A Guide to Research in the Historical Society of Delaware Research Library is available on this website and at the library. The library also holds a good collection of genealogical how-to and general reference books, as well as a variety of source material for research along the eastern shore from New England to Virginia. The Historical Society of Delaware Research Library enjoys a close relationship with the Genealogical Society of Delaware . The Historical Society of Delaware's manuscript holdings, containing over 2 million documents, date from the late 17th century to the present and cover many aspects of Delaware history. There are papers from early worthies such as Caesar Rodney and George Read as well as ordinary citizens of every generation.
Collections range in size from over a hundred boxes to a single item.
The manuscript holdings are always growing. The Historical Society of Delaware strives to collect the documents of all Delawareans male and female rich, poor, and in-between New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties all ethnic, racial, and religious groups businesses, personal, and organizational papers. Finding aids are available for many collections, while documents for some subjects can be found in many collections. Please inquire about specific collections, individuals, or topics. The Research Library collects maps including all or part of the state of Delaware from the seventeenth century to the present.