19 December 1993 – Publications Convey Message of History

“Publications Convey Message of History”

Carroll County Times article for 19 December 1993

By Joe Getty

There are many ways that a historical organization can convey its many messages about local history. Typically organizations use newsletters and public programs as their primary educational vehicles. Ventures in the local media through articles and programs for newspapers, radio and television are also a significant means of community outreach.

Another educational tool for local history is through publishing books and monographs. In addition to public outreach value, a publications program is an important means for documenting local history in a permanent format. Local history publications will last for generations allowing the research and writing of today to be preserved for future audiences.

The Historical Society of Carroll County has an active publications program. This fall, we released four new books about topics of Carroll County history. In addition, we published a 1994 calendar displaying images about Carroll County’s participation in American military history. These new publications are described below:

An Illustrated Atlas of Carroll County, Maryland. This publication accomplished a long-term goal of the Historical Society to publish a high-quality reprint of the original 1877 atlas. Printed as part of the Historical Society’s Legacy Campaign, this edition includes a historical supplement of biographical, family, business and organizational sketches prepared in 1993 by donors to the campaign. This combined hard-back volume is a limited edition that serves as one of the best resources for researching Carroll County’s 19th and 20th century history.

The original atlas was compiled by the Philadelphia firm of Lake, Griffing and Stevenson. It shows Carroll County property owners in the 1877 election districts, towns and villages. The atlas includes additional data useful to reserachers in its business references, list of patrons and views.

Carroll County and the Great War for Civilization, 1917-1919. Written by curator Jay A. Graybeal, this publication is a companion to the exhibition currently on display at the Historical Society. The “Roll of Honor” is particularly useful to people interested in local history because it contains the service records of more than 1100 Carroll County men & women who served in World War I. Overseas and homefront activities are described in essays about Company H on the Mexican Border, civilian war work, and military participation by Carroll countians. The book also contains letters to and from local soldiers and a reminiscence of Lt. Hugh L. Elderdice, Jr., as well as photographs illustrating this period in Carroll County history.

William Winchester 1711 – 1790. This monograph about the founder of Westminster, Maryland, was written by a Winchester family descendant, Emma Shelton. In a biographical history that traces Winchester’s life from London, England to Piedmont Maryland, Shelton describes many facets of 18th century Maryland history. As one of Carroll County’s most significant early settlers,Winchester and his experience in America can be viewed as a microcosm of the life of the successful landholder-speculator who thrived in the “golden age of colonial culture.”

Abstracts from The Engine of Liberty & Uniontown Advertiser. These newspaper abstracts were originally published in Uniontown by Charles Sower during the years 1813 to 1815. The Engine of Liberty was the first newspaper was published in present-day Carroll County. At that time, Uniontown was in Frederick County but there was interest in forming a new county with Uniontown as the county seat. The abstracts contain genealogical data, sale bills, local notices and other information that provides unique insights on our early history.

Military Heritage of Carroll County 1994 Calendar. A unique collection of images depicting Carroll County’s participation in American military history is featured in this 1994 calendar. The cover is printed in color and displays a rare Civil War ambrotype of the regimental headquarters for Taneytown resident Lt. Col. William A. McKellip’s company of the Maryland Volunteer Infantry. The calendar highlights photographs from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam Conflict. Many of the photographs are from the Historical Society collection are are published for the first time. Publication of the calendar was sponsored by the Carroll County Bank and Trust Company.

If you would like additional information about the Historical Society’s publications program, call (410) 848-6494.