Maryland World War II records

This collection of war-related material is a product of Maryland’s War Records Commission, housed and administered by the Maryland Historical Society under the direction of the Bureau of Public Works. Shortly after the United States entered the war, Governor Herbert O’Connor asked George L. Radcliffe, president of the Maryland Historical Society, to establish and head the War Records Division for Maryland. Radcliffe, a former U.S. Senator, author, and scholar of Maryland history, had directed the War Records Commission for World War I, a project that began in September 1918 at the request of Maryland Council of Defense and culminated in 1933 with the publication of "Maryland in the World War 1917-1919—Military and Naval Service Records", a text based on the compiled records. Aware of Radcliffe’s excellent leadership of the first War Records Commission, Governor O’Connor believed he was an ideal candidate to direct the project. Radcliffe accepted responsibility for the project but recommended that the Maryland Historical Society’s staff complete the work of documenting Maryland’s role in the war. Governor O’Connor accepted Radcliffe’s proposition and, in 1945, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the Maryland Historical Society to serve as the War Records Commission. Subsequently, the War Records Committee of the Maryland Historical was formed, consisting of Mr. John T. Menzie (committee chairman), Messrs. Gary Black and Roger Brooke Hopkins, the Honorable Howard W. Jackson, Major J. Rieman McIntosh, and MdHS president, George Radcliffe. Dr. Nelson Blassen served as the first director of the project, with Mr. Harold R. Manakee assuming directorship in December 1946 and overseeing it through its completion in 1965.

The project staff began collecting records on June 11, 1945. Over a period of several years, the staff obtained photographs and textual material from Maryland industries and farms, every branch of the military, government agencies (local, state, and federal), civic groups, and relief agencies. In compiling this extensive collection, the staff solicited donations of records and publications from over 900 Maryland firms engaged in war production, military units comprised primarily of Marylanders, military installations within the state, and various government agencies. In addition, the staff conducted personal interviews and collected articles from several Maryland newspapers. The result was a deep, rich collection of material, thoroughly documenting the involvement of Marylanders in the war and the war’s impact on all aspects of life in the state.

Harold Manakee used this collection to publish a four-volume history of the war titled "Maryland in World War II." Volume 1 (1950), titled "Military Participation," describes military installations, unit participation, and distinguished service members. Volume 2 (1951), "Industry and Agriculture," discusses the role of Maryland farmers and industries in supporting the war effort and documents industrial firms in each county. Volume 3 (1958), "Home Front Volunteer Services," describes the activities and contributions of various relief and civilian defense branches throughout the state. "Gold Star Honor Roll" (Vol. 4, 1956) lists the Maryland men and women who died while serving in the armed and auxiliary forces during the war. The Maryland Historical Society also published "Register of Service Personnel," a four-volume register listing the name, rank, branch of service, serial number, and community of each Marylander who served in the military between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946. Both series greatly complement this manuscript collection.