Delaware Archives announces new internet research tool

The Delaware Public Archives has launched an exciting new internet research tool. Known as the Collection Gateway, this new feature searches the databases of 19 different collections in the archives, opening a treasure trove of information for historians, genealogists and all citizens who have an interest in finding Delaware information online.

Among the collections now searchable online are church records, Orphans' Court records, newspapers, maps, coroners' reports, Probates reports and apprentice indentures. The complete list can be found at de.gov/collectiongateway or on the Delaware Public Archives homepage at archives.delaware.gov. Through the Collection Gateway, researchers can explore the wealth of historical resources that are stored at the Delaware Public Archives.

Delaware State Archivist Stephen M. Marz notes, “this is truly a major stride in our effort to provide e-patrons with information about our archival materials that can aid in their search for Delaware genealogy, history, government, and culture.”

The Collection Gateway is designed to allow users to integrate what they find directly, through download, and to share their finds using social media tools. The site allows researchers to publish what they have discovered to their friends via facebook, twitter and e-mail.

There are nearly half a million records currently available online and the Delaware Public Archives will continue to add databases to more collections. The gateway will be updated on a quarterly basis. To make these materials available online, archives staff extracted pertinent elements from each document to make it easy to identify each record. Because not all the information was extracted, the gateway gives only a glimpse into the full record. Once a detail page for the document has been reached, it will be possible to email a request for the full record to the Delaware Public Archives.

With this request, the archives staff can pull the record and send a reply with a link to shop.delaware.gov to purchase a copy. To view the original record, it is strongly recommended that patrons visit the Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Center at the Delaware Public Archives.

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

The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Duke of York St. 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 first Saturday of every month the research room is open from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.