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Military Records

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Maryland Indexes Military Discharges

 

Military Discharges

  • The clerk of the circuit court of each county is required by law to keep an indexed record of the discharge papers of any person who:
       1. At any time has served in the armed forces of the United States; and
       2. Presents the discharge papers of the person for recording.
  • Access to military discharges is restricted except:
    1. To a party in a civil, administrative, or criminal proceeding in a federal or state court or government agency, or the party's attorney, who presents evidence satisfactory to the clerk that the inspection is related to admitting the record or a certified copy of the record in evidence in the proceeding; or
    2. To the person in interest, meaning the person that is the subject of the record or their legal representative; or
    3. In accordance with a subpoena or court order; or 
    4. For good cause shown, to a relative of the person who is the subject of the discharge papers, if the request for inspection is made at least 70 years after the discharge papers were presented for recording.

Abbrevations Used for Periodicals:


HT: History Trails (pub. by the Baltimore County Historical Society)
MDG: Maryland and Delaware Genealogist
MGB: Maryland Bulletin (published by Robert Hayes)Abbrevations Used for Periodicals:
HT: History Trails (pub. by the Baltimore County Historical Society)
MDG: Maryland and Delaware Genealogist
MGB: Maryland Bulletin (published by Robert Hayes)
MGSB: Maryland Genealogical Society BulletinAbbrevations Used for Periodicals:
HT: History Trails (pub. by the Baltimore County Historical Society)
MDG: Maryland and Delaware Genealogist
MGB: Maryland Bulletin (published by Robert Hayes)
MGSB: Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin
MHM: Maryland Historical MagazineAbbrevations Used for Periodicals:
HT: History Trails (pub. by the Baltimore County Historical Society)
MDG: Maryland and Delaware Genealogist
MGB: Maryland Bulletin (published by Robert Hayes)
MGSB: Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin
MHM: Maryland Historical Magazine
NB: The Notebook (published by the Baltimore County Genealogical Society)

General Sources

Johnson, Richard B. How to Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military. Fourth Edition, Completely Revised. Fort Sam Houston, TX: Military Information Enterprises, 1991.

Wright, F. Edward. "J. Thomas Scharf Collection: Guardianship, Probate, Military Lists,” MGSB 32 (3) 271-277., Location: REF E-2-3

The Spanish American War

LIBRARY, Roster of the Soldiers and Sailors Who Served in Organizations from Maryland During the Spanish-American War. Compiled under the Authority of the House of Delegates of Maryland: 1901. Repr., REF A-3-4

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Spanish American War Veterans Collection), 2019, MSA SC 6235-1-2
Maryland Spanish and Philippine American War Veterans by Ralph E. Eshelman and A. Douglas Rawlinson (Public access copy in Adobe PDF). This inventory contains Spanish American War burials in Maryland, both private and national cemeteries. In addition, the inventory includes Maryland veterans buried outside of the state. Included in this inventory are veterans of the Spanish American War (February 15, 1898 - December 10, 1898) and the Philippine American War (February 4, 1899 - July 2, 1902)

For more information about Maryland and the Spanish American War, please search our library catalog.

World War I

"A Tribute to the Baltimore Jewish Boys who Participated in the Great War," by A. Alter, The Jewish Times 1 (23) (20 Feb.1920):19-150.

"List of Volunteers in the Polish Army from Baltimore, Maryland...1918," by T. L. Cholochwost, MGS 23 (1) 68-70.

LIBRARY, Maryland in the World War, 1917-1919; Military & Naval Service Records, 8-2-1

For more information about Maryland and World War I, please search our library catalog.

For service records of individuals serving in any branch of the United State Military during the 20th Century, please contact the National Archives.

World War II

American Jews in World War II, Vol. 2. By Isidor Kaufman. New York: Dial Press, 1947.

LIBRARY, Maryland in the World War II: Register of Service Personnel. 5 vols., 8-2-1

For more information about Maryland and World War II, please search our library catalog.

For service records of individuals serving in any branch of the United State Military during the 20th Century, please contact the National Archives.

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