Kalmar Nyckel: New Discoveries program set in Dover Jan. 7

Bill Hutchison of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation will present a program at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Delaware Public Archives. He will focus on how the Kalmar Nyckel operated, with special emphasis on navigation of the vessel and firing of the ship's guns. Segments of a new film about the ship will be shown to reveal how these tasks were carried out.

The Kalmar Nyckel arrived in America in 1638 from Sweden, and the settlers aboard founded the colony of New Sweden on the Delaware. This was the first permanent European settlement established in the State of Delaware and in the area that would become the City of Wilmington. New documentary evidence has recently been uncovered about the fate of the Kalmar Nyckel which will be presented at the program.

Hutchison, lead educator emeritus for the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, has served as a volunteer crew member since 2003. A retired educator, he was a social studies teacher and administrator in the Capital School District for 35 years. He was the district's Teacher of the Year in 1989. In addition, Hutchison has been an instructor at Delaware State University, Wilmington University and the University of Delaware. A Vietnam veteran and lifelong resident of Delaware, Hutchison received his bachelor of arts in history from Salisbury University in Maryland and his master of arts in education from the University of Delaware.

The program is free to the public and will last approximately one hour. No reservations are required. For more information, contact Kevin Barni at 302-744-5015 or email Kevin.Barni@state.de.us.