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African-American Records & Resources

In the province and state of Maryland, slavery was an accepted practice from the settlement of the first colony at St. Mary's City in 1634 until the adoption of a new State Constitution on November 1, 1864 which emancipated all enslaved persons.

  • Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources - Online guide to resources in the Research Center

  • A Guide to the History of Slavery in Maryland - 44 page publication of the Maryland State Archives and University of Maryland College Park

  • Legacy of Slavery in Maryland - A Maryland State Archives electronic publication

  • Sources for Studying the Landscape of Slavery - Website of St. Mary's College of Maryland providing links and background information for many primary sources.  Emphasis on St. Mary's County

  • Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition - A transformative collaboration of local organizations and educational institutions, committed to elevating the history of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in our region.

  • Southern Maryland African-American Heritage Guide - 28-page brochure highlighting important African-American historical locations within Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties

  • Slavery Law & Power Slavery, Law, and Power (SLP) is a project dedicated to bringing the many disparate sources that help to explain the long history of slavery and its connection to struggles over power in early America, particularly in the colonies that would become the United States. Going back to the early English Empire, this project traces the rise of the slave trade along with the parallel struggles between monarchical power and early democratic institutions and ideals.

  • Federal Censuses - The 1850 and 1860 censuses show slaves by name within the enumerated household.  Earlier census records only show numbers of slaves and some break out by age and sex.  See Census section above.  Also see the 1798 Federal Direct Tax records on the Land & Tax Records page.
  • Assessment Lists of Slaves - 1798 - See the 1798 Federal Direct Tax records on the Land & Tax Records page.

  • Assessment Lists of Slaves - 1804, 1813, 1821 - Maryland State Archives Site.  Assessment lists of slaves arranged by year, then by the last letter of the slave owner's last name, then by election district (or hundred).  Some districts are unidentified.  Lists show slave names, sex, and age.  Click on "Links" to access the PDF images.

  • Assessment Lists of Slaves - 1831 - Maryland State Archives Site.  Assessment lists of slaves arranged by the last letter of the slave owner's last name, then by election district.  Some districts are unidentified.  Lists show slave names, sex, and age.  Click on "Links" to access the PDF images.

  • 1864 Slave Statistics of St. Mary's County - Lists compiled in 1867 of all slaves owned as of November 1, 1864, the date when Maryland abolished slavery.  The purpose was for slave-holders to request reparations for freed slaves (this did not happen).  Lists show slave names, sex, age, and date of emancipation.
    • George Dent's Original Lists -  

    • Agnes Callum's Transcription at MSA - The lists are on pages 1-145.  The number in parentheses is the page number in George B. Dent's original list (see above)  The index of slaves is on pages 146-178.  The index of slave owners is on pages 179-183.  
  • 300 Years of Black Cooking in St. Mary's County Maryland - The recipes presented in this cookbook were gathered from all areas of St. Mary's County. The presenters of the recipes represent a mother's, father's, grandmother's or a family's method of preparing dishes seived in their homes as well as food preparation for other family and community events.  Permission to post granted by the St. Mary's County Board of Library Trustees.