Collection Development Policy, Maryland History and Culture: Environment/Natural History of the Chesapeake Bay Region [DRAFT]
Historical Background
Maryland is a state that is home to a number of vastly different and unique ecosystems, of which the Chesapeake Bay watershed is but one part. Active environmental groups throughout the state, in addition to scholars, historians, and state agencies, have focused their attention on everything from pollution to conservation to preserving not only scientific aspects of the environment, but historical ones. Local groups, such as the Baltimore Environmental Center and state agencies, such as the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Geological Survey, work together with nonprofit groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, regional groups such as the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and federal bodies, to study, discuss, and work towards a better understanding of Maryland and its environment.
Scope of the Collection
The collection endeavors to document people and organizations involved in promoting and studying the environmental aspects of Maryland , especially the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Materials relating to studies of Maryland biology, entomology, and horticulture are also included.
Subject Concentrations:
- Biology
- Chesapeake Bay
- Entomology
- Geology
- Horticulture
- Legislation
- Meteorology
Manuscript Types:
- Business Records
- Correspondence
- Data
- Field Diaries
- Environmental Organizations (Archives)
- Personal Papers
- Photographs
Published Sources:
- Books
- Legislation
- Newspapers
- Reports
Highlights of the Collection
Highlights of the collection include the Archives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Records of the Department of Horticulture (University of Maryland ), Papers of Romeo Mansueti (Biologist and research professor at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and the University of Maryland. Among Mansueti's papers are files documenting his research on fish migration, bionomics of freshwater and estuarine fish populations, and the taxonomy and ecology of fish eggs. In addition, the Marylandia Collection collects publications relating to Maryland and the environment, as well as relevant Maryland state publications.
Exceptions
We do not actively collect archival and manuscript collections documenting environmental issues in other states or regions throughout the country.
Other Resources
University of Maryland Libraries:
- (Manuscript Collections) Maryland 's Environment, Issues and Organizations ( http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum/rguide/environment.jsp )
- (Published Collections) Gemstone Team: Chesapeake Research and Biological Studies ( http://www.lib.umd.edu/RARE/MarylandCollection/GemstoneChes.html )
- Research Port
- Government Documents?
Others???
