Tag: Mitchell Center for African American Heritage

These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle

Join us for an immersive learning experience as we walk through Old New Castle and discuss the history and culture of generations of Black families who lived and worked there.

The 2026 tours expand upon Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers’ research at the Read House on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876.

Tickets $25. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/these-houses-were-homes-2026

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To enhance the enjoyment of all participants, we kindly request that walking tour registrants be at least 12 years old. Please note that the historic neighborhoods in Old New Castle feature uneven walkways that may not be suitable for those needing mobility assistance.

These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle

Join us for an immersive learning experience as we walk through Old New Castle and discuss the history and culture of generations of Black families who lived and worked there.

The 2026 tours expand upon Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers’ research at the Read House on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876.

Tickets $25. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/these-houses-were-homes-2026

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To enhance the enjoyment of all participants, we kindly request that walking tour registrants be at least 12 years old. Please note that the historic neighborhoods in Old New Castle feature uneven walkways that may not be suitable for those needing mobility assistance.

These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle

Join us for an immersive learning experience as we walk through Old New Castle and discuss the history and culture of generations of Black families who lived and worked there.

The 2026 tours expand upon Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers’ research at the Read House on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876.

Tickets $25. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/these-houses-were-homes-2026

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To enhance the enjoyment of all participants, we kindly request that walking tour registrants be at least 12 years old. Please note that the historic neighborhoods in Old New Castle feature uneven walkways that may not be suitable for those needing mobility assistance.

These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle

Join us for an immersive learning experience as we walk through Old New Castle and discuss the history and culture of generations of Black families who lived and worked there.

The 2026 tours expand upon Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers’ research at the Read House on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876.

Tickets $25. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/these-houses-were-homes-2026

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To enhance the enjoyment of all participants, we kindly request that walking tour registrants be at least 12 years old. Please note that the historic neighborhoods in Old New Castle feature uneven walkways that may not be suitable for those needing mobility assistance.

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 August 8th and October 31st. Our first two transcribathons sold out — be sure to save your spot today!

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

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 August 8th and October 31st. Our first two transcribathons sold out — be sure to save your spot today!

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

Restore & Remember: Jason Beach

Bring your memories and memorabilia for a family history workshop highlighting experiences and memories from Jason Beach, as part of the Jason Beach Juneteenth Celebration.

At this event, participants are invited to bring materials from their personal collections that document holidays, family reunions, baptism, and leisure activities at the beach. Photographs and scrapbooks, letters or other paper materials referencing Jason Beach, swimsuits or other clothing like family reunion shirts, games and accessories (i.e. horseshoes, etc.), and cookware items are all welcome.

Experts from cultural heritage organizations, universities, and local history networks will be in the pavilion to help document and catalog these items and their historical meaning to pass on to future generations. While we would take great joy in seeing materials of all sizes, we recommend participants bring items that would fit into an extra-large tote bag.

Event is free with park entrance fee ($5 in state vehicles, $10 out of state vehicles). Pre-registration is requested to ensure appropriate staffing.
Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/restore-remember-jason-beach

 

The Delaware Historical Society’s Restore & Remember: Historic R&R series engages community members to get involved at important sites within Delaware’s Black community while discussing and learning about the history of each place and the people who used it.

A Legacy 75 Years in the Making
For 75 years, Delaware State Parks has been the backdrop for outdoor adventures and lasting memories. Since 1951, the mission has remained constant: to provide safe, enjoyable recreation, protect natural and cultural resources, and connect people to nature. Today, 17 parks and more than 27,000 acres stand ready to inspire generations to come.

These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle

Join us for an immersive learning experience as we walk through Old New Castle and discuss the history and culture of generations of Black families who lived and worked there.

The 2026 tours expand upon Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers’ research at the Read House on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876.

Tickets $25. Register here: https://dhs.givecloud.co/these-houses-were-homes-2026

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To enhance the enjoyment of all participants, we kindly request that walking tour registrants be at least 12 years old. Please note that the historic neighborhoods in Old New Castle feature uneven walkways that may not be suitable for those needing mobility assistance. 

*SOLD OUT* Uncover the Past: Transcribing Delaware History

*Registration for this event is FULL. Please join us for one of our other transcribathons!*

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 May 16th 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