Lt. General Claire Hutchin papers

The Maryland Historical Society Library received the collection in good condition, but little recognizable order, and thus the archivist has arranged the files into series. Materials within files were left in their original order unless relationships between the items were apparently nonexistent and a better arrangement presented itself. This accounts for varied materials within and across files, and the researcher should broaden his/her search accordingly. As well, a large portion of the collection arrived in no order whatsoever, and was interfiled where appropriate, or used to create new folders. As several files were found with incorrect or unexplainable titles, they were relabeled, giving either greater scope or more detail.

Because the bulk of the collection has the short date range of 1973-1977, the files have been arranged alphabetically by folder title. The exception is the subseries of Annual Reports, which is arranged chronologically.

Series I: Lt. General Claire Hutchin; 1970-1977 (Box 1, 7 folders) This series includes biographical information on Lt. General Claire E. Hutchin, Jr.; those records in the collection not primarily focused on the Commission; and correspondence of Lt. General Hutchin. The bulk of the materials falls between the dates 1973-1977. Subseries 1: Biographical Information; 1970-1977 (Box 1, 5 Folders) This subseries includes short biographies and lists of membership for Lt. General Hutchin, materials relating to Mrs. Hutchin, an award of Lt. General Hutchin, his records of the Association of the US Army and four 8 x 10 photographs of Hutchin, including a portrait. Subseries 2: Correspondence; 1973-1977 (Box 1, 2 Folders) This subseries is divided into general correspondence of Lt. General Hutchin and his correspondence with Louis Goldstein, Comptroller of the Treasury. Of particular interest is a note from Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Some of the materials refer to the Commission.

Series II: Governance; 1968-1977 (Boxes 1-3, 33 Folders) This series focuses on the Maryland Bicentennial Commission and includes materials with an administrative function, reports, personnel materials, planning documents, minutes, and annual reports. The bulk of the material falls between 1971-1977.

Subseries 1: Bylaws; 1968-1977 (Box 1, 4 Folders) This subseries includes the bylaws of the Commission, the legislation of the Maryland General Assembly authorizing and directing the Commission, and other materials that give background information about the Commission, such as a profile of the Commission for the American Bicentennial Revolution Commission (ARBA) and a document titled "Concept, Objectives and Policies."

Subseries 2: Minutes; 1974-1977 (Box 1, 2 Folders) This subseries includes a small collection of minutes and excerpts from minutes of Commission meetings. Most of the documents are from 1974. Subseries 3: Correspondence; 1976-1977 (Box 1, 1 Folder) This subseries contains one folder of correspondence of the Commission. Included in the file are various agenda and minutes found with the correspondence. Researchers are encouraged to also consult the folder titled C. E. Hutchin correspondence.

Subseries 4: Annual Reports; 1969-1976 (Boxes 1-2, 13 Folders) This subseries of Annual Reports is arranged chronologically and contains the reports generated after each fiscal year, as well as some retrospective reports spanning several years, and annual reports from other states. These reports are lengthy and include a great deal of information. Subseries 5: Reports; 1971-1977 (Box 2, 6 Folders) This subseries is arranged alphabetically and contains a report generated by ARBA on the state commissions, monthly and quarterly reports for 1974- 1977, and various reports on Commission programs. Of note is a folder labeled “notebook” that contains various records of the Commission, including apparent lists of who received (or paid for?) various commemorative items.

Subseries 6: Personnel; 1969-1977 (Box 3, 4 Folders) This subseries contains files relating to the staff of the Commission and to the Commissioners. Also included is a folder of the directories and contact lists used by the commission for mailings, etc. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries 7: Plans; 1974-1982 (Box 3, 4 Folders) This subseries contains plans generated to guide the Commission. Of note are the plans for the commission beyond 1976. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series III: Financial Records; 1970-1977 (Boxes 3-4, 19 folders) While this series spans 1970–1977, it is most comprehensive for the fiscal years 1973-1977, for which there are distinct files. Also included in the series are records of the grants that the Maryland Bicentennial Commission received from the American Bicentennial Revolution Commission (ARBA) and then disbursed, budgetary materials, Hutchin’s timesheets and expense account reports, as well as records relating to foundations set up to coordinate with the Commission. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series IV: Bicentennial Programs and Committees; 1966-1977 (Boxes 4-5, 31 folders) This series is arranged alphabetically. The bulk of the material falls between the dates 1973-1977. While much of the records relate specifically to the programs the Commission sponsored and supported, some of the files contain materials that seem to have served as background information. Examples of some of the programs that the commission supported were the Bicentennial Ball, the Bicentennial Bookshelf, Historical Drama, Legislative Biographical Dictionary and the U.S. Frigate Constellation. Also included are the records, as collected by General Hutchin, of organizations that the Commission partnered with, such as the Boy Scouts, the Racial, Ethnic, Native American Advisory Committee and the Bicentennial Council of the 13 Original States, 1974-1976.

Series V: Printed Material; 1947-1977 (Box 5, 6 folders) This series of Printed Material consists of items collected by Lt. General Hutchin. The Press Clippings folder has the longest date range of 1947-1977, but the majority of the series falls between 1973-1976. The Maryland Continental, the newsletter of the Commission, along with the newsletter of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, and assorted press releases, brochures and programs, are the mainstay of the series.

Series VI: Speeches; 1976 (Box 5, 1 folder) This series contains two speeches given by Lt. General Hutchin in his position as Executive Director of the Commission.

Series VII: Commemorative Items; 1973-1974 (Box 5, 2 folders) Series VII contains a January 1974 Commemorative Items Report of the Commission and materials relating to the Official Maryland Bicentennial Medal. The two folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series VIII: Ephemera; undated (Box 5, 2 folders) This series is comprised of two undated folders, arranged alphabetically. The first, containing recipes and the second, materials relating to the official symbol of the Maryland Bicentennial Commission.