Date Posted: Monday, September 22nd, 2025

During World War II, the New Castle County Workhouse was experiencing a prison guard staffing shortage. Men had left guard positions to go to war or take better-paying positions created during the war effort. On January 2, 1943, the warden of the New Castle County Workhouse, Elwood H. Wilson, placed a want-ad in the morning […]


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Date Posted: Thursday, August 21st, 2025

Following the British army’s defeat at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, many in the American Colonies assumed the Revolutionary War was nearly over. But uncertainty remained. Rumors spread that Britain was preparing a new offensive, one that could once again target the middle colonies. If true, Delaware would once again find itself on the […]


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Date Posted: Monday, August 18th, 2025

The Delaware Public Archives would like to announce that a collection of artwork, books, papers, and photographs from the Bayard Family was recently processed and is now available for public research use. The Bayards are a family from New Castle County, Delaware, with a rich history in the state. Many family members have had successful […]


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Date Posted: Friday, August 15th, 2025

The Accessions Committee met on August 11, 2025, to review all proposed accessions received since the last quarterly meeting. All accepted donations have been pre-processed and assigned to archivists for further processing. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the latest additions to our holdings. New collections created: Existing collections expanded: Books added to […]


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Date Posted: Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

The Accessions Committee met on June 2, 2025, to review all proposed accessions received since the last quarterly meeting. All accepted donations have been pre-processed and assigned to archivists for further processing. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the latest additions to our holdings. New collections created: Existing collections expanded: Books added to […]


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Date Posted: Saturday, June 21st, 2025

Once known as Lewis’ Cross-Roads and later Grog Town, Kenton got its official name in 1806 thanks to local residents’ petition.


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Date Posted: Friday, May 30th, 2025

On May 27, 2025, the Delaware Public Archives welcomed the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory to preserve the 1910 USS Delaware Bell.


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Date Posted: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

On April 29, 2025, the Delaware Public Archives unveiled two new historical markers — unique additions to the state’s long-standing program. DE-1 and DE-2 were specially commissioned by the Archives to commemorate both the institution itself and the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program.


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Date Posted: Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

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


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Date Posted: Friday, February 28th, 2025

The Accessions Committee met on February 11, 2025, to review proposed accessions. New accessions include records from former Senator Robert Voshell, the Cooch Family, and a land survey of the Town of Bowers Beach.


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