Frequently Asked Questions

Visiting our Museum

Can I take pictures in the Gardens?

Yes! We just ask that you remain courteous of other visitors, to not interrupt reserved events, and to be mindful of your volume as there are offices nearby. Tag us in your photos, our Instagram is @talbothistoricalsociety, we would love to see them!

Do you host walking tours of Easton?

As of right now, we are holding walking tours during specific events, and on the 3rd Saturday of every month, April through December. We offer two tours. Our 11 am tour walks you past historically important buildings in downtown Easton and the noon tour focuses on Easton’s rich architecture. To see when our next tours will be please visit our events calendar or follow us on social media.

Exhibits

Do you have any current exhibits?

Yes, our current temporary exhibit is called “Bay From Above” and Talbot County’s changing shoreline through then and now aerial photographs. It is located in the Hill Research Center, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. This exhibit will be up from April to December. Our permanent exhibits in the Mary Jenkins House are also open these same hours, and give an overview of some of Talbot County’s history, as well as featuring some local figures in history.

Can I take pictures in your exhibits?

You may take photographs, but please do not use flash, and be mindful of others around you. We also ask that you only use these photos for personal non-commercial use. If you post your pictures online, tag us @talbothistoricalsociety! We would love to see them.

Can I give a suggestion for an exhibit topic?

If you have any suggestions for exhibit topics, shoot us an email at or , we are always interested in what people want to see!

There was a mistake in your exhibit. Can you fix it?

Please send us an email with the section of our exhibit that this mistake was, and if it was an informational mistake rather than a typo, include a correction to what the proper information should be, as well as the source that you got this information, if possible.

Research Help

Will someone be able to help me with my research when I come in?

Yes, our team of employees and volunteers is able to assist you with your research process. We ask that you call 410-822-1287 or email to set up an appointment to ensure that there will be someone available to assist you.

I am not able to come in person to do my own research. Can I receive research help remotely?

Yes, we are able to provide research assistance to people through email. Please email your question using the Contact Us form, or by emailing . Please keep in mind that we are a small team, so it might take some time for us to answer your request, and as we have a limited collection, it is possible that we do not have the information required for your research. At this time our collections are not available to access online, so any viewing of our files will need to be done onsite.

Can I take a picture of the items/photos that I find during my research?

You may take a picture for personal use, however we ask that you do not sell this photo, publish it, or distribute it for commercial use. If you would like to use a photo for one of these purposes, please email us to make arrangements.

Can I have a photo copy or digital file of a photo from your collection?

Yes, we can provide copies of our photos. A high quality digital copy of one of our photos is $15. A physical print of our photos is $50 for your first photo, and $30 for any additional photo print. To order a photo, or for more information on this process, please email

Do you have information on my family?

It is possible, however, as we are not a genealogical organization, we cannot guarantee that we have information on your family. You are welcome to email us specific questions, or set up an appointment to visit our research library to view our collections. Census records and other genealogical data are kept at the Talbot County Free Library. Other genealogical organizations and resources can be found on our Links page.

Do you have information on the history of my house?

It is possible, though we cannot guarantee that we do, due to incomplete records. You are welcome to email us specific questions, or to schedule a research appointment to view our collections. To expedite your inquiry, please send a current image of your house, as well as the address, and any historical information that you already know. We also recommend search the Maryland Historic Trust’s Inventory of Historic Properties, as they are a reliable source of information.

What books do you have in your research library?

As of right now, we do not have a complete list of our library collection accessible remotely. If there is a specific book or topic you are interested in using for research, send us an email at and we can let you know if we have it in our collection.

Can I borrow books from your library or items from your collection to do my own research at home/work/school?

No, all of our collections are non circulating, and must remain inside our buildings. Please visit the Talbot County Free Library if you are interested in circulating materials, as they also have an extensive Maryland collection.

Are your collections available online to do research?

At this time, our digital catalog is only available on the computers in the Hill Research Center. The library is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm for research. Please email us to set up an appointment.

Do you have any recommendations for further research sources?

On our Links page we have links to other Talbot County museums, online resources for Maryland history, museum organizations, and Maryland county historical societies. If you have a more specific inquiry that we are unable to help you with, we may direct you to other sources.

Membership

How do I become a member?

To become a member please visit our Join/Donate page for more information. Once you have decided what membership level you are interested in, you can send a check to our address listed on the site, or call us to run a credit card payment. We are also able to accept cash, check, or credit card payments in person, and are open Wednesday-Friday from 10-3 and can help you out in our offices.

What benefits do I receive with membership?

Individual membership to the Talbot Historical Society offers a subscription to our digital newsletter, annual members meeting, members only events, lectures, and the pleasure of knowing you are helping to preserve our Talbot County history. Additional benefits are given to our higher levels of membership, and can be viewed on our Join/Donate page.

What does my membership dues contribute to?

Your membership dues contribute to all aspects of the Talbot Historical Society. This includes creating new exhibits, maintaining and preserving items in our collection and buildings on our campus, adding new items to our collection, and hosting events for our membership and the general public. As we do not charge attendance fees for general visits to the museum, our members are essential to the maintenance and existence of our organization.

How long does my membership last?

Your membership payment lasts until the end of the year. Our fiscal year runs from May-April. Current memberships expire April 30, 2023.

When is my membership payment due?

Membership payments can be made at any point during the fiscal year. We recommend sending in your payment earlier into the fiscal year, as your membership ends at the end of the fiscal year, regardless of when you make your payment, and you will not receive membership benefits until your membership has been renewed.

Can I get a refund for my membership?

Unfortunately we do not have a policy for membership refunds. If there has been an error in the membership payment details, please contact us so we can help you sort it out.

How do I change the name/address/email/phone number attached to my account?

To update any of your contact information, please email with your changes. Please include the full name associated with your membership in your email, so we are able to properly identify you in our system.

Donations

How do I donate a photo or object to your collections?

Thank you for your interest in donating! Please visit the Donate to Collections page to see how to make an appointment, and to view our acceptance criteria.

Can I donate a local history book to your library?

Please email us at with the name of the book that you are interested in donating. Due to the limited size of our library we are not accepting duplicate copies of books, or books that are not directly related to Talbot County, but we would be grateful for any contributions of books that are not currently in our collection.

Why wasn’t my donation accepted?

We are a very small organization, with a limited physical storage space, and as such we need to be conscious of the amount of items that we accept. Due to this, your item may not have been accepted if it does not related directly to Talbot County, does not have concrete historic or artistic value, is a duplicate of another object in our collection, is too large, or is too badly damaged. If your objects would fit better in the collections of another organization, we may refer them to you.

Can I make a monetary donation?

Yes, you can either make a donation as part of our Membership or Annual Giving or as a one time contribution. We are able to accept checks (by mail or in person), cash (in person), or credit card (over the phone or in person). The Talbot Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 organization and your gift is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by the IRS.

Where does the money I donate go?

We are very grateful for any financial contribution to our organization, as this support directly funds many of our activity as an organization. This money goes to purchasing new items for our collection, preserving artifacts, maintaining our historic buildings, creating exhibits, and hosting events.

Can I designate where I would like my money to go?

If you would like to designate your donation to a specific project or department of THS, please let us know when you make your donation.

Is my donation tax deductible?

The Talbot Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 organization and your gift is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by the IRS. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request.

Volunteer

How do I volunteer?

For more information on our volunteer opportunities, and to find our volunteer application form, please visit our Volunteer page. We are very thankful for any volunteer interest!

Do I need prior experience to become a volunteer?

No prior experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!

Do you offer internships?

We do not currently have a structured internship program, however we welcome student volunteers, and are happy to work with you to create a volunteer schedule or project that works for internship guidelines. Please email if you have any questions.

Are you able to sign off on service learning hours for high school students?

Yes, we would be happy to sign off on service learning forms.

Is there a minimum age for volunteers?

To volunteer with us you must be 18 years old, or be accompanied by an adult guardian.

I am not able to come volunteer in person. Is there any way that I can help volunteer from my house?

One way you can help us remotely is through our Project Rewind on Facebook. We are looking for help understanding the history behind some of the photos in our collections, by identifying people, locations, or items pictured them. To help with this project, simply visit the Project Rewind album, and see if you are able to answer any of the questions on our pictures. To answer, just leave a comment below the picture. New photos are added every week, so keep checking back.

Events

Can I rent your spaces for events?

The Hill Research Center and the Gardens can be reserved for events. For more information, and to arrange a reservation, please contact us at (410) 822-0773, or email .

What amenities do you have available when renting the Gardens?

If you are renting the Gardens you may use the electricity coming from the Neall House, and the water from the hose faucet in the Gardens. You must provide your own bathrooms, tents, seating, and any other amenities needed for your event.

What events do you have coming up?

To learn more about our upcoming events please visit our Upcoming Events page.

Could I partner with THS for an event?

If you are interested in partnering with THS for an event please email with your request, and the details of your event.

Social Media

Do you have social media pages?

Yes, we are currently active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Can I share your posts on my social media page?

You may share our posts using the “Share” or “Retweet” functions, but we ask that you please do not save and repost our images as your own.

Can I post pictures I took at your museum on my social media page?

Yes, and please tag us @talbothistory, so we can see them! We ask that you only use these photos for personal non-commercial use.