The Archives of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are housed at: Lovely Lane Museum 2200 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 889-4458; lovlnmus@cavtel.net Archives and Manuscript Collections
Researchers are welcome Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. We accept research queries via mail, phone and e-mail. Assistance is provided by Ms. Suni Johnson, Director of Archives and History, Wanda Hall, assistant archivist, and the Rev. Edwin Schell, executive secretary of the United Methodist Historical Society.
There is a $2 per day research fee for genealogists visiting the Archives and a copy fee of $.15 per copy.
There is $15 fee for staff conducted research. This fee includes one hour of on-site research, photocopies and postage. For any research that requires more than the initial hour, there will be an additional fee of $15 per hour or any part there of. You will be notified in advance of any additional research needed beyond the initial hour.
Local church historians, scholars and United Methodist Historical Society members are exempt from the $2 visit fee. Staff will conduct genealogical research for UMHS members at a reduced fee of $10 per hour.
Archives and Manuscript Collections
BIOGRAPHY AND LOCAL CHURCH HISTORY COLLECTIONS
Materials range from the c.1770s through the 20th century. Local Church histories are arranged by districts within the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
This collection consists of a card file of Methodist clergy from the Baltimore-Washington Conference and predecessor conferences that notes appointments and biographical information. The cards contain information on traveling preachers (1773-2000), local preachers (late 18th century-1990), and supply pastors. The collection also contains cards for traveling preachers throughout the colonies and United States (1773-1799).
The Historical Society’s library holds approximately 5,000 volumes primarily spanning the 18th to 20th centuries. The collection contains works relevant to the history of the United Methodist Church and its antecedents: the Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Methodist Church; Evangelical Association; United Brethren in Christ; Evangelical United Brethren Church; and the Methodist Protestant Church.
A card catalog, organized by author, is available on site. The Methodist Union Catalog: Pre-1996 Imprints also contains a partial listing of the collection.
The collection contains approximately 200 slides, 350 mounted photographs and pictures, oil paintings, lithographs, Baltimore Album Quilts and a large collection of Methodist memorabilia. Collection items date from the 18th through the 20th centuries. There is a partial alphabetical card catalog for these items.