About the Authors

Photographed by James Hefelfinger
MSA SC 1885-613-11-0001

Dr. Carson Gibb

Carson Gibb, and his bike, were long familiar sights at the Maryland State Archives. Gibb held a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and served as a professor at numerous colleges and universities in Maryland before retiring to care for his young daughters. He enthusiastically took up professional genealogy, and would ride his bike to the Archives after putting his daughters on the bus to school. He assisted other researchers as a volunteer, often putting aside his own work to help out patrons.

In 1994, Dr. Gibb approached the Archives about creating a supplement to Skordas' Early Settlers work, having found names in Land Office records that were not included in the publication. The Archives provided technical support, and Dr. Gibb got to work, eager to find other missing names. In 1997, A Supplement to the Early Settlers of Maryland corrected and enlarged Early Settlers, including the addition of over 8,600 people. Among other works, Dr. Gibb published Captain Berry's Will in 2000, bringing a tale of family and betrayal to life. He passed away at his home in Annapolis in May 2007.

Gust Skordas

Much of what we know about Maryland's records is due to Gust Skordas. Skordas arrived at the Maryland Hall of Records in 1937, not long after the agency was established and the original building opened, and he was integral to the development and work of the Archives over the years.

Raised in Annapolis and a graduate of St. John's College, where he played basketball and football, Mr. Skordas served in various roles before retiring as Assistant State Archivist in 1973. Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, his successor, described Skordas as "the heart and soul of the Archives." Skordas contributed to numerous publications of both the Archives and other professional organizations.

His most well known work was Early Settlers of Maryland (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968). This publication made information, previously only available in manuscript indexes housed physically at the Archives, widely available. The 1970 annual report of the Hall of Records noted "For the first time, the statewide colonial wills of the Prerogative Court did not lead in the number of users, its place was taken by the Land Patents…Part of this increased circulation must be attributed to the printed index to the patents prepared by Mr. Skordas...This book has made the Patents readily available to users all over the country." Mr. Skordas spent his retirement years in San Diego, where he passed away in April 2000.