Delaware Archives to offer behind-the-scenes tour April 5

For those who were born, married, or attended public school in Delaware, eventually the Delaware Public Archives will receive the information that documents these important events. At 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 5, the staff of the archives will conduct a tour of this remarkable facility.

This annual behind-the-scenes tour of the building, conducted by Tom Summers, manager of outreach services, offers the public a rare opportunity to learn more about the role of the DPA, and see how it preserves and protects the records that are important to every Delawarean.

Archives Director Stephen M. Marz said, “Many people who have toured the archives are surprised by the amount of documents and photographs that are stored at the facility. Because the Delaware Public Archives serves as the official government repository for state, county and local government records, the archives is well known as a valuable resource for researchers, genealogists, and historians.” Part of the tour will include a viewing of the new display honoring the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision which led to the desegregation of schools in Delaware and throughout the nation. The tour is free to the public. No reservations are required.

A native of Milford, Summers is a 13th generation Delawarean and has been with the Delaware Public Archives for more than 20 years. He has conducted more than 500 tours of the facility since it opened in 2001.

For more information go to archives.delaware.gov. Become a follower of the DPA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives and read the blog at archives.blogs.delaware.gov.

The Delaware Public Archives is at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North in Dover. The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday to Friday. On the second Saturday of every month, the research room is open from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.