The Maryland Room opened officially on September 17, 1964, having been planned into the overall design for the library by the Architectural firm of Walton and Madden, Mt. Rainier. The decor reflects that of a parlor or library in a Colonial Manor House of the 18th century, and one literally feels as though stepping back in time upon crossing the threshold!

The collection is continuously updated with newly or re-published historical, genealogical, and other materials centered on Maryland or parts thereof. While Prince Georges County and other Maryland counties and cities are most heavily represented, there are historical and genealogical materials for the District of Columbia and Virginia as well.

Within the last two years, the Friends of the Hyattsville Library have and continue to do much to enhance the splendid appearance of the room. A massive reupholstering project was completed in 1999, and new furniture has been added just recently.

Collection Highlights

The Maryland Room Collection includes a large number of non-circulating volumes, as well as microform Maryland Census Data, Wills and Estates, Historical publications, and a small collection of locally based, top-notch fiction. Additionally, the Maryland Room collects several local, genealogical and historical magazines and journals, maintains collections of retrospective City Directories and Telephone Books (see the Directories link), and has an almost complete collection of Maryland Manuals which can be retrieved from storage upon request. Other materials that are kept in storage or are to be found in the periodicals department include a short span of retrospective Government Budgets (State and Prince Georges County), Maryland Geological Survey studies of Maryland Counties and Baltimore City, a complete "run" of the Maryland Archives, Maryland Historical Magazine, and bound volumes of the Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington D.C., from 1897 (volume 1) through 1972.

Among our most frequently used materials are compilations and microforms of original source records, including Census Records, Land records (sporadically published compilations only), Church Records, Birth, Death and Marriage records, some military and many estate records, and more!