The DHS Insider

Welcome to the first edition of DHS Insider, where you’ll get an inside look at some of the innovative and ambitious goings-on at the Delaware Historical Society (DHS) and meet some of the behind-the-scenes folks who make it all happen.

WHATS NEW?

As a reader of DHS Insider, you are among the first to learn the exciting news that Ivan Henderson will soon join the DHS staff as Director of the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage & VP for Programming.

A Wilmington resident, Ivan has nearly two decades of experience in museum education in Delaware and Philadelphia. He has served as the VP for Programming at the African American Museum in Philadelphia where he led the work of the Curatorial Services and Programming teams. Before that, he was the Curator of Education for the University of Delaware museum galleries and has worked with many DHS colleagues and partners at UD in museum studies, art history, African American studies, and history. A graduate of the Bank Street Program in Leadership in Museum Education, he brings substantial connections in Delaware and across the country.

We are delighted to welcome Ivan and look forward to working with him as he joins us in ushering in this new era for the Mitchell Center and DHS.

THE INSIDE SCOOP

National History Day in Delaware will be April 30 at Newark High School. Learn more about NHD here. Want to be a judge? Email us!

We are finalizing a partnership with Neighborhood House in Wilmington that will welcome young people to the George Read House II community garden, where they will learn about urban gardening and take the fruits of their work home to their families.

We’re hiring! We have openings for Museum Interpreters at the Read House & Gardens in Old New Castle and Museum Ambassadors at the Delaware History Museum in Wilmington. If you enjoy working with children, are comfortable speaking in front of groups and have an interest in history and museums, check out Join Our Team - Careers at the Delaware Historical Society (dehistory.org)

DHS’s digital collections are live at digital.dehistory.org! Browse, search, view, and, in most cases, download digitized materials from our collections. See what we have digitized so far and continue to check back as more items are added!

Emily Webb: 19th Century Photographer and Activist

If you missed it, the premier video features the Journey to Freedom exhibition at the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage. Watch it here!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Not only is Stephen Kingsberry our board chair, but he is also a generous donor to DHS. Stephen most recently established a significant endowment in support of the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage. One of the reasons Stephen became involved the DHS board is because of the Mitchell Center and its commitment to the community it serves. His goal as board chair is to open wide the doors of history, marry the past with the present and allow people to benefit in the future.

Stephen invites all those who care about the important work that is happening at the Mitchell Center and DHS to join him by giving whatever amount is meaningful to them.

Stephen Kingsberry

Please Give Now

View the latest issue of Making History!

Congratulations to DHS Director of Education Rebecca Fay for being recognized with the Distinguished Service Award by the Middle States Council for Social Studies! This award is presented to a school, district, institution, community member, or organization that has promoted innovative ideas to support more effective social studies education.

Rebecca, who has been with DHS for more than 10 years, leads the team responsible for the development of creative and innovative DHS educational programs including an array of resources that use technology to bring the multi-faceted history of Delaware into homes and classrooms throughout the state and across the country. She also coordinates National History Day in Delaware which is sponsored by DHS.

to all who contributed to our Do More 24 fundraiser. Generous donors contributed nearly $2,300 to The Read House & Gardens, The Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, and National History Day in Delaware. Each gift, no matter the size, makes a huge difference and is deeply appreciated!

Have a research question?

ASK ED!

Ed Richi makes connections. As the curator of printed materials and research specialist, Ed connects DHS staff and the public with the materials needed for whatever research project they undertake. He credits his 28 years of experience at DHS and his great memory with helping him locate even the most obscure requests for items from our collections.

Ed is known for going the extra mile when helping members of the public find specific items. “I’m a liaison to the library collections, a connector to the sources we have. Our collections are here to be used, and helping people gain access to them just makes my day!” said Ed.

Ed has many favorites among the library collection, but yearbooks, especially those from the 1920’s, hold a special place in his heart. He said, “They are like stepping back in time and authentically convey the spirit of the age. Yearbooks help us see ourselves in people from the past.” Need help with your research project? Ask Ed via email!

STRAIGHT FROM OUR COLLECTIONS

In celebration of Women's History Month...

Not a member of DHS yet? Join now!