Generally, publications of excerpts of vital statistics from newspapers give lists of names and then merely the issue dates of the papers. That’s all. This compilation, with little editing, quotes the entire article so there is no need to search further for the originals or microfilm copies. Items are arranged alphabetically by the principle subject’s name. The year in which the event occurred is included, and, usually, the day and month are also given. Many of the news items give the district in which the events occurred; sometimes they cross county boundaries, supplying clues to marriages, deaths, and burials of Prince Georgians in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, or other places in Maryland. Often the names of relatives and survivors of the principal subject are given. The authors gleaned their information from twenty-four newspapers; each story is followed by a citation which identifies its source. These accounts of marriage and death make not only interesting reading; they also act as a social commentary on life in rural nineteenth century Prince George’s County. There are stories of duels, murders, lynchings, railroad accidents, fires, falls from horses, drownings, etc. The extraordinary numbers of deaths of babies, children and young people give some insight into the Victorians’ affinity with death. What is striking is the lack of sensationalism. A copy of G. M. Hopkins’ 1878 map of the county shows the locations and names of the political districts.
Shirley V. Baltz and George E. Baltz
(1995), 2011, 5½x8½, paper, alphabetical, 304 pp.
ISBN: 9780788402821
101-B0282
