Southern Maryland Arts & Culture

Southern Maryland Studies Center at the College of Southern Maryland
8730 Mitchell Rd.
P.O. Box 910
La Plata, MD 20646-0910

(see map)


Charles County

Nonprofit
Cultural Organization

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(301) 934-7606
 The Southern Maryland Studies Center (SMSC) is a regional archives repository and research center that seeks to collect, preserve, promote, and make available materials that document the cultural, economic, and political history of the Southern Maryland region.

SMSC was founded by the College of Southern Maryland in 1976 in order to provide a central location for research on this historically important region. Students, historians, genealogists, and community members use the Center's resources to study the culture and development of Charles, Calvert, St. Mary's, and southern areas of Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties.

Visitors will find a variety of research materials, including state and federal census records, newspapers, colonial records, and church records on microfilm to the early 20th century. The manuscript collections contain records of local organizations, individuals, and families from the 18th century to the present and provide insights to the economic, social, and political currents that shaped this region. SMSC's print materials include books, newspapers, photographs, slides, and maps. The oral history collections are comprised of over 400 interviews with individuals from all walks of life.

Please visit our website for more information on the resources available at SMSC and for updates on upcoming events!