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The Lewes Historical Society proudly announces the donation of the personal Delaware and genealogical library - close to 300 volumes - and the archival collection of Helene Carter Potter, a prominent historian, genealogist and Lewes native who passed away in 2004.
Helene Potter’s library and papers will become a part of the society’s collections and will be available for use by students and researchers. The society plans to use it in researching papers articles for its journal and to create richer tours and exhibits for visitors. The collection will also be accessible to researchers and genealogists who visit the society’s library, who call looking for information on a daily basis or who send in one of the hundreds of requests received each year for assistance with any number of Lewes-related questions.
Local historian Hazel Brittingham comes every week and pores over the dozens of boxes of papers and hundreds of books.
Sifting through the seemingly endless stacks dealing with local Lewes history and genealogy, she often finds extraordinarily important pieces of information.
One day she found a folder containing correspondence from Dr. Hiram Rodney Burton (whose house is where the society’s library is located) containing information on local Lewes happenings of the early 20th century.
“This is truly a multitude of information,” Brittingham said. “It shows her willingness to look back into other people’s genealogy. She had a wonderful mind. You have to want to do something like this – Helene wanted to do this research and had an interest in sharing what she had accumulated.”
Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Mike DiPaolo shared her enthusiasm and added, “We were fortunate that the family was willing for us to have these papers and collections. We are excited to continue Helene’s tradition of sharing her knowledge with others.” DiPaolo noted that the collection will complement the society’s strong holdings relating to Lewes, especially local genealogy and information on the Delaware pilots.
The society’s library contains nearly 4,000 volumes dedicated to local and regional history including scrapbooks, daybooks, ledgers and diaries, close to 100,000 photographic images and just under 1,000 feet of archival material.
DiPaolo and volunteers Joe Nagy and Tom O’Hagan have spent many hours cataloging the nearly 300 volumes from Helene’s library and entering them into the society’s library collection, which is part of its internal PastPerfect museum cataloging software. The society’s library holdings are being added to the Delaware library catalog - available online at www.lib.de.us - so it will be searchable from any computer with access to the internet.
According to Hazel Brittingham, Helene contributed works to the Sussex Society for Archaeology and History, the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and others. Volumes from her personal library are filled with marginalia of notes to herself, offering opinions and insights that have been passed on through time. She would contact repositories both near and far, including the Delaware Public Archives.
Russ McCabe, Delaware state archivist, noted, “I met Helene nearly 30 years ago at the beginning of my career when I was a fresh-faced kid and she was one of Delaware history’s ‘reigning experts.’ Though far different in age, our mutual interests resulted in a lasting bond and friendship that I treasure to this day.”
“While she may have been an ‘avocational’ historian,” McCabe continued, “the depth and breadth of her knowledge of the history of our state, Sussex County and Lewes, was as great as any of the academic ‘vocational’ scholars of her day. During the course of my career I consulted her with great frequency, searching for information and seeking her advice. Her number is still in my Rolodex - she was my ‘human Google!’ I was truly honored in later years when she would call me looking for the tidbits of historical trivia that fascinated us both. When successful I was left with the feeling of an eager student who had just presented his teacher with a shiny apple!”
“It should be noted that Helene didn’t just talk the talk,” McCabe said, “but did plenty of walking as well. Her long list of achievements in the area of preserving and recognizing the history of her hometown of Lewes is pretty impressive. Were it not for Helene, there would be a lot less of the rich heritage of Lewes for us to enjoy and appreciate today and in the future. I was truly fortunate to have her as a mentor, and grateful for the opportunity to be her friend.”
McCabe also stated that Delaware is fortunate to have a number of groups and organizations that have taken on the task of documenting and promoting a greater knowledge of the history of the state and its people. “One of the most outstanding and successful of these is the Lewes Historical Society. Over the course of the last several decades,” McCabe noted, “the society has aggressively pursued its mission, using creative methods to bring life to the community’s past - stimulating the interests of residents and visitors alike.
The Lewes Historical Society possesses one of the finest collections of documents, publications and artifacts in the state. “
“Helene Potter’s material so neatly meshes with our collections as well as what we are trying to collect,” DiPaolo said, “it couldn’t have found a better home.”
The Lewes Historical Society is always on the lookout for collections that help document the town’s past. Collections range from a single item to tens of thousands of photographs and everything in between. “Whether it happened yesterday or two hundred years ago, it is our mission to function as the memory of the Lewes community and provide accessible witness to that heritage,” DiPaolo noted. “The Potter collection provides invaluable links to our past.”
For more information about the Lewes Historical Society Library, visit www.historiclewes.org or feel free to visit in person. The library and archives are located in the historic Hiram Rodney Burton House at 110 Shipcarpenter St. in Lewes.
Due to the rare nature of materials, no items circulate.
The library is available by appointment from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Call 302-645-7670 to schedule an appointment.
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