Lewes Historical Society houses a copy of Delaware Newspaper Project

One of four complete copies of the Delaware Newspaper Project was recently transferred from Delaware Technical Community College to the resource facilities in the Hiram Rodney Burton House in Lewes at The Lewes Historical Society, where a microfilm reader allows for easy accessibility and in-house printing.  In addition to the Delaware Newspaper Project, The Lewes Historical Society also holds editions from two former Lewes newspapers, The Breakwater Light and Delaware Pilot, going back to the 1870s.

Under the United States Newspaper Program, the Delaware Newspaper Project is a cooperative newspaper preservation project consisting of a catalog of Delaware newspapers saved on microfilm.  This catalog holds images of newspapers dating back to the late 1700s from towns throughout Delaware including Bethany Beach, Bridgeville, Claymont, Clayton, Delaware City, Delmar, Dover, Faulkland, Georgetown, Grubbs, Harrington, Holly Oak, Laurel, Middletown, Milford, New Castle, Newark, Odessa, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford, Selbyville, Smyrna, and Wilmington.

Lewes Historical Society volunteer Sally Corbishley has been busy sorting and inventorying the microfilms received from Del Tech.  She moved to Lewes from Chadds Ford, Pa., a little over a year ago.  She was active with the Chadds Ford Historical Society, so when she moved to Lewes, she was excited to join The Lewes Historical Society and get involved as a volunteer.  “I see the importance of the society as an advocate for historic preservation, so I enjoy spending my time helping out,” said Corbishley. “Archiving is right up my alley. I really like organizing and filing the films.”  

“The society is honored to house a copy of the Delaware Newspaper Project,” said Executive Director Mike DiPaolo. “Newspapers serve as windows to what occurred in the past. They are current of the day.”

Plans for digitizing the microfilm are in motion. Researchers will be able to access the newspapers from the society’s website www.HistoricLewes.org.  In the meantime, members of the public are welcome to schedule an appointment to view and/or print portions of the Delaware Newspaper Project.  There is no fee for the utilization or copying of the microfilms, but donations are appreciated. For an appointment or more information, contact The Lewes Historical Society at 302-645-7670. To access a full list of newspapers represented in the Delaware Newspaper Project, visit www2.lib.udel.edu/delnews/list.htm.