Celebrating the "Penman of the Revolution"

The man behind "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies."
Click here for full article, images, and audio version.

December 2017

How the pumpkin became popular

So how did pumpkins become so popular? Click here for full article, images, and audio version.

October 2017

Historic home makes Airbnb debut

On the national register, but you can stay at this historic home! Click here for full article, images, and audio version.

September 2017

Click here for full article, images, and audio version.

August 2017

Szymanski Photos Captured an Era Now Lost

A look at the man behind the Szymanski photo collection. Click here for full article, images, and audio version.

April 2017

Beauty Shop Politics in Wilmington

Inspired by Dr. TIffany Gill's book, "Beauty Shop Politics: African American Women's Activism in the Beauty Industry," Megan Pauly spoke with Wilmington residents about their memories of Delaware's beauty shop industry. Click here for full article, images, and audio version.
March 2017

The evolution of the kosher food industry

Author Roger Horowitz on the kosher controversies surrounding products from Coca-Cola to Jell-O to Oeros. Click here for full article, images, and audio version.
January 2017
Image courtesy of Roger Horowitz

Brandywine Springs Park's hidden past as natural springs resort

Brandywine Springs Park in New Castle County may look like a common park, but it has a rich – and unique - past: as both home to natural springs and an old historic amusement park during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Click here for full article, images, and audio version.
September 2016
 

Wilmington & Western Railroad still chugging along

Railroads have always played an important role in state and national history.  The Wilmington & Western preserves that legacy. Click here for article and images.
August 2016

Shipbuilding industry along the Wilmington riverfront

During the industrial revolution and into the WWII era and beyond, shipbuilding played a key role in the evolution of industry and livelihood in Wilmington. Click here for article and images.
July 2016
 

The orgin of shipbuilding in Sussex County

A look at the history of shipbuilding in southern Delaware and a unique shipbuilding event that keeps the art of wooden shipbuilding alive.
June 2016

Related stories: The Menhaden Fish | The U.S. Lifesaving Service

The story behind board games, and their connection to Delaware

An insiders look at board games from the Delaware Historical Society's collection. May 2016
 

University of Delaware's Women's College and its role in women's suffrage

Conclusion of the two part History Matters on the history of the fight for women’s rights in the First State.  
May 2016

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 by the Delaware Commission for Women with the purpose of recognize the lasting contributions and achievements of Delaware women in a variety of fields.
April 2016

March toward Fort Miles museum continues

An update on the efforts of the Fort Miles Historical Association and their efforts to create a museum at Fort Miles within Cape Henlopen State Park.
February 2016
 

Jewish Historical Society of Delaware

The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware's mission and work.
January 2016

Voices of the Elders

A look at the series of short documentaries about prominent African Americans presented by the Delaware Historical Society's Center for African American Heritage.
December 2015

Brewing beer in Delaware

Explore the roots of Delaware's brewing culture.
October 2015
 

Delaware Historical Society honors Mike Castle and Bryan Stevenson

2015 History Makers Awardees Mike Castle and Bryan Stevenson.
September 2015

Digitizing the Freedmen's Bureau records

Learn about the efforts to digitize the Freedmen's Bureau.
August 2015
 

The evolution of gay rights legislation in Delaware

The continuing story of Delaware legislation and how the history of the LGBTQ community in Rehoboth served as a foundation for gay rights.
August 2015

Second in a two-part series.

Delaware' Gay Beach

A brief history of the LGBTQ community's roots in Rehoboth.
July 2015

First in a two-part series.
 

Delaware's Forgotten Folks - Part 1 / Part 2

A two-part, in-depth look at the Nanticoke Tribe in Delaware.
June 2015

Part 1 | Part 2
 

Colored Conventions

An examination of the University of Delaware's interdisciplinary academic project called Colored Conventions - an effort to digitize the meeting minutes of the nation's first black meetings and conventions that were held between 1830 through post Civil War.
May 2015

Hagley Museum's "Unraveling Stories" exhibit

A spotlight on a hooked rug made by Nancy Dupont Reynolds Cooch in the 1940s as shown during the 2015 "Unraveling Stories" exhibit at Hagley Museum and Library.
March 2015

Wilmington's Southbridge neighborhood

An examination of Southbridge's history and efforts of Southbridge Connects to bring the neighborhood to life today.
 February 2015 
 

Hagley Powder Yard

The Hagley Museum lies on a plot of land on the western bank of The Brandywine River just north of where it intersects with Route 141. A trip back to the 19th century mills.
November 2014

Delaware during World War II exhibit

A visit to the Delaware Public Archives during the "Delaware during World War II" exhibit that was open from July-December, 2014.
July 2015

Wilmington's Little Italy

A look at Wilmington's Little Italy, the home of the annual St. Anthony's Italian Festival.
May 2014

The History of the Delaware Historical Society

See how the Delaware Historical Society came to be, where it is now, and where the organization plans to go in the future.
April 2014

The Thelma Young Collection

Take a look at the life and legacy of Thelma Young, a woman who helped pave the way for women and African Americans in Delaware.
March 2014

Lost DSU catalogs

New insight into Delaware State University's past.
February 2014.

David Sarnoff Library Collection

A look at how one man can impact communication technology through the David Sarnoff collection at Hagley Museum and Library.
January 2014

Delaware's role in African American churches

A visit to the Delaware Historical Society's exhibition (now closed) "Forging Faith, Building Freedom: African American Faith Experiences in Delaware.
November 2013

Visit the online version of "Forging Faith."

Currier and Ives

A visit to an exhibit on the legacy of Currier and Ives (previously) on exhibit at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover.
August 2013

The Rehoboth Art League

A look at the Rehoboth Art League and the historic Peter Marsh House that it occupies.
July 2013

Wilmington's Old Town Hall

Explore the history and the role of Wilmington's Old Town Hall.
June 2013

John Dickinson Plantation

A look at the John Dickinson Plantation, Delaware home of a signer of the United States Constitution.
April 2013
 

State Park back stories

A look into some of the histories of Delaware State Parks - including three man made mill pounds in each county: Lums Pond in New Castle, Killens Pond in Kent, and Trap Pond in Sussex.  Story by Ben Szmidt of Delaware Public Media.
September 2012

A Picture is worth a thousand words

A look at the efforts of Paul Preston Davis and Andy McKay as they connect a Civil War photograph of the First Delaware Regiment color guard to the flags in the Delaware Historical Society archives.
July 2012

Fort Delaware Sketches

A different view of the former Civil War prison as part of the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States; one from those who were actually there.
April 2012

Judy Johnson

The life and legacy of Wilmington baseball great Judy Johnson, who died in 1989.
February 2012

Envelopes and stationary provide unique Civil War Perspective

A look into the Delaware Historical Society's collection of 250 Civil War era envelopes and stationary.
January 2012

History Matters: Christmas Seals - The Legacy of Emily Bissell

The First History Matters focused on a long-standing Christmas tradition: Christmas Seals. The origin of Christmas Seals in the United States traces back to the First State in 1907. That year, Wilmington native Emily Bissell took an idea that had found success in Denmark and brought it to America where it is still raising money for the American Lung Association today.
 December 2011