Delaware Public Archives Blog

Last Saturday’s (Jan. 5) program at the Delaware Public Archives about How to Preserve Your Documents, Photographs, and Digital Memories was extremely well received.  However, a large number of citizens contacted the Archives to say they couldn’t make it to the presentation.  We have attached links to both of the prezi programs presented by Archives staff member […]

If you’ve ever been to the Delaware Public Archives to do genealogical research or to work on that historical novel you’ve been toying with you might have noticed that the materials you’re looking at have been scanned or organized neatly into folders.  This does not happen magically and the documents certainly do not come to […]

Looking for a way to preserve all those holiday photos and videos for future generations to see? On Saturday, January 5 at 10:30 a.m., the Delaware Public Archives will present a program to show how to preserve items such as old photographs, documents, and digitized memories on CDs, DVDs, and flash drives. This workshop will […]

Did you know that it is the 200th anniversary of Return Day? We had some curious folks from New Castle County stop in to see what all the hubbub was about.  They looked at photographs , and at our newspaper clipping file. They also saw the 1811 legislative petitions from each county asking for election […]

On Saturday, November 3 at 10:30 a.m., Nancy Lyons will present a program at the Delaware Public Archives on how to locate and use American passenger arrival records in family research.  This workshop will provide information about finding family members on ship passenger lists and manifests.  These documents are considered critical genealogical resources for those […]

Tis the season for creepy tales and here’s one right from our holdings. This is a statement collected from concerned citizens of the Mispillion Hundred in the 18th century regarding the mistreatment of the skull of a gentleman who had died approximately 15 years earlier. According to this record, the perpetrator dug it up and allowed his […]

It’s been fifty years since four young men from Liverpool, England known collectively as The Beatles walked into a recording studio to record their first single “Love Me Do.”   The Delaware Public Archives (DPA) is celebrating this anniversary with a program about this legendary group who changed the musical and cultural fiber of the 1960s.  […]

Did you know that Monday was “Delaware Day” at the Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland?  Antietam is remembered as the bloodiest one-day battle of the American Civil War and many of the Delaware troops present were involved in some of the most terrible parts of the battle. The Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives, along with […]

Sometimes our researchers ask if I ever get out of the building.  Well the other day I had an occasion to, just not the kind that I like….. An agency called to say they had some moldy books.  I went to take a look and indeed they were moldy.  It’s amazing what 80 percent humidity […]

On Saturday, September 1 at 10:30 a.m., Nancy Lyons will present a program at the Delaware Public Archives on how to use Naturalization papers.  These types of documents can reveal important information about one’s ancestors. Depending on the place and time of naturalization the information contained in them can vary. This workshop will use examples […]