Understanding the past can improve your well-being. The past illuminates the path that led to the present, which can help guide decisions moving forward. In this hands-on course, students will dig into the past by learning how to access, use, and interpret a variety of free historical documents such as census records, deeds, and old newspapers. These resources can be used to trace a family history, uncover inspiring stories of people from marginalized groups, or learn about prior owners of a local property in Maryland. Students can come up with a research topic of interest, work on an instructor-suggested project, or simply be inspired as the course progresses.

No experience is needed, but access to a computer is required. Join the adventure and see what you can discover!