State Saves Baltimore Archives, Digitizes Papers

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Maryland State Archives is enhancing Baltimore's city archive and pressing for funds to improve its own operations.

The Baltimore Sun reports the state's takeover of the city archives in 2010 has moved Baltimore's historic records from a damp, moldy building with snakes to a sturdy, climate-controlled facility in East Baltimore. Students, writers and researchers are now coming to use the records.

Archivists are midway through a three-year agreement for the state to administer Baltimore's archives. A team was brought in to organize the records and make more of them searchable online. Now the War of 1812 Papers are digitized and correspondence from Baltimore mayors is available.

The state archivist also plans to seek $40 million to build a new state storage facility in Jessup.

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