In honor of African American History Month, the Delaware Public Archives will present a special program to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education case on Saturday, February 1, 2014, 10:30 a.m. Following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in the Brown v. Board of Education in May 1954, Milford High School attempted to integrate the following fall with the admittance of eleven African American students. Within a short time, the nation’s media focused on this Delaware town as it suffered through school boycotts and the arrival of a white racist organizer named Bryant Bowles. This program will be presented by Orlando Camp, one of eleven students who attempted to integrate the school and the co-author of “The Milford Eleven,” a book about the journey of these eleven African American students.

Orlando Camp’s education began in integrated school systems in Philadelphia and Swarthmore Pennsylvania. He moved to Milford, Delaware as a young teenager and attended the all-black Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Milford. Camp earned his high school diploma from William Henry Comprehensive High School in Dover. After serving in the United States Army where he received the Outstanding Soldier of the Year award, he continued his education at Delaware County Community College and Temple University. Camp enjoyed a long, successful sales and marketing management career working for Scott Paper Company, Birds Eye Food, Stanson Corporation and the State of Delaware.

In 2009, Camp was selected to be on stage at an event with President-elect Barack Obama in Wilmington, Delaware. He now spends his time working with students with special needs.

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

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.

Link to Event Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/delawaredos/sets/72157638443926803/

(Dover, Del.) – Chief Deputy Secretary of State Rick Geisenberger congratulated fourth grade students from across the state for their participation in the 12th Annual Delaware Day Fourth Grade Competition during the award ceremony celebrated on December 7, 2013 at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.

The awards are named in honor of Delaware’s five signers: Jacob Broom, Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson and George Read. Five awards were given to the schools with the most accurate and creative projects. Honorable mention awards were given to 16 schools for their participation. A total of 22 schools participated in this year’s competition.

“This competition is a fun and interactive way to educate the next generation about Delaware’s role in the development of American government,” said Chief Deputy Secretary of State Geisenberger. “Delaware has a proud heritage as the first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution. It’s important for all young people to learn about our Constitution so they will continue our nation’s  long journey of pursuing justice, opportunity and liberty.”

The winners of the 2013 Delaware Day Fourth Grade Competition are:

• George Read Award: William C. Lewis Elementary School and Brandywine Springs Elementary
• Gunning Bedford, Jr. Award: Brader Elementary School and Gallaher Elementary School
• John Dickinson Award: Booker T. Washington Elementary School
• Richard Bassett Award: Blades Elementary School
• Jacob Broom: Learning Express Academy

Students were given two months to prepare an informative and artistic four panel display on Delaware’s role in its writing and ratifying the U.S. Constitution which may include art work, poetry, songs, or political cartoons. Representatives from the Department of State judged 34 projects focusing on three main areas: accuracy, spelling and creativity.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the adoption of December 7th as Delaware Day. On this day, since 1933, the governors of Delaware have officially recognized when Delaware became the first state to ratify the Federal Constitution in 1787.

For more information visit the Annual Delaware Day Competition webpage or call (302) 736-7400.

Contact: Tammy Stock at (302) 857-3038 or tamara.stock@delaware.gov Delaware Department of State, Chief, Community Relations

With November being the special time of the year to remember our veterans, the State of Delaware will be holding a memorial service at the Gettysburg National Military Park for the Delaware troops who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. One of the most important battles in world history, Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War as the Union victory repulsed the Confederate forces final attempt to invade the north.

Delaware will commemorate its troops on Monday, November 4, with a ceremony at 2:00 p.m. at the site of the 1st Delaware Infantry Monument on Cemetery Ridge. This is the location where the First Delaware Infantry Regiment was stationed during the second and third days of the battle.

To promote participation and attendance for the event, the Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives are sponsoring a coach bus trip to the Gettysburg National Battlefield. There is no fee for the bus and a free tour of the battlefield will be provided.

The bus will leave the Delaware Public Archives on Monday, November 4, at 8:00 a.m. and will arrive at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Visitor Center approximately 11:15 a.m. There will be some time to get lunch and explore the Visitor Center before re-boarding at 12:45 p.m. to receive a tour of the battlefield. At 1:45 p.m., the bus will bring everyone to the site of the 1st Delaware Infantry Monument where the ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m.

One of the features of the ceremony will be the laying of a wreath by the State of Delaware to honor the Delaware soldiers who fought and died at the battle. Other groups will have the opportunity to lay a wreath at the site. Please contact Suzan Voshell, (302) 744-5050, if your group wishes to lay a wreath at the ceremony.

Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the bus will return immediately to Delaware, arriving at the Delaware Public Archives at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Space is limited. All reservations must be made by Friday, November 1. Reserve your seats today! (302) 744-5050.

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at archives.delaware.gov. You can also become a follower of the Archives Facebook page and read the Archives blog 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), 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.

Contact:
Tom Summers
(302) 744-5047 (office)
thomas.summers@delaware.gov

Governor Jack Markell presented the Governor’s Heritage Award to former Delaware Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of State William T. Quillen at a ceremony on Wednesday at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover. The Governor’s Heritage Award is given to those Delawareans who have contributed significantly to the recognition, preservation, and celebration of Delaware’s heritage. Quillen is the ninth person to receive the distinction.

While serving as Secretary of State from 1993-1994, Quillen was the driving force behind the planning of a new Public Archives building, which holds more than 95,000 cubic feet of government records and historical documents.

“When he became Secretary of State, Bill took a special interest in the Archives and what it needed to grow and modernize,” said Governor Markell. “He was determined to help it be the top-notch facility he and others knew it could be.”

On a more local level, Quillen has long been a champion for the preservation and celebration of New Castle’s historic legacy, including as a former Vice President and Director of the New Castle Historical Society.

In addition to his service as Delaware’s Secretary of State, Quillen has held the distinguished posts of Superior Court Judge, Chancellor of the Court of Chancery, and Supreme Court Justice. He has also worked for many years in private law practice, and is currently Of Counsel at the Wilmington office of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He has taught law at Widener University and has written about the history of Delaware’s Court of Chancery, in addition to other academic publications.

Quillen received his BA from Williams College, his LL.B. from Harvard Law School and his LL.M. from University of Virginia School of Law. He was joined at Wednesday’s ceremony by members of his family, as well as current and past colleagues, including Superior Court Resident Judge Richard Cooch, former Secretaries of State Harriet Smith Windsor and Edward J. Freel, and current Chief Deputy Secretary of State Richard Geisenberger.

Photos from this event

Video excerpt of Governor Markell’s remarks

A letter that John Hancock wrote to the Delaware General Assembly in 1776 has been donated to the Delaware Public Archives by Newark resident Robert Barnes who found it in one of the books he purchased at an auction.

Hancock, who was then the President of the Continental Congress, wrote to request that Delaware send more men and supplies before the Battle at Princeton.

Although the document was in pieces, Barnes spotted the familiar signature of John Hancock. As a frequent researcher at the Delaware Public Archives, Barnes contacted the Archives for advice once he realized he had an important part of Delaware history.

“We thank Mr. Barnes for having contacted us after he found the letter,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock. “We will now be able to share this newly-acquired piece of Delaware history with the public.”

The letter, dated December 30, 1776,  was written by Hancock to the Delaware General Assembly during the critical days following Washington’s victory at Trenton. Hancock was requesting Delaware to send more men and supplies because of the “Strength and Progress of the Enemy.” On the reverse side of the letter, Hancock acknowledged the Trenton victory by noting: “I congratulate you on the success of General Washington in the Jerseys.”

“The letter will become a permanent part of our Legislative Papers collection, and we are making plans to make it accessible online in the near future.” said State Archivist and Delaware Public Archives Director Stephen Marz.

“The letter is now where it belongs,” said Barnes.

The document was sent to the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia where it underwent preservation, in preparation for its display at the Public Archives.

The Delaware Public Archives is one of the oldest public archives programs in the country. DPA holds more than 95,000 cubic feet of government records and historical documents. One of the missions of the Archives is to ensure access to public records for present and future generations of Delawareans.