This program will cover the most common records used by genealogists while also exploring lesser-known resources that can be invaluable for those researching their family tree to complete an application for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Some of these overlooked resources include Supply Tax records, Journal A, SAR membership applications, and Oaths of Allegiance.

This First Saturday Program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour. No reservations are required. For more information about this presentation, contact archives@delaware.gov.

Presenter: Joseph Sullivan, joe.sullivan@delaware.gov
Location: Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North, Dover, DE 19901

Come early, grab a seat, and journey back to the 18^th century through the records that helped shape our state’s history!

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit our website at archives.delaware.gov.

DOVER, Del. –

Delaware 250 has announced that middle and high school students across Delaware will have the opportunity this June to take part in a Mock Continental Congress, inspired by the Second Continental Congress that convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1776. On Friday, June 6, fifty middle and high school students from all three counties will gather at Legislative Hall in Dover, where they will engage first-hand with the historical considerations around American independence. Students were nominated by their teachers for participation in the immersive, day-long educational experience.

“This experience will help students engage with historical thinking and civic engagement,” said Margaret Hughes, Director of Delaware 250. “In the summer of 1776, separation from Great Britain wasn’t a foregone conclusion. By putting themselves in the shoes of the members of the Second Continental Congress, students will be able not only to imagine, but to actively participate in history, civil dialogue, parliamentary procedure, and the complex questions around independence.”

Not only will students engage with historical ideas, but they will do so in a space that is central to Delaware’s democratic process. “We are delighted to welcome students into the historic setting of Legislative Hall in Dover,” said Nicole Worthley, Superintendent of First State Heritage Park. “The idea of First State Heritage Park is that it is an ‘urban park without boundaries,’ so we are excited to get middle and high school students not only learning about history but engaging with this significant space.”

The Mock Continental Congress is a partnership between several Delaware organizations: Delaware 250, the state’s official entity marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, 2026; Delaware Historical Society; First State Heritage Park (Delaware State Parks); and Delaware Center for Civics Education at the University of Delaware.

The day will also include presentations by historians Dr. Richard Bell of the University of Maryland and Dr. Emily Sneff, an independent scholar and expert on the Declaration of Independence.

The Mock Continental Congress will take place on Friday, June 6th, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M, at Legislative Hall in Dover. Delaware 250 and First State Heritage Park are available for advance interviews about this event. For inquiries about interviews or media coverage for the event, please email catherine.pierce@delaware.gov.

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About Delaware 250

Delaware 250 is the State’s official entity marking the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence on July 4, 2026. A special project of the Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives, Delaware 250 seeks to reflect on and celebrate the plurality of histories within the First State and the Nation.

About First State Heritage Park

First State Heritage Park, one of Delaware’s 17 state parks, is Delaware’s first “urban park without boundaries.” Located in the downtown Dover area, First State Heritage Park brings together Dover’s museums and historic sites into an all-inclusive visitor experience. Visit Delaware’s current and original capitol buildings, explore the Archives, find your new favorite artist, take a walking tour of the Historic Green, step back in time to the 18^th century and interact with living history interpreters, and learn about the history of recorded sound while listing to original records.

About Delaware Historical Society

The Delaware Historical Society is a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and shares Delaware’s history to educate, inspire, and empower people and communities. The Delaware Historical Society owns and operates the Delaware History Museum, the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, a nationally recognized Research Library, Old Town Hall, and Willingtown Square in downtown Wilmington, and the National Historic Landmark Read House & Gardens located in New Castle. For more information, visit www.dehistory.org.

The Delaware Center for Civics Education

Since 1999, the Delaware Center for Civics Education (DCCE) has provided resources and support for teaching and learning aligned to Delaware’s civics standards so that preservice and professional educators are well-equipped to prepare their students for college, career, and civic life. Services include curriculum and professional development, author events, and special programming in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Education, Department of Elections, and the Department of State to sponsor Delaware student mock elections and an annual civics education summer institute for Delaware teachers. DCCE is an initiative of the Institute for Public Administration, a research and public service center at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

Press Contact:
Catherine Pierce
Catherine.Pierce@delaware.gov
(302) 744-5076

Delaware’s historical markers are getting a makeover. The unveiling ceremony of the new design for the State of Delaware Historic Markers will be held at the Delaware Public Archives on April 29, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

Created by the same forge, the new design will have an enhanced appearance, incorporating the Great State Seal of Delaware. The first two markers in the style featuring the Great State Seal of Delaware will be:

• DE-1 – Delaware Public Archives Building
• DE-2 – The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program.

This event is free to the public and will last approximately one hour. No reservations are required. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact Victoria Mooers at (302) 744-5036 or e-mail victoria.mooers@delaware.gov.

About the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program:

The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program traces its origins to 1929, when Governor C. Douglass Buck appointed a committee to review Delaware’s notable historic sites and develop a way to identify them. In 1931, the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. The markers in each county were numbered sequentially as they were proposed, preceded by NC (New Castle), K (Kent), and S (Sussex) to note the county in which they were located. Since the 1930s, the State of Delaware has erected over 700 markers. The Delaware Public Archives has administered the Historical Markers Program since 1990.

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit the website at archives.delaware.gov.

The Delaware Public Archives has announced that the First Saturday Program will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, featuring the “Come Rain or Shine: Weather at the Delaware Public Archives” presentation.

What: The presentation draws images from the records housed in the Delaware Public Archives and is a profound journey of the relationship between Delawareans and both the blessings and the challenges of its weather.  Beginning with significant and destructive weather events, such as the Blizzard of 1888 and the Hurricane of 1962, the presenter will turn to how Delaware’s climate, often sunny and coastal inviting, has historically attracted tourists, as displayed in the Archives’ collections of vintage postcards.

Delaware’s rapidly changing weather patterns could also be perilous, particularly for those working in the marshes. This presentation will also examine the predictive methods and warning systems developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Finally, the presentation will delve into how the weather shaped the daily lifestyles of the residents of the First State, showcasing deeply personal and insightful records, such as the farming journal from the Frazier collection and the Civil War-era diaries of Sgt. Townsend Downes, Spencer Hitch, and William Cloud Lodge.

The program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour.  No reservations are required.  For more information, contact Joseph Sullivan at (302) 744-5018 or e-mail Joseph.Sullivan@delaware.gov.

Who: Leah Greer, Information Resources Specialist/Archivist, Delaware Public Archives

When: Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North, Dover, Delaware 19904

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit our website at www.archives.delaware.gov.

DOVER, Del. –  Did you know that Delaware’s 57^th Governor would vanish from his desk in favor of fishing in a nearby pond? Or that Delaware’s 60^th Governor would see every Shirley Temple film that came to town? Surely, you’ve heard the 66^th Governor would ride a bicycle to work? Or that the 74^th was a state champion high school quarterback?

“Delaware Governors The Past 100 Years” is an exciting new digital exhibit on display this Spring at the Delaware Public Archives. Profiling each Delaware governor from 1925 to the present, the exhibit offers colorful stories, historical facts, vintage photographs, and a free, full-color booklet to visitors Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“One of the most captivating aspects of this new exhibit is witnessing how these extraordinary individuals shaped Delaware’s current history,” said Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Director of the Delaware Public Archives. “As we explore each Governor, we gain insight into the era they served in. Through their accomplishments, we can trace the unfolding history of The First State.”

Visitors can read and view historical facts about each Governor on four new large state-of-the-art video monitors installed in the Archives.

“These new digital monitors provide a more immersive experience for visitors,” Marz said. “Exhibits like ‘Delaware Governors The Past 100 Years’ bring history to life, enabling us to engage audiences in a way that we hope they find both memorable and meaningful.”

Since 1925, Delaware’s governors have overseen a state that has navigated both economic booms and recessions, transformed itself into a corporate giant, and led in social reforms.

“This exhibit celebrates the men and women who have led Delaware this past century,” Marz said. “From overseeing state government to ensuring the state’s best interests are represented, you can learn much about The First State through its governors.”

You can view and/or download the exhibit booklet here.

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. These records include census materials, vital statistics such as 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 of private origin. These records include family histories, Bible records, church records, manuscript genealogies, and newspapers.

One of the nation’s oldest facilities of its type, the Delaware Public Archives, is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North, Dover, DE 19901, with researchers welcomed by appointments that may be made by calling (302) 744-5000. Our website at archives.delaware.gov also offers access to extensive documents and photographs.