Delaware News


Delaware Public Archives Celebrates African American History

Delaware Public Archives | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, February 7, 2024


Photo of Delaware Archivist Steve Marz and the 2024 African American Historical Markers Exhibit

New display shines a spotlight on eighty-nine State of Delaware Historical Markers related to Black History

The Delaware Public Archives has unveiled a new exhibition in its lobby, “Celebrating African American History in The First State” that features every State of Delaware Historical Marker related to Black history and the significance behind them.

“With this display, we honor some oft-overlooked accomplishments of Black Delawareans in every area of endeavor of our state’s history including civil rights, social change, politics, education, the arts, and athletics,” said Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Delaware Public Archives Director. “We hope all Delawareans will join us as we recognize and celebrate the great legacy of Delaware’s rich African American history through our Marker program.”

The State of Delaware Historical Marker Program began in 1931 when the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a permanent commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. These markers celebrate historic significance based on their influence, effect, or impact on the course of history or cultural development in Delaware. Eighty-eight official State of Delaware Historical Markers recognize African American landmarks, milestones, and achievements across the state.

As part of the display, visitors to the Archives can take home a 32-page, full-color booklet which contains locations, photos, and information about each historical marker that is related to Delaware Black history.

Large maps on display of each county and the city of Wilmington gives visitors a visual location of where the markers are physically located, and a video presentation of actual photos of these markers will be shown on the large widescreen monitor.

The Delaware Public Archives is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Dover. The display is free and open to the public until mid-March 2024.

For those unable to personally visit the Delaware Public Archives, an e-book version of “Celebrating African American History in the First State” is available here and also on the agency website at www.Archives.Delaware.gov.

 

Cover of book
Celebrating African American History in Delaware

 

About Delaware Public Archives

As the repository for records of Delaware state and local governments, the Delaware Public Archives contains thousands of documents and other materials that can help with researching one’s genealogical roots. Among these records are census materials, vital statistics including birth, death, and marriage records; tax assessments, probate/estate records, land deeds, and military records.

The Delaware Public Archives also preserves a large amount of genealogically related materials that were of private origin. These records include family histories, bible records, church records, manuscript genealogies, and newspapers.

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Photo attached: Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Director of the Delaware Public Archives and one of the four detailed maps showing the locations of African American-themed markers in Delaware.

 

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Delaware Public Archives Celebrates African American History

Delaware Public Archives | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, February 7, 2024


Photo of Delaware Archivist Steve Marz and the 2024 African American Historical Markers Exhibit

New display shines a spotlight on eighty-nine State of Delaware Historical Markers related to Black History

The Delaware Public Archives has unveiled a new exhibition in its lobby, “Celebrating African American History in The First State” that features every State of Delaware Historical Marker related to Black history and the significance behind them.

“With this display, we honor some oft-overlooked accomplishments of Black Delawareans in every area of endeavor of our state’s history including civil rights, social change, politics, education, the arts, and athletics,” said Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Delaware Public Archives Director. “We hope all Delawareans will join us as we recognize and celebrate the great legacy of Delaware’s rich African American history through our Marker program.”

The State of Delaware Historical Marker Program began in 1931 when the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a permanent commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. These markers celebrate historic significance based on their influence, effect, or impact on the course of history or cultural development in Delaware. Eighty-eight official State of Delaware Historical Markers recognize African American landmarks, milestones, and achievements across the state.

As part of the display, visitors to the Archives can take home a 32-page, full-color booklet which contains locations, photos, and information about each historical marker that is related to Delaware Black history.

Large maps on display of each county and the city of Wilmington gives visitors a visual location of where the markers are physically located, and a video presentation of actual photos of these markers will be shown on the large widescreen monitor.

The Delaware Public Archives is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Dover. The display is free and open to the public until mid-March 2024.

For those unable to personally visit the Delaware Public Archives, an e-book version of “Celebrating African American History in the First State” is available here and also on the agency website at www.Archives.Delaware.gov.

 

Cover of book
Celebrating African American History in Delaware

 

About Delaware Public Archives

As the repository for records of Delaware state and local governments, the Delaware Public Archives contains thousands of documents and other materials that can help with researching one’s genealogical roots. Among these records are census materials, vital statistics including birth, death, and marriage records; tax assessments, probate/estate records, land deeds, and military records.

The Delaware Public Archives also preserves a large amount of genealogically related materials that were of private origin. These records include family histories, bible records, church records, manuscript genealogies, and newspapers.

###

Photo attached: Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Director of the Delaware Public Archives and one of the four detailed maps showing the locations of African American-themed markers in Delaware.

 

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.