Repositories and Libraries in Kent County Delaware
Contents
Delaware Public Archives
Dover Public Library
Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Kent County Recorder of Deeds
Kent County Register of Wills
Smyrna Public Library
Other Kent County Repositories
Delaware Public Archives
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Delaware Public Archives 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., North Dover, DE 19901 Tel: (302) 744-5000 Fax: (302) 739-6710 Email: archives@state.de.us Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Delaware Public Archives
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Delaware Public Archives (DPA) is the central repository for all non-current records of the State, its counties and municipalities.
The DPA houses over 40,000 cubic feet of government and historical documents, maps and newspapers. Most records date from statehood
beginning in 1776, but DPA also has documents from the Swedish colonial period 1638-55; the Dutch settlement 1655-64; the
Duke of York regime 1664-82 and the Penn Proprietorship 1682-1776. DPA has an extensive card catalog of births, marriages,
marriage bonds and deaths from various sources, and they have a large collection of Delaware genealogical and historical books.
Collections are continuously upgraded. To view seldom used items, contact DPA before you go as they are not always accessible. Manuscripts The DPA has papers and correspondence of for example George Read, Caesar Rodney, John Clayton; the Ridgely papers and the John Dickinson Collection. Private Accounts Collection includes business records of farmers, craftsmen, storekeepers and professional men dating from the 18th century. DPA also has manuscript genealogies donated by private individuals such as J. B. Turner, Walter Tatnall, and Millard Hudson and others. View a complete list on the DPA website. Municipal Records DPA has minutes, ordinances, resolutions, accounts, reports and correspondence of many Delaware towns including Dover, Frederica, Georgetown, Lewes, Magnolia, Viola and Wilmington. Microfilm Holdings Over 10,000 self-service microfilms. Most probates, deeds, tax records, newspapers, federal censuses plus selected indentures, court and church records. |
Useful Links on the Delaware Public Archives Website
| Content | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Images | www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/exhibits | |
| Probates | www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/collections/probate.htm | Probate case file statewide index (1680-1925) has some entries not in the pre-1800 books listed in the Probate Books table below. |
| Naturalizations | www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/collections/natrlzndb | 1787-1928 in DE (incomplete) |
| Database of record groups | www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/collections/guideintro.htm | Database of all record groups at the Delaware Public Archives. |
Research Requests
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Limit requests to a specific record for a specific person at a specific time (must include a date or approximate date of event). There is no search charge, but there is a charge for copies. Limit: 5 requests per correspondence. For longer searches, a list of genealogists willing to do research for a fee is supplied upon request. Request can be made by email or mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope. |
Directions to the Delaware Public Archives
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. If your GPS unit does not find 121 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd, try using 121 Duke of York St. |
Dover Public Library
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Dover Public Library 35 Loockerman Plaza Dover, DE 19901 Tel: (302) 736-7030 Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Dover Public Library
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Collection of Delawareana, genealogy and Delaware censuses 1800-1900. An on-line catalog is at www.lib.de.us. |
Directions to the Dover Public Library
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. |
Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Family History Centers Lebanon (Rt 10) and Old Mill Roads Dover, DE 19934 Mailing Address: 415 Dogwood Ave Dover DE 19904 Tel: (302) 697-2700 Email: barre37@ibm.net Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Family History Centers
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The Family History Centers (FHC) is continuously updating their collections. These facilities are your local access to the extensive collection of genealogies at FHC in Salt Lake City, Utah and original church & government records from around the world. |
How to Use the Family History Centers
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First search their catalog at www.familysearch.org. Once you locate a microfilm/microfiche number go to your local FHC, order microfilms/microfiche to be sent there for your viewing at that Family History Center. You can search the International Genealogical Index (IGI) & Family Registry (both lists of individuals, dates and events) at the same address. The FHC collection contains Delaware church and cemetery records, city directories, probate, land, tax and court records, histories, etc. |
Directions to the Family History Centers
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. |
Kent County Recorder of Deeds
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Kent County Recorder of Deeds Kent County Administration Building 414 Federal Street Dover, DE 19901 Tel: (302) 744-2314 Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Kent County Recorder of Deeds
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Deeds 1680 – present. |
Directions to the Kent County Recorder of Deeds
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. |
Kent County Register of Wills
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Kent County Register of Wills Kent County Administration Building 414 Federal Street Dover, DE 19901 Tel: (302) 744-2330 Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Kent County Register of Wills
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Wills 1680 – present. |
Directions to the Kent County Register of Wills
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. |
Smyrna Public Library
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Smyrna Public Library 107 S Main St Smyrna DE 19977 Tel: (302) 653-4579 Web: Open the website |
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Holdings of the Smyrna Public Library
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Kent County cemetery records, Duck Creek Genealogical Collection, Smyrna Times newspaper. An on-line catalog is at www.lib.de.us. |
Directions to the Smyrna Public Library
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Enter your starting location (street, city state) below and click the Get Directions button. |
Other Kent County Repositories
Here is a list of the repositories and libraries in Kent County.
| Name | Contact Information |
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Barratt's Chapel and Museum Holdings: Peninsula-Delaware United Methodists archives |
6362 Bay Road Frederica, DE 19946 (302) 335-5544 Web: users.aol.com/Barratts E-mail: barratts@aol.com |
| Delaware Agricultural Museum |
866 N DuPont Hghwy Dover, DE (302) 734-1618 www.agriculturalmuseum.org |
| Delaware St College Jason Library |
(302) 739-5111 www.dsc.edu/library |
| Downstate Genealogist |
c/o Dover Public Library 35 Loockerman Plaza Dover, DE 19901 |
| Duck Creek Historical Society |
PO Box 335 Smyrna, DE 19977 (302) 653-8844 |
| Greater Harrington Historical Society |
PO Box 64 108 Fleming St Harrington, DE 19952 (302) 398-3698 |
| Milford Historical Society |
501 N.W. Front St PO Box 352 Milford, DE 19963 (302) 422-5745 (302) 422-8996 |
| Milford Public Library |
11 S.E. Front Street Milford, DE 19963-1941 (302) 422-8996 www.lib.de.us |
| Wesley College Parker Library |
120 N State St Dover, DE 19901 (302) 736-2413 www.wesley.edu/library/indexlibrary.html |
