Delaware Historical Society
The Delaware Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of Delaware and its people. Founded in 1822, it stands as one of the oldest historical societies in the United States and serves as a major repository of archival materials, manuscripts, and artifacts documenting Delaware's cultural, social, political, and economic development from the colonial period through the present day. Headquartered in Wilmington, the organization operates the historic Old Town Hall as a museum and maintains extensive research collections that support scholars, educators, students, and the general public. The Delaware Historical Society's mission encompasses collecting and preserving historical materials, presenting exhibitions and public programs, conducting historical research, and fostering an understanding of Delaware's unique place in American history as one of the original thirteen states and the first to ratify the United States Constitution.
History
The Delaware Historical Society was established in 1822 by prominent Delawareans who recognized the importance of systematically collecting and preserving documents, artifacts, and records related to the state's past. This happened during a period of growing antiquarian interest throughout the United States, when educated citizens and historians began establishing state and local historical societies to safeguard materials that might otherwise be lost to time and neglect. Early members included prominent merchants, lawyers, and civic leaders from Wilmington and surrounding areas who contributed personal collections of documents, letters, and memorabilia to the nascent organization.[1] The society's formation reflected a broader pattern of historical consciousness that emerged in the early American republic, particularly in states with significant colonial heritage and Revolutionary significance.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the organization gradually expanded its collections and influence, establishing itself as the primary institution for historical research and preservation in the state. Members undertook ambitious projects to locate, acquire, and preserve important documents from private collections. These included papers from Delaware's Founding Fathers, colonial correspondence, business records, and family archives. The society also began publishing historical materials and scholarly articles, making its collections more widely available to researchers and the educated public. By the late 1800s, it had secured significant philanthropic support from wealthy Delawareans and had achieved recognition as an essential cultural institution, attracting both regional and national scholars interested in studying Delaware's role in American colonial and revolutionary history.[2]
Collections and Archives
The Delaware Historical Society maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of Delaware historical materials in existence. Thousands of manuscript documents, printed books, maps, photographs, and artifacts span more than three centuries. The organization's manuscript collections include personal papers, business records, letters, diaries, and official documents from colonial Delaware, the Revolutionary era, and subsequent periods of state development. These materials document the lives and activities of significant historical figures, prominent families, merchants, craftspeople, and ordinary citizens, providing rich primary source material for understanding Delaware's social, economic, and political history. Particular strengths in the collection include materials related to the Du Pont family and their industrial enterprises, Wilmington's development as a commercial and industrial center, Delaware's agricultural heritage, and the state's participation in major American historical events.
In recent decades, the photograph and visual materials collection has grown substantially. Daguerreotypes, cabinet cards, stereographs, and twentieth-century photographs document Delaware landscapes, buildings, businesses, and daily life. The organization has undertaken extensive digitization projects to make portions of its collections accessible online, recognizing that broad access to historical materials matters for research, education, and public engagement. It also maintains specialized collections focusing on particular themes and topics, including materials related to Delaware's maritime history, indigenous peoples, African American history, women's history, and immigration. The society's archival professionals continually work to appraise new collections, preserve fragile materials, and catalog holdings according to professional archival standards.
Museum and Exhibitions
The Delaware Historical Society operates Old Town Hall, a historic building located in downtown Wilmington that serves as the organization's primary public museum and exhibition space. This carefully restored structure dates to the nineteenth century and houses rotating and permanent exhibitions that present aspects of Delaware history to diverse audiences including families, students, tourists, and serious researchers. The exhibitions combine artifacts, documents, photographs, multimedia presentations, and scholarly text to engage visitors and convey historical narratives. Thematic exhibitions have explored topics such as Delaware's role in the American Revolution, the state's industrial development, the history of Delaware's African American community, women's contributions to Delaware society, and the evolution of Wilmington as an urban center.[3]
The museum's physical exhibitions complement an active schedule of public programming designed to make history accessible and engaging to varied audiences. Guided tours of Old Town Hall, lectures and presentations by historians and subject matter experts, educational workshops for students and teachers, family programs, and community events celebrate Delaware heritage. The organization has developed educational materials and curriculum resources aligned with state standards to support teachers incorporating Delaware history into classroom instruction. It also hosts special events, book signings by authors addressing Delaware topics, film screenings, and commemorative programs marking significant historical anniversaries and milestones in state and national history.
Research and Public Service
The Delaware Historical Society provides essential research services to scholars, genealogists, students, and members of the general public seeking to investigate specific topics, individuals, or families within Delaware's historical record. Professional librarians and archivists staff the society's research facilities, assisting visitors in locating relevant materials within the extensive collections and providing guidance on historical research methodology and primary source interpretation. The organization's reading room provides comfortable facilities for researchers to examine original documents, manuscripts, and rare books. Many researchers visit seeking to pursue genealogical investigations, looking for family records, vital documents, and biographical information that illuminate their family histories and connections to Delaware communities.
The society has expanded its research accessibility through online catalogs and digital collections, enabling remote researchers to identify relevant materials and in many cases view digitized documents directly through internet connections. This change reflects the organization's commitment to serving diverse constituencies and recognizing that historical research now often occurs in digital environments. The Delaware Historical Society also supports scholarly publication by making its collections available to academic researchers and historians writing books and articles about Delaware topics. In recent years, it's partnered with academic institutions, public libraries, and other cultural organizations to enhance preservation efforts and expand public access to Delaware historical materials.
Educational Mission
Education represents a central component of the Delaware Historical Society's mission. The organization is committed to fostering historical literacy and understanding among young people and adults throughout the state. It develops age-appropriate educational programs for school groups, including guided tours of Old Town Hall, hands-on workshops where students engage directly with historical documents and artifacts, and instructional presentations delivered by society staff members to classrooms. These initiatives help students recognize Delaware's significance in American history and develop critical thinking skills through engagement with primary sources and historical interpretation. Teachers frequently bring classes to the society as part of units on Delaware history, American colonial history, or the Revolutionary War period, utilizing the museum and collections as educational resources.
Beyond direct school programs, the organization contributes to public historical literacy through publications, online resources, lectures, and community events accessible to adults. It publishes scholarly articles in its journal, produces historical monographs and edited collections of primary source documents, and contributes to public understanding through newspaper columns, radio programs, and digital content. Public lectures and symposia presented by the Delaware Historical Society attract engaged learners interested in deepening their historical knowledge and understanding. The organization's commitment to education extends beyond individual learning to encompass community engagement and the development of shared historical understanding that strengthens civic consciousness and social cohesion throughout Delaware.