The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc
Preserving Our Past for Your Future

Welcome! The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to collect, preserve, present, promote, and interpret the rich and diverse history of the County area, in its regional context, from its prehistoric origins to the present.

HELP US:  
Donate   
Volunteer Application  
Join Us
Aberdeen B&O Station 
About Us:
Events
Archives
Court Records
Exhibits
Genealogy
Library
Membership
Publications
OUR HISTORY:  
Original Founders/Members
2010 Annual Report
Newsletter Archives
 Our Records
RESEARCH:  
PastPerfect-Online Electronic Card Catalog
African-American
Booth Research Center
County Photographs 
Headquarter's Neighbors 
Tudor Hall
Contents of Web Site
County Photographs
Veterans Remembered
Hays House
FOR SALE:
Books, Bulletins and Photo Prints
Memorials:War or Biographical
Oral History
2013 Bus Trip to Wheatland Mansion
The Hays House Museum
The Hays House Museum, Photographed in July 2008

Old Records
Old Records

War -- The enemy is coming to burn our homes
War -- The enemy is coming to burn our homes

Blacksmth Shop
Old Pictures

Petroglyph
Pre-History and Native American History

Memorials
Memorials

This website is updated very frequently. Please hit "Refresh"

Headquarters,  Photographed in April 2010

Headquarters, Photographed in April 2010

HEADQUARTERS
    For many years the Society moved among a series of temporary sites. In 1990, the Society Headquarters and Archives were located at 33 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, the Archives were to be found at Southampton Middle School, and the Court Records were situated in the "Old Aberdeen High School." Finally, in 1992, the they were moved into the "Old Bel Air Post Office." This lovely, neo-colonial facility is located at 143 North Main Street (at the corner of Main and Gordon Streets). It is the focal point for Society services and activities. Maps & Directions

ACTIVITIES; (Open to public) Summary of 2012 Schedule, PDF
     The Society holds regular dinner meetings, lectures, tours, open houses, classes, and other programs on the heritage of Harford County. Please call for reservations, 410-838-7691. Maps & Directions For more information regarding any event please contact the Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. at 410-838-7691, 410-838-1213, or concert@hayshouse.org

  • Gift Shop at Headquarters, it is open during regular hours of the Society.
  • The Hays House Museum is open March through mid-December, on 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 1 to 4 PM in 2013 and to groups by appointment. Special events are made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland Council for the Arts through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Harford County Government. All events take place at Hays House unless otherwise indicated. Call 410-838-7691. $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for students and seniors. Children under 4 years old & Historical Society of Harford County members are free. Special event admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for students and seniors.
  • Archives and Research Library Open, 10 AM - 2 PM, Fourth Saturday of every month January through October, for other times see below, Headquarters. $4.00 fee for nonmembers.
  • June 9, 2013, Spinning Demonstration, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm. $5 Adults, $3 Students and Seniors; Under 4 free.
  • June 10, 2013, 2013 Bus Trip to Wheatland Mansion Call for details and reservations.
  • June 22, 2013, Yard Sale , Headquarters, 9 am - 3 pm.
  • June 23, 2013, Book Discussion - Ladies of Liberty, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm.
  • July 4, 2013, Independence Day Open House, Patriotic music and tour of the 1788 Hays House. Free. 9 am -12 noon.
  • July 20, 2013, Summer Historical Lecture and Tea, , Headquarters. Reservations required, 2-4 pm.
  • August 16, 2013, Movie Night, , Headquarters, Call for details and reservations.
  • September 8, 2013, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Beekeeping, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm. $5 Adults, $3 Students and Seniors; Under 4 free.
  • September, 2013, Bus Trip, Call for details and reservations.
  • September 22, 2013, Ben Franklin and the Constitution with Interpreter David Fisher, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm. $5 Adults, $3 Students and Seniors; Under 4 free.
  • October 26, 2013, Archer Historical Lecture and Tea, Headquarters, Reservations required, 2-4 pm.
  • November 10, 2013, The Art of Hearth Cooking with Mercy Ingraham, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm. $5 Adults, $3 Students and Seniors; Under 4 free.
  • November 16 through December 15, 2013, Christmas Display at Society, Headquarters.
  • December 1, 2013, Holiday Open House, Hays House Museum, 1-4 pm. Free. Decorations with musical entertainment.
  • December 8, 2013, Colonial Candlelight Christmas Concert, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Bel Air, 4 pm. Musica Antiqua performs on period instruments. Tea in the British tradition follows, Paid Reservations required. Call 410-592-8693 or 410-838-7691.
  • December 14, 2013, Annual Christmas Greens Sale & Open House Plus specially created holiday arrangements, wreaths and swags, Headquarters, 9 am - 3 pm.

For more information regarding any event please contact The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. at 410-838-7691.

 Aberdeen, Maryland B&O Station
Aberdeen, Maryland B&O Station,

Bush Declaration
Bush Declaration

10 people on a swing
Family History, about 1908 thanks to Edward and Betty Neher

Railroad Cannon
Military History
    Past Activities of the Historical Society of Harford County since October 2003

    THE ARCHIVES;  (Open Wednesdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and the 4th Saturday of Month from 10 AM to 2 PM except around holidays)
         A unique aspect of research materials is the more than 250,000 of original source items dating back to the 1600s. These include plats, deeds, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, ledgers, documents, maps, postcards, Booth playbills, newspapers, and legal and business correspondence. Over 7000 photographic images complement the collection. If you need information on your historic home, a home of your ancestors, or a historic house you might buy, come to the Archives for help. All items are preserved in a professional manner and are carefully cataloged and cross-indexed. Skilled attendants are eager to assist researchers. Click for an Overview of Archives Collection. For sample documents click on  Old Licenses or Havre de Grace Harbor, 1837. $4.00 fee for non-members.

    COURT RECORDS;  (Open Tuesdays between 9 AM & 3 PM, except around holidays).
         The Society holds many of the early records of Harford County courts. Records begin about 1774 when Harford County came into existence. Cataloging has proceeded up to about the mid 19th century. The materials are being cataloged and indexed by volunteers for use by researchers. Volunteers hope to eventually have all of the records computerized to assist researchers in finding material for future projects. The records provide background on everything from criminal charges to land transactions, bastardy cases, indentures and emancipation of slaves and servants and more. $4.00 fee for non-members.

    EXHIBITS; (Open anytime the Library, Archives, Family History, or Court Records are open)
         The headquarters building contains a series of exhibits reflective of both county history and the Society's varied collections. Most exhibits change on a regular basis. Native American rock carvings are one of the permanent exhibits.

    FAMILY HISTORY (GENEALOGY);  (Same hours as the Library below)
         The Society is an excellent resource center for family history in Harford County, Maryland and adjacent areas that provides tours of the facility and assistance in locating family records. For details click here: Indices, Files, Family Histories, and Reference Books. If you are a researcher unable to visit our library click on History, Genealogical, & Cemetery Research Services . $4.00 fee for non-members.

    THE HAYS HOUSE MUSEUM;  (2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, 1 to 4 PM except winter break from the mid December until early March)
         The Hays House Museum is located at 324 Kenmore Avenue, near the Bel Air High School, in Bel Air, Maryland. The Hays House was built in 1788 and is the oldest house in Bel Air. The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc., operates the historic house as a museum whose mission is to be a history-in-action museum and a valuable educational resource that illustrates and re-creates to the extent possible the social, cultural, economic, and practical aspects of the daily life of rural gentry primarily during the historical period 1788-1820. The Hays House is open March thru mid-December on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, 1 to 4 PM in 2013 and others days by appointment. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for students and seniors. Children under 4 years old and Historical Society of Harford County members are free. Special event admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for students and seniors. Maps & Directions   For more information regarding any event please contact the Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. at 410-838-7691, 410-838-1213, or concert@hayshouse.org Click here to go to Hays House Web Site

    All Hays House Museum Special Events are sponsored by the Historical Society of Harford County, Inc., and are made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland Council for the Arts through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Harford County Government.

    RESEARCH LIBRARY;  (Open Thursdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and the 4th Saturday of Month from 10 AM to 2 PM except around holidays)
         The Society possesses an extensive collection of print material on Harford County and Maryland history. All materials are cataloged, many are indexed, and attendants are happy to help researchers. Maps, microfilm, newspapers, vertical file materials, and African-American history files are also part of the collection. A team of volunteers is creating PastPerfect digital data bases. A list of some of the more valuable books available can seen at "Book List". If you are interested in research, but unable to visit our library, click on History, Genealogical, & Cemetery Research Services. $4.00 fee for non-members.

    MEMBERSHIP
         The Historical Society of Harford County welcomes individuals, families, and organizations of all backgrounds, ages, and degrees of interest and involvement. The only requisite for membership is a genuine commitment to the county and its people, and the payment of annual dues (a portion of which is tax deductible). The Society encourages all members to become as active as they can. The Society is run mostly by volunteers. Members get the occasional Bulletin, meeting notices, use of the all Society research collections, admission to the Hays House Museum, Headquarters museum, advanced invitations to Society dinners, programs, and activities, and the Newsletter free. See below.
    For Membership Enrollment Form.

    PUBLICATIONS

    • The Harford Historical Bulletin, the Society's illustrated journal, is published a few times a year and mailed free to all members. Back issues of Bulletins are sold through the mail and at the Society Headquarters. Buy Bulletins by mail!      Index to All Bulletins
    • The Newsletter is mailed free to members six times a year, and it contains committee reports, future activities, items of interest and pictures. A new Archives of Newsletters is being established.
    • Special publications, Bulletin's, and books are sold at the Society Headquarters or by mail:  Books for Sale.
    • The 2010 Annual Report is available here on the web, and the back issues of Annual Reports are also available on the About Us page.

Your thoughts, corrections, and suggestions are welcomed at the e-mail address:  HARCHIS@MSN.COM. This website was updated on February 24, 2013. All images and text are copyright from 1996 to the present by The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc., 143 N. Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014; TELEPHONE: (410) 838-7691; E-MAIL:   HARCHIS@MSN.COM. All rights reserved and no use without consent. Designed and written to be an easily accessible, readily updated and restructured website by Elwin C. Penski. Contributors acknowledged on appropriate page or on the Webmaster's Page.

About Us Activities Archives Court Records Exhibits Genealogy Library Membership Publications