About the
Montgomery County
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The Montgomery County Archives houses the historic, permanent records of Montgomery County, Maryland, government. The Archives is operated by the Montgomery County Historical Society. The Archives is open to the public, by appointment only.
Location: [Return to the top]
Red Brick Courthouse
29 Courthouse Square
Room G-09
Rockville, MD 20850
Directions:
- By car: Access to the Archives is via Jefferson Street (Route 28), directly across from the Rockville Regional Library. From I-270, exit Route 28 eastbound (exit 6), to Rockville. Follow about one mile, to the intersection of Route 28 and Maryland Avenue. The Archives, in the Red Brick Courthouse, will be to your left.
- The Archives is near the Judiciary Center, Executive and County Office Buildings, and the Montgomery County Historical Society. Metered parking is available in the parking garage behind the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue. Some free (1-hour or 2-hour limit) on-street parking is available on S. Washington St. and Vinson St. around the Rockville Library.
- By subway or bus: The Archives is located on the Red Line within walking distance of the Rockville Metrorail Station. Metrobus and Ride On bus lines serving the Rockville station include (east) Q1, Y7, 45, 48, 49, 52, 55, and 59, and (west) T2, Q2, 44, 46, 47, 54, 56, and 63.
Contact Us: [Return to the top]
Effective July 1, 2003, access to the Archives is by appointment only. Contact the Montgomery County Historical Society to arrange an appointment: 301-340-2974 by phone, or 301-340-2871 by FAX.E-mail questions about the Archives may be addressed to
info@montgomeryarchives.org .
ADA Accessibility: [Return to the top]
Montgomery County Archives is wheelchair accessible from the parking lot on Jefferson Street. The Archives is located on the ground floor past the ramp just inside the door. An elevator to the first floor is also available at the Jefferson Street entrance. Restroom facilities for the handicapped are also provided.
What We Do [Return to the top]
Established on July 29, 1985, the Montgomery County Archives serves as the institutional memory of the County's government. The Montgomery County Archives is the repository for all permanent records of historical or evidential value created or received by the County government in the course of its business activities. The Archives
- identifies
- organizes
- preserves
- acquires
- describes
the historic records of the Montgomery County Government.
What Types of Information We Provide
The Archives is a source for historical information about
- the decisions and actions of County government agencies and officials
- the activities and accomplishments of civic leaders and associations which significantly influenced the activities of the County government and its affairs
- the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations in the Washington metropolitan area and the State of Maryland with significant impact on the County's affairs.
What We Have [Return to the top]
Archival records take many formats, such as
- correspondence
- street plans
- oral history audio tapes and transcripts
- subject files
- brochures, pamphlets, and publications
- scrapbooks
- artifacts
- county and departmental budgets
- photographs
- reports
- posters
The holdings of the Montgomery County Archives are non-circulating, and must be used within the Archives' reading room. Material may be photocopied for a nominal fee. For a detailed description of the Archives' holdings, go to our Collections page.
How to Volunteer at the County Archives
Volunteers are vital to the operation of the Archives. Whether or not you know anything about archives, history, government, or the library, you can help us with the many tasks the Archives must undertake to fulfill its mission. You can meet with the archivists to discuss the kinds of projects in which you are interested, and arrange your schedule to suit yourself.
Requirements for Archives volunteers include reliability, responsibility, a minimum education level of junior year in high school, basic computer skills, and an interest in history and your county.