Charles Fithian to present 'A Wooden World Revealed' May 3

The wars on land and sea during the late 18th century were an important part of Atlantic history, and unite the naval and maritime histories of many countries around the world. Consequently, a British warship, the DeBraak, was escorting and protecting a convoy of British and American merchant ships en route to the United States when it capsized and was lost off the Delaware coast May 25, 1798.

Since its discovery in the 1980s, the DeBraak and its nearly 20,000 artifacts have provided an unparalleled opportunity to examine and understand what it meant to be a sailor in the Royal Navy during this critical period.  At 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North in Dover. Charles Fithian, curator of archaeology with the State of Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs Division, will present this special program focusing on the DeBraak’s role in the wider historical context of the times, the archaeological analysis of the artifacts found, and what life was like aboard a ship in the Royal Navy.

Fithian, a resident of Dover, is an historical archaeologist who has directed the research and conservation of the DeBraak and its large associated collection. With a concentration in colonial, military and naval history, Fithian is a graduate of Wesley College and Salisbury University, and has worked for the State of Delaware for more than 27 years. He has also conducted extensive research on 17th century Delaware, the Delaware Regiment during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

The program is free to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, contact Tom Summers, 302-744-5047 or email thomas.summers@state.de.us.

For information about the Delaware Public Archives, visit archives.delaware.gov. Become a follower of the Archives Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives, and read the Archives blog (http://archives.blogs.delaware.gov/) to learn more about events and other items of interest.

The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room of the Delaware Public Archives is open to the public 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.