(Dover, DE) On Saturday, February 6 at 10:30 a.m., Certified Genealogist Michael Hait will present a program at the Delaware Public Archives focusing on one of the lesser known federal agencies, the Freedman’s Bureau.  The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands operated from the end of the Civil War until 1872 under the U.S. War Department.  During the less than ten years of its existence, the “Freedmen’s Bureau” existed to ease the healing of the nation torn apart by the war. Among its activities, the Bureau aided in the transition of those who had been born in slavery into their new lives as freed people. This program will focus on the types of records created by the Freedmen’s Bureau and how to use these records to identify genealogical information.

Michael Hait is a full-time professional genealogical researcher, writer, and lecturer. He has written case studies for several genealogical journals including the Maryland Genealogical Society Journal, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. In 2012 Hait won 1st prize in the National Genealogical Society Family History Writing Competition for his article “In the Shadow of Rebellions,” exploring descendants of an enslaved woman living in 19th-century Maryland. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

The program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour.  No reservations are required.  For more information, contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail thomas.summers@delaware.gov.

Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North in Dover. The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room is open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. On the second Saturday of every month the research room is open from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

(Dover, DE) Due to the winter storm prediction for the weekend, the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries will be closed on Saturday, January 23, and Sunday, January 24. Weather permitting; the Welcome Center will reopen on Monday, January 25, at 8:00 a.m.  The First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries is located within the Delaware Public Archives building located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North in Dover, Delaware.

The First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries regular hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Free parking is available adjacent to the Delaware Public Archives building.

For more information, contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail thomas.summers@delaware.gov

Due to the winter storm prediction for this coming weekend, the Beginning Italian Genealogy workshop at Delaware Public Archives on Saturday, January 23 has been cancelled.  The program will be rescheduled for a date later this year.  If you have any questions, please contact Tom Summers, (302) 744-5047, thomas.summers@delaware.gov.

Dover – Family Tree Magazine recently named the Delaware Public Archives’ website (archives.delaware.gov) as one of the 75 best state websites for genealogy in 2015.  This designation was made in the December 2015 edition of the magazine and online at:  http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/2015-best-state-genealogy-websites. As stated in the announcement by the magazine:

The increasing digitization of state records has made competition fierce for our annual 75 Best State Websites list. Our final selections this year contain a mix of new additions . . . and several tried-and-true favorites. We love finding aids and instruction, but for this list, we focused on sites that provide actual records, transcriptions or indexes.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Delaware Public Archives has received the award. Family Tree Magazine specifically cited DPA’s Collection Gateway search tool on the website and the easy access to Delaware’s Civil War records, naturalization records, historical maps, and other materials. Stephen M. Marz, Director of Delaware Public Archives and State Archivist, stated “Delaware Public Archives is dedicated to providing the genealogical community, both online and in our research facility, with the records they need to search for their family roots.  We are honored that our digital efforts are being recognized by Family Tree Magazine.”

For more information, contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail thomas.summers@delaware.gov

Dover – The State of Delaware and the Downtown Dover Partnership invite you to attend the Veterans Parade and the dedication of a new monument honoring Delawareans who served in the Wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Handicapped parking for the monument dedication is available directly across the street from Legislative Hall and the Delaware Public Archives parking lot (please enter from Legislative Avenue because MLK Blvd North will be closed for the event). Additional parking is available in the Townsend Building, Tatnall Building and Credit Union parking lots.

For further information:

Dedication Ceremony – Call the Delaware Division of Research at 302-744-4114 or email legislative.council@delaware.gov

Veterans Parade – Call the Downtown Dover Partnership at 302-678-2940 or email info@downtowndoverpartnership.com