Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution but possibly the last state to settle its boundaries. Delaware has the distinction of the being the only state with a round border and the only state that lies completely east of the Mason-Dixon Line. Roger E. Nathan’s work discusses how Delaware’s territory changed during the […]

When Pete DuPont was elected governor in 1977, Delaware was facing and severe economic downturn, substantial budget deficits, and the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation. Despite these challenges, the DuPont administration would achieve long-lasting solutions to the State’s woes and improve the lives of Delaware’s citizens. Larry Nagengast’s history of the DuPont administration is […]

The month of June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month—a month dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of June 2019, the Caribbean-American population of the U.S. was more than 13 million. “Caribbean Americans have […]

William Hare operated the largest pottery business in Delaware, despite not having a large, industrialized operation. Christopher Espenshade’s study of Hare’s work provides insight into Delaware’s pottery industry, 19th-century changes in pottery products, and the development of the modern city of Wilmington. William Hare: Master Potter of Wilmington, Delaware, 1839-1885 – by Christopher Espenshade   […]

George Alfred Townsend, known by his pen-name Gath, was one of Delaware’s most famous writers of the 19th century. Born the son of a Methodist pastor in Georgetown, Townsend would work as a war correspondent during the Civil War, write for several newspapers, and publish several books, both fictional and biographical. Many of Gath’s works […]

With an introduction by Heritage Commission Chair Richard Carter, the journals of Reverend Wells provide a unique perspective on life in Sussex County at the turn of the century. Wells’ original journals still exist and can be viewed at the at the Delaware Public Archives. The Journals of the Reverend Lewis Wheeler Wells, Rector of […]

Delaware’s Coastal Defenses, tells the stories of two of Delaware’s longest-standing coastal forts: Fort Saulsbury, built during the Second World War and used as a prisoner-of-war camp, and Fort Miles, a location that has played a role in our state’s defense since the Revolutionary War, and the men who served and defended our shores. – […]

Originally written by the Federal Writers Project as part of their classic “American Guide” series, this reprint depicts history, life, travel, and recreation in Delaware as it was in 1938. Including a full-size replica of the original tour map, this comprehensive guide includes art and engravings of various historic locations, dozens of vintage photos, and […]

Piloting, or the navigation of ship, is one of the oldest and most important professions on the North American coast. Traversing unfamiliar shores and unforgiving waters, early American merchant ships heavily relied on skilled pilots to travel safely from port to port. Andrew Knopp’s history, “One Hundred Year History of the Pilot’s Association, Bay and […]

Originally published by the Heritage Commission in 1988, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution, the Delaware Heritage Cookbook is a collection of traditional, Delaware recipes, submitted by families from all over the First State. Now available digitally for the first time, we invite you to join us in celebrating Delaware’s […]

“Reminiscence Of A Town That Thought It Would Be A Metropolis: Delaware City, Delaware” presents reminiscences of the late William O. Wingate, who lived in Delaware City and was born in the last quarter of the the nineteenth century. Wingate’s writings were found in the local collection of the Delaware City Library and provides a […]

This week, the Delaware Heritage Commission is proud to present the first installment in its Oral History series, now available in a digital format. This biographical series tells the stories of some of Delaware’s most notable governors, and we begin this week with Elbert Carvel. Consisting of interviews conducted with the governor between 1976 and […]

This week we continue the Delaware Heritage Commission’s Oral History Series with Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt. Compiled using interviews conducted with Tribbitt and his colleagues, this book details the accomplishments and controversies of the governor’s administration. – by Roger A. Martin   You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.   […]

Continuing our Oral History series, this week’s Heritage Commission’s Book of the Week is, Russell W. Peterson: Governor of Delaware, 1969-1973. A reformer and an energetic leader, you can read for yourself the story of Peterson’s administration in the words of those who made it a success. – by Christopher L. Perry   You can […]

Our Oral History continues this week with its fourth installment: Governor Charles Terry. This volume was written by Ned Davis, Governor Terry’s Press Secretary, and contains a study of Governor Terry and his administration, using oral histories, interviews with members of the administration, and Davis’ personal recollections. – by Ned Davis   You can view […]

Delaware’s history can be found all around us, not only in textbooks, but in the buildings and homes that we live and work in. Our state’s architecture has been influenced by several hundred years of growth, development, and cultural exchange, and many of these historic buildings are still standing in our towns and communities. George […]

In this monograph, Catherine Adams Masek examines the life and times of the Adams family and the farm they’ve lived on for seven generations. In fact, the farm has been continuously operated by the same family since 1862! Including original family photographs, this is an incredible story of family and tradition, through the lens of […]

The Delaware Secretary of State’s Office will be accepting nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award beginning on Monday, September 12, 2022. The award recognizes a gifted, civic-minded young Delawarean who has demonstrated leadership abilities, has a passion for social justice, and is improving the quality of life in their community. “John Lewis was […]

  Wilmington, Del. (October 7, 2022) – At its June 2022 annual board meeting, Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball was named by Mid Atlantic Arts as a new board member for the regional arts organization. Mid Atlantic Arts was established in 1979 to promote and support multi-state arts programming in a region […]

Dover, Del.—Delaware schools, nonprofits, and community organizations are invited to apply for a new round of state grant funds to support financial literacy education for people from all walks of life. Since the state’s Financial Literacy Education Fund (FLEF) was established in 2010, over $2.5 million has been awarded to dozens of organizations across the […]

Funding will link library collections, broaden student access to books and materials DOVER – Students will gain greater access to quality books through school libraries across Delaware with a $1 million state investment announced Tuesday by House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst and officials from the Delaware Library Consortium. The funds, allocated to the Delaware Division […]

Rate increase is one of the largest requested by the utility On December 15, 2022, Delmarva Power filed an application with the Public Service Commission to increase its electric distribution rates by $72.3 million. Pursuant to state law, this increase will become effective on a temporary basis on July 15, 2023, subject to refund, pending […]

Aumento de tarifa es uno de los más grandes solicitados por la empresa El 15 de diciembre de 2022, Delmarva Power presentó una solicitud ante la Comisión de Servicios Públicos para aumentar sus tarifas de distribución eléctrica en $72,3 millones. De conformidad con la ley estatal, este aumento entrará en vigencia de manera temporal el […]

Wilmington, Del. (March 3, 2023) – From a field of twelve Delaware high school students, Maiss Hussein, a junior from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, earned the title of 2023 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held on March 2 at the Smyrna Opera House. The first runner-up was […]

On Wednesday, the Delaware Public Service Commission approved a 23% decrease in Delmarva Power’s natural gas costs, effective April 1st. On Friday, February 24, 2023, Delmarva Power filed an application to amend its Gas Cost Rate (GCR) due to a warmer-than-expected winter and lower-than-forecasted natural gas prices over the past several months. The GCR represents […]

  Statewide, Del. (August 7, 2023) – Mid Atlantic Arts, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, has announced over $102,000 in grants, across five states, through the 2023-2024 Special Presenter Initiatives program. The Special Presenter Initiatives program provides funding to small and mid-size presenting organizations in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto […]

The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2023 Delaware Arts Summit, a momentous gathering of Delaware’s arts community including arts professionals, artists, creative minds, and art enthusiasts. This exciting event will take place on October 8 and 9 at the Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach, Delaware, and promises to be inspirational and enlightening.

The Delaware Secretary of State has begun accepting nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. The award recognizes a gifted, civic-minded young Delawarean who has demonstrated leadership abilities, has a passion for social justice, and is improving the quality of life in their community. “John Lewis was a heroic American who changed the course […]

STATEWIDE, Del. (September 29, 2023) – The 2023 Delaware Arts Summit proudly presents an exceptional lineup of speakers who will inspire and enlighten 200 attendees. This year’s summit, taking place on October 9, promises to be a gathering of visionaries and enthusiasts in the arts and culture sector. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and […]

This holiday season the Delaware Public Archives will present an exhibit “Celebrating Emily Bissell: The Christmas Seal Story.” The exhibit chronicles the beginning of Christmas Seals, and presents historic Christmas Seals, scrap books, photographs and documents related to Ms. Bissell’s efforts to foster public interest and gain support to raise funds to battle tuberculosis.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that Universal Health Services, Inc. (“UHS, Inc.”) and a subsidiary of UHS, Inc., UHS of Delaware, Inc., have agreed to a settlement of which $34,338.73 will go to the Division of Medicaid and Medicaid Assistance (DMMA) within the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). “We expect all […]

A New Castle County grand jury has indicted a New Castle woman for 53 felonies following the alleged murder of an infant and the abuse of four other children at a Bear daycare facility. Dejoynay Ferguson, 20, is alleged to have suffocated a 4-month-old child to death and to have abused that child and four other children between July […]

Suit comes at a time when Delaware response rates are lagging. Attorney General Kathy Jennings has joined a large coalition of attorneys general, cities, counties, and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors in taking legal action against the Trump Administration’s impairment of the 2020 Decennial Census. The coalition filed an amicus brief in National Urban League v. […]

The former Chief of the Fenwick Island Police Department has pleaded guilty to Official Misconduct and Falsifying Business Records. Boyden was indicted in August after knowingly submitting, between February of 2014 and March of 2020, false reports to the Delaware Council on Police Training indicating that he had been certified in firearms.  Boyden was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of […]

DCRPT requested prison time, citing extraordinary breach of public trust A former Wilmington police officer has been sentenced to one year of probation for Official Misconduct after receiving oral sex while on-duty in his patrol vehicle. Thomas R. Oliver, Jr. was charged in February 2019 with Rape Second Degree, Extortion, and Official Misconduct following a […]

Delaware DOJ outlines coordination on Election Protection With Delaware’s general election one week away, Attorney General Kathy Jennings is reminding the public that the Delaware Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement, and the Department of Elections will strictly enforce Delaware’s voter intimidation laws in order to ensure that Delawareans are able to vote […]

In light of a federal child pornography indictment filed in Pennsylvania against former Salesianum School principal William McCandless, the Delaware Department of Justice is reminding the public of a dedicated DOJ hotline and e-mail address for potential victims of abuse to contact . The Department is closely monitoring this matter and asks any potential victims […]

Case settles allegations of past violations affecting thousands of ‘Mr. Cooper’ customers Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that Delaware has joined with 51 attorneys general and other federal and state agencies to reach an $86.3 million settlement with Nationstar Mortgage. Nationstar is the country’s fourth-largest mortgage servicer. The consent judgment resolves allegations that Nationstar, which does business […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement Friday regarding the Thursday night shooting of a Milford police officer: “My thoughts — and those of every person in this Department — are with a Milford police officer who was hospitalized after being wounded during a U.S. Marshals Service operation last night. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive […]

Following a cold case breakthrough, a Wilmington man has pleaded guilty to a 2014 homicide. Shaquille Briscoe, 26, will be sentenced for Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, both Class B felonies. “Our role is to secure justice for victims of crime, their loved ones, and their communities,” said […]

A Lincoln man has been sentenced for the 2018 murder of a 20-year-old. Ahmir Bailey, 22, was convicted in October 2019 of five felonies, including First Degree Murder, and two misdemeanors after an investigation linked him and a codefendant to the shooting death of Jameir Vann-Robinson, of Smyrna. In May 2018, Bailey and a co-defendant, […]

The Delaware Department of Justice Investor Protection Unit is closely monitoring the extreme price volatility of certain stocks and cautioned investors about the risks associated with investing in publicly traded companies that are experiencing volatility. “It can be risky investing in stocks with extreme changes in price over a short period of time. Investors should […]

Recommendations include housing, trauma training, expanding recovery resources in the criminal justice system The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its second annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly. The 18-page report, released Tuesday, details five policy recommendations based on its review of a sample of 130 overdose fatalities […]

Potential victims encouraged to contact (302) 577-5293 or ReportAbuse@delaware.gov   Tyrone Clark, 64, has been sentenced to a total of 125 years for the rape and abuse of a 12-year-old child in his care.  “No crime is more offensive, more heinous, and more dangerous than the sexual abuse of a child,” said Attorney General Jennings. “I’m grateful to […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust announced Tuesday that a grand jury has indicted James MacColl, formerly a corporal of the Wilmington Police Department, on two felonies and one misdemeanor. MacColl, 39, is charged with Providing a False Statement to Law Enforcement, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Official Misconduct for […]

Claims include public nuisance, trespass and unjust enrichment Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings filed a lawsuit Wednesday against agrochemical giant Monsanto and two of its corporate spinoffs for long-lasting damage to Delaware’s natural resources. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages and clean-up costs associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), extremely toxic and persistent chemicals which Monsanto […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement Thursday after the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust secured a jury conviction against a Dover man for two violent felonies.  Originally indicted in October 2020 after removing and pointing a handgun toward others during a counter-protest, Michael Hastings was convicted today of Reckless Endangering 1st […]

Today we lost one of the most remarkable women our State has ever known: former Governor Ruth Ann Minner. By the time Ruth Ann Minner broke her second glass ceiling as Governor — she was also our first female Lt. Governor — she had already recorded decades of public service. From the House of Representatives […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has convicted former Wilmington City Council President Theopalis Gregory for Official Misconduct. “This conviction affirms that our state will not tolerate abusing public office and enriching oneself at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Delawareans deserve integrity and, […]

Defendant banned from law enforcement, required to undergo treatment Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has reached a pre-indictment plea agreement with a former Dover police officer who experienced an opioid overdose in his patrol vehicle and later tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana. “This […]