Library & Archive

Paul L. Berry Reference Library

Reflecting the museum’s mission, the Paul L. Berry Reference Library specializes in local maritime history, Chesapeake estuarine biology, and paleontology of Southern Maryland. The library contains collections of books, periodicals, newsletters, and microfilm. The museum’s archives contain manuscripts, maps, blueprints, boat plans, tape recordings, commercial ledgers, and historical and contemporary photographs pertaining to the region.

Hours by appointment only:

Mark Wilkins, Curator of Maritime History: (410) 326-2042, ext. 8046, Mark.Wilkins@calvertcountymd.gov

The Paul L. Berry Reference Library is named after a volunteer who dedicated his retirement years to serving his community. After a thirty-six-year career at the Library of Congress, Paul L. Berry volunteered as this museum’s librarian from 1982 until 2013. He built the library into one of the leading maritime and local history research resources in the region, volunteering almost 27,000 hours at the museum in the process. Bugeye Times issue dedicated to Paul L. Berry

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Chestory Virtual Archive

The legacy of Tom Wisner, Maryland's renowned environmental educator, lives on in the Chestory Virtual Archive. A poet, folklorist, artist, singer-song writer, and educator, Wisner spent his life using the arts as a way to bring people together in environmental and cultural conservation efforts.

The Center for the Chesapeake Story (Chestory) Collection is a compilation of documents, artwork, and music amassed by Tom Wisner during his lifetime. He collected, transcribed, and created much of this material to enhance the awareness of the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Today, these materials are archived at the Calvert Marine Museum and the Chestory Virtual Archive is drawn from these holdings. This collection was cataloged and the website created by Concetta Laskey, a Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteer.

This online resource is for students, educators, and anyone else interested in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Chestory Virtual Archive Website offers free, online resources:

  • Effective strategies for adapting lessons to include environmental literacy
  • Easy ways to incorporate strategies from multiple subject areas (art, music, social studies, and more) regardless of your content background
  • Interviews, documents, photographs, and other primary resources
  • Resource information for those doing research in natural and cultural studies
  • Activities and lessons for all content areas tested and reported through the University of Maryland

Click here to visit the Chestory Virtual Archive Website