Tag: Delaware

From the Vault: George Washington & George Read II

Step into history on April 3 with a close look at a rare document from the Delaware Historical Society’s collections: George Read II’s 1789 commission as the first U.S. Attorney for the district of Delaware, personally signed by George Washington. Washington appointed Read to the position, and this document is important to understanding Read’s legal career. The commission document was donated to Delaware Historical Society by Anne Cooch Doran and Judge Richard R. Cooch.

Tickets $10 / Free for Delaware Historical Society members. Register here.

Uncover the Past: Transcribing Delaware History

Uncover the past as you help transcribe Delaware history at this community event with Route 9 Library!

This program series, with four dates throughout 2026, gets people involved in transcribing materials from the Delaware Historical Society’s collections. At each program, attendees will get hands-on with local history as they transcribe 2-3 handwritten documents, creating transcriptions that are more readable and accessible for inclusion in our online collection records.

These transcribathons will be hosted at the Route 9 Library in New Castle County from 1-3 p.m. on February 28th, May 16th, August 8th, and October 31st.
*NOTE: The February 28th transcribathon is full. 

Free event. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/transcribing-de-history

Delaware, Voting Rights, and the Political Activism of Mary Church Terrell

To kick off Women’s History Month, join biographer Dr. Alison Parker (University of Delaware) at the Delaware Historical Society on Thursday, March 5 to learn about the voting rights activism of Mary Church Terrell, a civil rights activist, clubwoman, and suffragist.

In 1920, soon after the passage of the 19th Amendment, Mary Church Terrell was threatened with arrest for disorderly conduct when a white railroad ticket agent in Dover, Delaware, realized she was there to give a speech organizing newly enfranchised Black women voters. Terrell denounced this as a first attempt to suppress Black women’s voting rights above the Mason-Dixon line.

Dr. Parker’s talk will place this incident in Dover into the broader historical context of Mary Church Terrell’s advocacy for Black women’s voting rights and participation in partisan politics.

Tickets $5. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/dr-parker-book-talk

Malcolm X Day 2023

In partnership with the Culture Restoration Project, Inc., celebrate Malcolm X’s life and legacy with family-friendly music, student performances, drumming, vendors, free food, and more!

Location: Delaware History Museum and Mitchell Center for African American Heritage 

Date: Friday, May 19, 2023

Time: 5–8pm

FREE EVENT!

In partnership with the Culture Restoration Project, Inc., celebrate Malcolm X’s life and legacy with family-friendly music, student performances, drumming, vendors, free food, and more! The Journey to Freedom and Discover Delaware exhibitions will be open until 6 pm on May 19th!

Learn more about Culture Restoration Project, Inc. https://www.crpde.org/

Me Seminar: Learn about the LGBTQ+ Community 

Join I AM ME for an educational seminar about the LGBTQ+ experience!

In observance of the life and times of James Baldwin, panelists of various identities/orientations will compare the 1930s to the lifestyles of contemporary LGBTQ+ communities. Attendees will also learn the importance of allyship with keynote speaker Senator Kyra Heffner.

Location: Delaware History Museum and Mitchell Center for African American Heritage

Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023

Time: 2–6pm

Event Schedule:

  • 2– 3pm Cocktails
  • 3–5pm Seminar
  • 5–6pm Mingle

To learn more and RSVP, visit https://www.iammecorp.org/events-1/me-seminar-1

 

A Day in Old New Castle

Celebrate A Day in Old New Castle!

The New Castle community is proud to host A Day in Old New Castle, an annual celebration of New Castle heritage and history. A Day in Old New Castle is the country’s oldest open house and garden tour event, with many private residences and gardens open to the public for this special occasion. The Read House is excited to take part this year with free house admission* and all day tours, where we’ll be reflecting on the historical identity of New Castle and the Read Houses’ unique narrative within it.

The Delaware Historic Society is also excited for Family & Community Day, happening May 20th at the Read House & Gardens. In partnership with our friends at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center, the Read House will be hosting family story time in the gardens, alongside the town’s Day in Old New Castle events. Family & Community Day will be free to all who choose to participate, and we welcome families to join in the local festivities around town during their time in New Castle.

For more information, please visit https://www.historicnewcastle.com/

 

*included with admission to A Day in Old New Castle

Jazz Concert: William Penn High School Jazz Performance

Join us for an exciting jazz performance by William Penn High School’s talented jazz bands at the Delaware History Museum and the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage.

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Join us for an exciting jazz performance by William Penn High School’s talented jazz bands at the Delaware History Museum and the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, located at 504 N. Market St. Wilmington, DE 19801. The event will take place on April 8th from 12 PM to 2 PM ET.

Before the concert, take a stroll through our jazz exhibit showcasing Wilmington’s rich history and enjoy light refreshments. The program itinerary is as follows:

  • 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM: Explore the “Journey to Freedom” exhibition and grab some refreshments in the Old Town Hall.
  • 12:45 PM to 1:00 PM: Head to the Copeland Room on the second floor of the museum.
  • 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM: Enjoy the jazz concert featuring William Penn’s Jazz bands!

On-street parking is FREE after 6 PM and on weekends! For more parking information, click here: https://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/plan/maps-directions/parking-in-wilmington/
Please note that seats are limited, and advance registration is strongly encouraged. We suggest a donation of $5 to help us continue providing quality events!

Your generous contributions are greatly appreciated. Please consider making an optional donation to support our events. Thank you!

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Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II

Join us at Route 9 Library and Innovation Center for a historic documentary film screening of Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II with creator and director Professor Gregory S. Cooke and hear the inspiring stories of an untold generation of African-American war heroes. 

Invisible Warriors features real pioneers – the first Black women to work in industry and government administrative service. They are hardworking underdogs of high character who do battle and win. They fled lives as domestics and sharecroppers to empower themselves while working in war production and U.S. government offices. These patriotic pioneers share their wartime memories, recounting their battles against racism at home, Nazism abroad, and sexism everywhere. They represent 600,000 women like themselves who overcame the Great Depression, Jim Crow, sexual degradation, and workplace discrimination to break gender and racial barriers.

For more information, visit https://invisiblewarriorsfilm.com/

Diversity in Latin America

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, join Charito Calvachi-Mateyko for a Diversity in Latin America presentation from the Delaware Humanities’ Speakers Bureau Program. Explore and celebrate the diverse history, anthropology, geography, language, and knowledge of Latin America.

This is an in-person event, free and open to the public. Registration is required.

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Participants will receive a free a copy of Navidad Latinoamericana/Latin American Christmas book/DC packet signed by Charito.

Participants will also join in a Circle of Peace. Circles of Peace are an ancient structure of dialogue among the indigenous people of Latin America. Listen and share about Latino identity, cherished memories of childhood and growing up as a Latinx/Hispanic within the American culture, and stories of being connected to the Latinx/Hispanic community. Cultural exchanges such as this broaden cultural competence and develop social intelligence. This program welcomes people from different walks of life who are interested in experiencing diversity.

Charito Calvachi-Mateyko is a member of the Delaware Humanities Speakers Bureau and Visiting Scholar Programs. After practicing law, she focused on Restorative Justice as a trainer and facilitator. Charito has served on the board of the United Way, AdVoz and YWCA in Lancaster, PA. For nearly two decades she has served on the Delaware Hispanic Commission –for the last decade as Co-Chair and Chair of the Community Social Justice proposing legislation and grassroots outreach. For the last six years, Charito has served on the board of ACLU-DE.

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