Historical Society of Delaware Collection: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Huntington staff in 1979, re-keyed by Brooke M. Black, June
1, 2013.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
© 2013
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Title: Historical Society of Delaware
Collection
Dates (inclusive): 1660-1929
Bulk dates: 1700s
Collection Number: mssDelaware historical society
Extent: Approximately 900 photostat items in 5 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains photostat reproductions of original letters and documents held by the
the Historical Society of Delaware, including state and county records, military
documents, and about 350 letters, mostly from the time of the American Revolution.
The inclusive dates are 1660 to 1929, with an emphasis on the 18th century.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Historical Society of Delaware Collection, The
Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
The photostats were acquired through E. Terry in 1939 from the Historical Society of Delaware.
The originals at the Historical Society of Delaware were gifts of Willard S. Morse in 1923, 1928 and 1929.
The Delaware Historical Society is located in Wilmington, Delaware. It changed its
name in from the Historical Society of Delaware in 2008.
The collection contains photostat reproductions of original letters and documents in
the Historical Society of Delaware, including state and county records, military
documents, and about 350 letters, mostly from the time of the American Revolution.
The inclusive dates are 1660 to 1929, with an emphasis on the 18th century.
Within the correspondence, virtually all the governors and holders of important offices of Delaware are represented. Many
of the letters have to do with
with local government and many concern Delaware's part in the American Revolution. A few have no value beyond autograph-collector
interest
The state records consist of: executive orders by Presidents and Governors of Delaware (1798-1908), court records (1738-1898);
documents and letters of the General Assembly Council and House (1775-1849);
State Treasurer’s papers (1779-1869); and
State Auditor’s papers (1789-1898).
The county records reflect Kent County (1679-1849);
New Castle County (1706-1849); and
Sussex County (1748-1877).
Finally, the military returns (1775-1808) include the Delaware Line of the Continental Army and Delaware Militia.
Notable
authors represented by 4 or more pieces are: James Asheton Bayard (4 pieces), Benjamin Chew (4 pieces),
Joshua Clayton (7 pieces), John Dagworthy (5 pieces), John Dickinson (4 pieces), David Hall (5 pieces), John Jay (4 pieces),
Thomas
Jefferson (6 pieces), Thomas McKean (6 pieces), John McKinly (4 pieces), Allan McLane (4 pieces), Samuel Osgood (4 pieces),
Samuel
Patterson (4 pieces), Timothy Pickering (8 pieces), Edmund Randolph (5 pieces), George Read (4 pieces), Caesar Rodney (9 pieces),
and
Thomas Rodney (7 pieces).
The collection was formerly known as the Delaware State Archives Collection. The name of the collection was changed in 1979.
This material is made up of all photostats in 5 boxes:
- Boxes 1-3: Correspondence (arranged alphabetically)
- Box 4: State and County Records
- Box 5: Military Documents
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Historical Society of
Delaware.
Governors -- Delaware --
Correspondence.
Delaware -- History --
Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources.
Delaware -- History --
Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources.
Delaware -- History --
Sources.
Delaware -- History,
Military.
Delaware --
Militia.
Delaware -- Politics
and government.
United States --
History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources.
United States --
Politics and government -- 18th century -- Sources.
County government records Delaware.
Letters (correspondence) Delaware.
Military records Delaware.
State government records Delaware.
Bayard, James A. (James Asheton),
1767-1815.
Chew, Benjamin, 1722-1810.
Clayton, Joshua, 1744-1798.
Dagworthy, John, 1721-1784.
Dickinson, John, 1732-1808.
Hall, David, 1752-1817.
Jay, John, 1745-1829.
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817.
Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813.
Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829.
Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813.
Read, George, 1733-1798.
Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784.
Rodney, Thomas, 1744-1811.
Photostat facsimiles
Box 1
Correspondence, A-G
Box 2
Correspondence, H-Q
Box 3
Correspondence, R-Y
Box 4
State and County Records
Box 5
Military Documents