Western Maryland Room

Hours of Operation

Monday – CLOSED
Tuesday – Open 10-2 & 5-9
Wednesday – CLOSED
Thursday – Open 10-1 & 2-6
Friday – Open 2-6

Appointments are encouraged if you would like research assistance when you are here. 

Call or email Elizabeth Howe at 301-739-3250, ext. 350, or ehowe@washcolibrary.org   

Parking

Off street parking available.

About

The John Clinton Frye Western Maryland Room was established in 1968 to provide and preserve historical information about our region. The Room contains approximately 10,000 books and over 400 cubic feet of archival material including maps, newspapers, photographs, ledgers, manuscripts, ephemera, and a limited number of artifacts covering the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys; all of Western Maryland, including Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties; plus Frederick and Carroll Counties in Central Maryland. Some material is also included for all counties adjacent to those five Maryland counties in the three surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

Highlighted in the collection are a large Civil War research collection, a family research (genealogy) collection, and a substantial holding of information on canals, railroads, local culture and industry. Numerous yearbooks from schools located in Washington County are also part of the collection. The WMR sponsors the Robert H. McCauley Historical Lecture Series and holds workshops on genealogy topics and caring for archival materials such as photographs and rare books.

We invite you to contact us with questions or visit to explore our historical library and archives!

Location

The John Clinton Frye Western Maryland Room is located on the 3rd Floor at the Alice Virginia & David W. Fletcher Branch of the Washington County Free Library located at 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown.

Our Collection

The link below is to our vertical file which is a large local history subject file collection.  We also have a few of our larger processed collections catalogued in the Library catalog.  Search the Catalog and click on All Items and choose W. Md. Room Items.  Search Collection, and you will find a number of them listed.

* * * Vertical File Collection * * *

Events

* * (See right for full list of events) * *

 You are also invited to attend these free programs:

* * * Monthly Events * * *

The Washington County Genealogical Society meets in the Western Maryland Room the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

On May 10, 2022, Mary Mannix, Manager of the Maryland Room at C. Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, will talk about the 1950 US Federal Census Records that were released by the US National Archives on April 1, 2022.  

For more information about the program, contact Carol Miller-Schultz at 301-791-2585 or Elizabeth Howe at 301-739-3250, ext. 350 (or ehowe@washcolibrary.org).   

Questions about the WC Genealogical Society? Contact Carol Miller-Schultz at 301-791-2585.

What's New in the Western Maryland Room

See the newest material that has been added to the Western Maryland Room.

Contact Us

Elizabeth Howe, Librarian & Certified Archivist

Email: westmdroom@washcolibrary.org
Phone: 301-739-3250 x350

Friends of the Western Maryland Room

The Friends of the Western Maryland Room provide financial support for the publication of such books as:

St. Mary’s Catholic Church Records 1818 – 1900
Beaver Creek Evangelical Church Records 1844–1917
Washington County Obituary Locator 1790-2003

Please call 301-739-3250 for more information on joining the Friends