Digitized collections from our archives and links to exhibits and resources to assist researchers, students, educators, and citizens. Please note that some of these links will open external websites such as CONTENTdm, Flickr, and YouTube.

The descriptions of our collections are available via the Delaware Public Archives Portal. Visit the Search Our Collections webpage to learn more.

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Photograph Collections

Board of Education Photograph Collection: Prints and negatives from the Board of Education capturing images of school construction, activities, and events. The photographs in this collection document existing and former school buildings, new school construction, and school activities, including Track and Field, May Day, Future Homemakers of America (FHA), New Homemakers of America (NHA), and Drivers Education, among others. There are images from the 1928 Apple Blossom Festival parade in Dover, capturing rare scenes from the intersection of State St, King’s Highway, and Loockerman St.

Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce Collection: The collection includes photographs of the Port Mahon Lighthouse, Reedy Island Lighthouse, and families from the Port Mahon area.

NEW – De La Warr High School Collection, Photographs: This is a collection of band and choir photographs assumed to be taken for the De La Warr High School yearbooks from 1960 – 1978.

Delaware in WWII Photograph Collection: Governor Walter W. Bacon authorized the Public Archives Commission to collect historical materials that would document Delaware’s participation in World War II. The photographs obtained document the military bases, servicemen, National Guard activities, and various civilian war efforts.

Delaware Public Archives Photograph Collection – Cities & Towns: The Cities and Towns category of the Delaware Public Archives General Photograph Collection consists of 333 photographs of various cities and towns in Delaware. Several of the photos are from the nineteenth century, but a majority were taken during the twentieth century.

Delaware’s Role in WWII Photograph Collection: Photographs collected for use in the book, Delaware’s Role in World War II, written by William H. Conner and Leon deValinger, Jr. It was published by the Public Archives Commission in 1955. The photos include views of the Delaware National Guard, military bases in the state, Delaware servicemen and servicewomen in various theaters of war, and civilian efforts on the home front. These civilian activities include civilian defense, war bond drives, agricultural and industrial production, and selective service. There are three folders of photos not published in the book.

Department of Transportation Photographs: This series documents the improvement of Delaware’s highway system through views of early construction methods and equipment, the construction of the DuPont Highway, before and after views of locations, accidents, road signs, early road conditions, beautification efforts, snow removal, early bridges, and flood damage. The entire collection has over 6,000 images; only select photos have been digitized.

Fort Delaware, Fort DuPont, and Fort Mott Glass Negative Collection: Photographs from the U.S. Corps of Engineers of construction work at Fort Delaware, Fort DuPont, and Fort Mott, New Jersey, before and during the Spanish-American War.

Frank R. Zebley Photograph Collections, Along the Brandywine Photograph Collection: Photographic prints and negatives taken by Frank R. Zebley to illustrate his book Along the Brandywine, published in 1940. Only a fraction of the photographs taken were used as illustrations in the book, yet for nearly every landmark mentioned in the text, there is an accompanying photograph. These unpublished views of the Brandywine comprise the bulk of the Frank R. Zebley Photograph Collections.

Frank R. Zebley Photograph Collections, Churches of Delaware Photograph Collection: Photographic prints and negatives taken by Frank R. Zebley for his book Churches of Delaware, published in 1947. Mr. Zebley was a Wilmington building contractor and State Representative, where he served for a time as Speaker of the House. Most of the photos in this collection do not appear in the published book.

George Fisher Collection: This series of unidentified portraits includes various mounted prints, including carte-de-visites and cabinet cards.

NEW – George R. Lynam, Jr. Collection: This series, primarily created by George R. Lynam Jr., consists of photographs and two postcards documenting the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, with a focus on the locks, bridges, construction activities, and usage of the canal, particularly in the St. Georges, Delaware area, leading up to the completion of the St. George’s Bridge.

H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High School Collection: This subcollection consists of records relating to H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High School in Wilmington, Delaware, which was active from 1938 to 1969, and H. Fletcher Brown Park, which was built following the school’s demolition.

Harold W. T. Purnell Photograph Collection: This General Photograph Collection contains representations of a wide range of subjects and time periods that give an excellent view of Sussex County life. The entire collection has approximately 14,000 images and dates from about 1860 through 1963; only select photos have been digitized.

Historical and Cultural Affairs Photographs: Various photographs collected by the State Museum. Only the thirteen photographs of Civil War soldiers are digitized.

Jackson and Sharp Collection, Photographs: The Jackson and Sharp Company was founded in January 1863 by Job H. Jackson and Jacob F. Sharpe to manufacture railroad cars. The company soon became one of the leading employers in Wilmington and one of the leading car manufacturers in the world. The entire collection is approximately 35 cubic feet; only select photos have been digitized.

NEW – Leitner Family Photograph Collection: Fredonia (Fidonia) H. Leitner was born on August 8, 1876, in Brunswick, Georgia. Born as Nanny Fredonia Hall, Fidonia went by Anna until 1920, when she became an artist alongside her husband, Leander Leitner. This series features photographs and photographic postcards, primarily focusing on pageants created by Fidonia H. Leitner. Many images show scenes and costumes from the Pageant of Peace and the Pageant of Education.

Meyer Keilson Photograph Collection: Keilson was an architect who specialized in stage and motion picture theater design. He took photos of street scenes, historic and public buildings, houses, transportation, and historic markers throughout Delaware during his travels.

Project Delaware Slide Collection: A series of 1420 aerial view color slides documenting the state in 1970.

Richard H. Bailey Collection, Photographs: Delawarean Richard H. Bailey is an award-winning sculptor. This collection consists of three series: Professional Papers, Exhibit Fliers and Advertisements, and Photographs.

Sackett Family, Portraits: The Sacketts were a farming family from the Milton area. This collection contains portraits of Ms. Lillian Sackett’s family; most family members are unidentified.

State Board of Agriculture Glass Negative Collection: The State Board of Agriculture was responsible for the protection and promotion of agriculture in the state. The Board’s staff photographer, Roydon L. Hammond, traveled throughout the state and photographed local scenes, buildings, and agricultural subjects, many of which were later used in promotional publications.

Wicks Family Collection, Photographs: This early twentieth-century photograph collection includes 17 photos of various scenes of Delaware and Maryland.

William B. Walton Collection, Photographs: This collection consists of photographs from several families related to the Walton family, along with the Walton store and house, a P.S. DuPont High School graduating class group portrait, and more.

Wilmington Railway Collection: The Delaware Transportation Collection Photographs consists of eighty-two photographs of trolleys and locomotives in the Wilmington area. Most of the photos are of trolley cars, either on area streets, at the car barn, or at the car garage.

Woodside Glass Negative Collection: Subjects include the train station, a steam train at the station, street scenes, Woodside Methodist Church and the Elizabeth Jarrell store, boating on Derby Pond, baptisms at Derby Pond, women gathering water lilies, a tomato canning factory and a view of the Viola train station.