On April 1, 2015 the Delaware Public Archives (DPA) was honored by a visit from members of the Delaware Hispanic Commission to help launch the “Behind the Scenes” Spanish speaking tour series. “This ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour in Spanish is one of several Archives’ initiatives recognizing the growing influence of the Hispanic community in the First State’s history and culture,” said State Archivist and Archives Director Stephen M. Marz. In addition, Marz stated that “if you were born, married, or attended public school in Delaware, eventually the Delaware Public Archives will receive the documents that record these important events. With new records coming into the Archives on a weekly basis, it is important that the First State’s Hispanic residents be informed that we are one of the state’s most important resources for historical research and vital statistical information.”

“It is an honor for the members of the Commission to represent all the Hispanic residents at the first ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour in Spanish at the Delaware Public Archives,” said Javier Torrijos, chair of the Delaware Hispanic Commission. “This effort is evidence of the impact of the Hispanic community’s contribution and involvement in programs and services develop by Delaware’s state agencies.”

The tours in Spanish of this remarkable facility offer visitors a rare opportunity to learn more about the role of the DPA, and see how the Archives preserves and protects the records that are important to every Delawarean. Archives’ Director Marz notes that “many people who have toured the Archives are surprised by the amount of documents and photographs that are stored at the facility. Because the Delaware Public Archives serves as the official government repository for state, county and local government records, we are well known as a valuable resource for researchers, genealogists, and historians.” Part of the tour will included a viewing of the new display honoring African American Genealogy research in Delaware. Tours of the Delaware Public Archives are free to the public but reservations are required. Please contact Tom Summers, thomas.summers@delaware.gov, (302) 744-5047, for more information about tours.

When it comes to family history, those books, papers and photographs we all keep stored away do more than just record the past — they connect us with our loved ones and ancestors, and often tell us as much about our present and future as they do about our history.

Join the Delaware Public Archives (DPA) to learn how to preserve these artifacts for future generations. On Saturday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m., the Archives will show you how to properly handle and store your family’s treasures to protect those irreplaceable memories and ensure long term preservation. Archives staff member Sarah Denison, coordinator of the historical markers program, will present information on the preservation of paper documents and photographs and will address digital preservation and changing technology. Managing memories for the future requires careful action and consideration of cost and longevity. This program will highlight some of the cost-effective steps every home archivist can take to preserve their precious family records.
Before taking over the historic markers program, Ms. Denison worked as a processing archivist at DPA and worked on a number of collections, including the Small Manuscript Collection’s Civil War letters; Board of Education photographs; Sussex County Orphans Court Records; the Caley Postcard Collection; and the Vietnam Mailbag Collection. Ms. Denison is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Drexel University in Library and Information Science with concentrations in Archival Studies and Digital Curation.

The workshop 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.

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at http://archives.delaware.gov. Follow us on facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, and the DPA blog.

The 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.

On February 19, 1945, the United States Marines began their attack on Iwo Jima to secure the island in preparation for the invasion of Japan. For the next seven weeks, American forces were involved in a desperate struggle with the Japanese to gain control of the island. On Saturday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m., retired Army Colonel Henry J. Foresman, Jr. will be presenting a program on this key battle at the Delaware Public Archives. While the presentation will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle, it will also focus on the “island hopping” strategy which the American military employed to defeat the Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater.

Henry J. Foresman, Jr. is a retired Colonel in the United States Army, having served 33 years on active duty. He is now Director of the Washington Office of the Third Army and has served in his current position at the Pentagon since May 2012. His responsibilities include the coordination and interaction with Department of Defense and Army Staff and Agencies on behalf of the Commanding General Third Army. Other major responsibilities include the Administration of Office; Budget Management; and Congressional interaction.

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.

For information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at http://archives.delaware.gov. You can also like the Archives Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives), follow the Archives on Twitter (@DEPublicArchive) and read the Archives blog (http://archives.blogs.delaware.gov/) to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives.

The 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.

Nineteenth century African American genealogy is particularly difficult for researchers. On Saturday, February 7, at 10:30 a.m. the Delaware Public Archives will host a special program which will explore this challenging time period for African American genealogy. Presented by Shamele Jordon, the program will focus on a variety of sources and strategies for locating ancestors using federal, county, and organizational records from reconstruction back to the slavery time period. Records to be discussed include Freedmen’s Bureau, Freedman’s Bank, probate records and more.

Shamele Jordon is a researcher, lecturer and podcaster. A researcher for the PBS series, Oprah’s Roots: African American Lives Special and African American Lives II, Jordon has served as president of the African American Genealogy Group in Philadelphia, lectured at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research in Birmingham, Alabama, and been a board member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

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.

For information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at http://archives.delaware.gov. You can also like the Archives Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives), follow the Archives on Twitter (@DEPublicArchive) and read the Archives blog (http://archives.blogs.delaware.gov/) to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives.
The 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.

The Delaware Public Archives (DPA, archives.delaware.gov), an agency of the State of Delaware, is one of the oldest public archives programs in the United States. DPA serves the citizens of Delaware by identifying, collecting, and preserving public records of enduring historical and evidential value; ensuring access to public records for present and future generations; and advising and educating interested parties in the creation, management, use, and preservation of public records.

In 1814 the War of 1812 was entering into its second full year. During the previous year the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware Valley region experienced active naval campaigning and a seaborne blockade. On Saturday, January 3, at 10:30 a.m. historian Charles (Chuck) Fithian will visit the Delaware Public Archives to present a program on this little known period of Delaware history. Delawareans were active participants in these events and directly experienced the effects of naval irregular warfare. In 1814, they would continue to aid in the national defense, and would respond to new threats brought about by this destructive war.

Mr. Fithian, a resident of Dover, is an historical archaeologist who has directed the research and conservation of the DeBraak and its large associated collection. With a concentration in colonial, military and naval history, Fithian is a graduate of Wesley College and Salisbury University, and has recently retired from the State of Delaware after more than 27 years of service. He has also conducted extensive research on 17th century Delaware, the Delaware Regiment during the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.

The program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour.  No reservations are required.  For more information, contact Katelyn Fair (302) 744-5016 or e-mail katelyn.fair@delaware.gov.

For information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at  http://archives.delaware.gov. You can also like the Archives Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives), follow the Archives on Twitter (@DEPublicArchive) and read the Archives blog (http://archives.blogs.delaware.gov/) to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives.

The 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.

The Delaware Public Archives (DPA, archives.delaware.gov), an agency of the State of Delaware, is one of the oldest public archives programs in the United States. DPA serves the citizens of Delaware by identifying, collecting, and preserving public records of enduring historical and evidential value; ensuring access to public records for present and future generations; and advising and educating interested parties in the creation, management, use, and preservation of public records.