(This page's most recent update is
July 2024)
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Institutional records are another class of collections that should be part of one’s genealogy research repertoire. Although most of your ancestors may not have spent time in an institution, I’ll bet that almost every family tree has several that have. So they are worth your effort to research.
Here are a few good primers for searching institutional records:
- FamilySearch – Institution and School Records
- Finding Your Ancestors in Poor House or Poor Farm Records
- Researching Ancestors in Asylums
What kind of institutions and types of records can we discover?
- Poorhouse
- Poor Farm
- Orphanage
- Orphan Train
- Mental Hospital
- Workhouse
- Almshouse
- Institutional School
- Sanitarium
- Asylums
- Correctional institutions
Acquiring records from each of these types of institutions may be difficult because of privacy concerns, but they are worth the effort.
Below you will find free online institutional records you can use to help you discover more about your relatives who have spent time in an institution.
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Maryland Free Online Institutional Records
- Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel County Home Cemetery
- Anne Arundel County, Training School Cemetery AKA Forest Haven Training School Cemetery
- Baltimore City, Bayview Asylum Burial Ground
- Baltimore City, University Medical School, Potters Field
- Baltimore County, Almshouse Cemetery
- Baltimore County, McDonogh Institute Cemetery AKA McDonogh School Cemetery
- Baltimore County, Rosewood State Hospital Cemetery
- Baltimore County, Spring Grove State Hospital Cemetery
- Caroline County, Alms House Cemetery
- Caroline County, Almshouse Ledger
- Carroll County, Identified Residents of Carroll County Alms House (aka County Home), 1853 – 1965
- Carroll County, Springfield State Hospital Cemetery
- Cecil County, Alms House Potters Field
- Dorchester County, Eastern Shore State Hospital Cemetery
- Frederick County, Institution Cemetery
- Harford County, Almshouse Burial Lot
- Maryland, Convicts on the Ship York 1739/1740 Bound to Maryland
- Maryland, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- Montgomery County, Poor Farm Cemetery AKA Almshouse Cemetery
- Prince George’s County, Almshouse of Prince George’s County Maryland
- Prince George’s County, Boy’s Village of Maryland Cemetery
- Prince Georges County, Orphans and Infants, 1696-1750
- Queen Anne’s County, Almshouse at Ruthsburg
- Somerset County, Almshouse Cemetery
- Washington County, Bellevue Asylum Cemetery (Defunct)
- Washington County, Orphans Home Burials,
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!