland Historical Society Library
Maryland Department of Vital Statistics
The Historical Society of Delaware
Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites
African American Genealogy Resources
Jewish Historical Society of Delaware
University of Maryland Archives
Edward Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture