The Maryland State Archives serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value.

[1] These records are kept in a humidity and temperature controlled environment and any necessary preservation measures are conducted in the Archives' conservation laboratory.

[1] The Maryland Tercentenary Commission made a modern, centralized archives a key feature of the commemoration of the state's 300th anniversary.

[1] A "Memorial Hall of Records" was proposed as early as 1928, and in 1931, the Maryland General Assembly appropriated funds to erect an archives building which was opened to the public in 1935.

[1] From 1935-1986 the collection was housed in a building called the Hall of Records on St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe) campus with a capacity of 18,000 cubic feet.