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This past weekend was the spring race for NASCAR at Dover International Speedway.  One might say “What would the archives possibly have on a NASCAR event?”  For starters, we have lots of photographs.  We have great aerial views of Dover Downs from the 1970’s to the 1990’s.  It is incredible to see how the seating […]

We had a group of students come in the other day that was studying early Delaware.  Their assignment was to find interesting tidbits about Delaware.  We sent them to the early court records for each of the counties. They were surprised at what they found. For example, there is a list and description of livestock […]

This Saturday will be the 77th annual Old Dover Days Festival. There will be the traditional Maypole dance, parade, house tours, and many other events. Did you know that Mabel Lloyd Ridgely was one of the founders of Dover Days?  Did you know that the research room was named in honor of her? Mrs. Ridgely had […]

I saw in the newspaper the other day that they are predicting that the mosquitos are going to be really bad this year because of all the water still laying around.  Did you know that we have records of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Mosquito Control?  We have scrapbooks, diaries, ditch drawings, and photographs. Subjects […]

So I was watching TV the other night and happened to catch the new NBC show entitled “Who Do You Think You Are?”. It’s about 7 celebraties who are researching their genealogy. You never know what you may uncover or who you may be related to. Did you know that you can find out more about […]

Has anyone ever told you that you may have American Indian ancestry?  Have you ever wondered how you could find out?  One clue may be your last name.  Each tribe has particular surnames that are associated with them.  Names like Coker, Jackson, Durham, and Norwood to name just a few. There are two recognized American Indian […]

Several items have just returned from being conserved and one of the more interesting ones is an oversize plot for a road from Cowgill’s Corner (south of Smyrna) to the Seaford area.  Completed in 1825, this plot provides a detailed look at one of the period’s main transportation arteries through Kent and Sussex County.  While […]

Have you seen the new nonfiction book entitled “Birthright:  the true story that inspired Kidnapped” by A. Roger Ekirch? The book is set in 1728, when a 12-year old was kidnapped, sold into indentured servitude, and sent to Delaware, so his uncle could keep the property the boy should have inherited.  After 13 years, he […]

Do you ever watch the show Ghost Hunters?  It’s gotten to be a pretty big thing.  We had a group of high school students come in the other day that are big fans of the show and wanted to know if Delaware had any haunted places.  Of course we do! There are numerous stories of […]

A family came in the other day from out of town during one of our winter snowstorms.  They had come to visit relatives and couldn’t believe all the snow we had.  They couldn’t remember it ever being like this on any other family visit and asked if this was normal?  It made them wonder how many […]