April 2008
Maryland History and Culture Collaborative
The Maryland History and Culture Collaborative is an informal gathering of information professionals
from throughout the state of Maryland whose job responsibilities include the acquisition, preservation,
and management of collections related to Maryland history and culture. The mission of this group is to
facilitate collaboration and communication in order to better serve both our institutions and our
researchers. Members range from large academic institutions to public libraries, historical societies and
other organizations.
Staff for the Reveille yearbook, in cadet uniform, 1911. Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries
Originally conceived at the University of Maryland, College Park, this group, which consists of
approximately 75 members, has met several times each year since June 2006, and communicates via an
email reflector list (mdhist@umd.edu) and through a blog: http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/mhcc/.
Initiatives underway by this group include:
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Increased communication among Special Collections colleagues throughout the state
Discussion of maintenance of state documents in electronic format
Creating a statewide, online guide to Maryland repositories and special collections resources
Transfer of the online Maryland History and Culture Bibliography from the Maryland
Humanities Council to the University of Maryland Libraries Digital Collections
In addition, this group is in the process of exploring ideas for a collaborative statewide digital project
highlighting special collections materials that document the Civil War in Maryland.
Most importantly, the Maryland History and Culture Collaborative has helped to create a feeling of
camaraderie among professionals across the state and has opened the lines of communication between
institutions of all types and sizes.
For information about joining the e-mail reflector, please contact Jennie Levine, University of Maryland Libraries, at
levjen@umd.edu