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Historical Society of Delaware Collection: Finding Aid
mssDelaware historical society  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Overview of the Collection
  • Access
  • Administrative Information
  • Biographical Note
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement
  • Indexing Terms

  • Overview of the Collection

    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.

    Access

    Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

    Administrative Information

    Publication Rights

    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.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Historical Society of Delaware Collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Provenance

    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.

    Biographical Note

    The Delaware Historical Society is located in Wilmington, Delaware. It changed its name in from the Historical Society of Delaware in 2008.

    Scope and Content

    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.

    Arrangement

    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

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

    Subjects

    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.

    Forms/Genres

    County government records Delaware.
    Letters (correspondence) Delaware.
    Military records Delaware.
    State government records Delaware.

    Additional Contributors

    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.