Originally written by the Federal Writers Project as part of their classic “American Guide” series, this reprint depicts history, life, travel, and recreation in Delaware as it was in 1938. Including a full-size replica of the original tour map, this comprehensive guide includes art and engravings of various historic locations, dozens of vintage photos, and detailed descriptions of life in Delaware as it was over eighty years ago.

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Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

Delaware’s Coastal Defenses, tells the stories of two of Delaware’s longest-standing coastal forts: Fort Saulsbury, built during the Second World War and used as a prisoner-of-war camp, and Fort Miles, a location that has played a role in our state’s defense since the Revolutionary War, and the men who served and defended our shores.
– by C. W. Warrington

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Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

With an introduction by Heritage Commission Chair Richard Carter, the journals of Reverend Wells provide a unique perspective on life in Sussex County at the turn of the century. Wells’ original journals still exist and can be viewed at the at the Delaware Public Archives.

The Journals of the Reverend Lewis Wheeler Wells, Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and the Photograph Album of Leila Parker Burton Hartnack of Millsboro, Delaware
– by Richard Carter

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Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

George Alfred Townsend, known by his pen-name Gath, was one of Delaware’s most famous writers of the 19th century. Born the son of a Methodist pastor in Georgetown, Townsend would work as a war correspondent during the Civil War, write for several newspapers, and publish several books, both fictional and biographical. Many of Gath’s works remained unpublished after his death and some of his more obscure works remain quite rare. Jerry Shields has created an annotated collection of some of Townsend’s most interesting publications, as well as a brief biography of his fascinating life.

Gath’s Literary Work and Folk and Other Selected Writings of George Alfred Townsend
– by Jerry Shields

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Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

William Hare operated the largest pottery business in Delaware, despite not having a large, industrialized operation. Christopher Espenshade’s study of Hare’s work provides insight into Delaware’s pottery industry, 19th-century changes in pottery products, and the development of the modern city of Wilmington.

William Hare: Master Potter of Wilmington, Delaware, 1839-1885
– by Christopher Espenshade

You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.

Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.