Delaware Public Archives Blog

At their 25th annual meeting on May 9, 2023, the Friends of the Delaware Public Archives (FODA) presented Stephen Marz, State Archivist and Director of the Public Archives a financial gift of $2,000 to assist in the digitization costs of several thousand historic acetate and nitrate film negatives. “Digitizing these fragile negatives not only ensures […]

Curious as to what’s new at the Delaware Public Archives? Here is a list of the latest records accepted by the Accessions Committee. These items have been pre-processed and assigned to an archivist for further processing.

Researchers who wish to perform research on site may make an appointment by calling (302) 744-5000 or e-mailing archives@delaware.gov

In 2018, some Records Services Team members conducted a cursory inspection of our microfilm to gauge its condition. Over 50% of the rolls inspected showed signs of deterioration. To address this, the Archives purchased a high-performance Mekel MACH10 Scanner from The Crowley Company. With the scanner and its software, we can now digitize our endangered microfilm rolls. And, in addition to preserving the records, digitizing them allows us to make them available online.

Our first bid to save public records was long said to have been in 1818, but a project to digitize old legislative records just found this earlier proposal, introduced in January 1787, to create a state archive.

The fully searchable and digitized1950 US census records are available online starting April 1st, 2022. Click to learn more and search!

This newly available collection consists of 82 historical photographs of trolleys and locomotives in the Wilmington area. The majority of the photos are of trolley cars, either on area streets, at the car barn, or at the car garage

The Abram H. Draper Collection consists of 34 unique pieces of correspondence, including letters and poetry from Sergeant Abram H. Draper to his wife Anna M. Wiley Draper during the American Civil War.

The Delaware Public Archives is honored to announce the accession of a new collection to their holdings: The Robert Fangman Collection: United Airlines Flight 175 Flight Attendant.

The Delaware Public Archives will service Delaware marriage certificates up to 1970. For marriage certificates from present-day to 1971, please contact the Office of Vital Statistics.