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In the 1950s, Delaware was one of 17 states that required public schools to separate students by race. This system created deep and measurable inequalities between white and Black students. White schools received more funding, had better facilities, and offered stronger academic programs. In contrast, Black schools often faced neglect, overcrowding, outdated textbooks, and limited […]

During the Revolutionary War, the Delaware Militia played a vital role in defending the state, but their responsibilities went far beyond service on the battlefield. Many officers shouldered the burden of logistics and administration in addition to leading their troops. One such officer documented in our collections is Captain Isaac Carty of Kent County, who […]

Most people try to avoid thinking about death, but for some, it becomes their life’s work. Funeral directors and morticians spend their lives surrounded by death, while also offering comfort to the living. Throughout history, funeral directors have played vital roles in their communities, both in Delaware and across the nation. However, the history of […]

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 […]

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

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

Discover Delaware’s maritime challenges during the American Revolution, where both British and American privateers clashed along its coast. Learn about the Letters of Marque that empowered privateers like Robert Burton and Matthew Aiken to defend or disrupt colonial waters.

In 1796, the members of the General Assembly sent an address to President George Washington, on behalf of the citizens of Delaware, as a tribute of gratitude and homage for his service to the United States. This resolution is available digitally thanks to a grant funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

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!