What Delaware Historical Society does

The Delaware Historical Society (DHS) is a private non-profit cultural institution founded in May 1864, dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing Delaware's history. Headquartered in Wilmington with a secondary site in Historic New Castle, it operates a multi-site museum complex comprising the Delaware History Museum, the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, Old Town Hall, Willingtown Square, the Research Library and Archives, and the Read House & Gardens — a National Historic Landmark. DHS curates approximately 3 million items including manuscripts, photographs, rare books, newspapers dating to the late 1700s, artifacts, and the nearly 500 cubic feet of Senator William V. Roth's congressional papers, making it the largest privately held Delaware history collection in the United States.

DHS serves K-12 students and educators (field trips, Delaware History Day competition, primary source packets), academic and genealogical researchers (on-site and digital archival access), the general public (museum visits, exhibitions, community programs), and private event clients (venue rentals). Its technology infrastructure includes a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS), searchable online catalogs for library, archives, and objects, and the digital.dehistory.org platform enabling global remote access to digitized collections. DHS also produces the monthly 'Speaking of Delaware...' video series in partnership with Short Order Production House.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across earned and contributed income: annual membership dues, donations and contributions (including planned giving), event rental income from historic properties (Poole Gallery, Council Chambers, Copeland Room, Historic Gardens), fee-based research services, image reproduction fees, and grants from institutional funders including the Longwood Foundation, Delaware Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Delmarva Power. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees led by Chair Stephen Kingsberry, with operational management by Executive Director Ivan Henderson (2023-present).

Name

Delaware Historical Society

Legal name

Delaware Historical Society

Website

https://dehistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Delaware Historical Society is a 160-year-old non-profit operating museums, a research library, and nine historic properties in Delaware, serving educators, researchers, and the public through exhibitions, educational programs, and digital access to 3 million collection items.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage and Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Historical society
• Museum services
• Archival research
• Cultural preservation
• History education

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program offering various tiers with benefits including early access to exhibitions, invitations to special events, and member gatherings.
2. Donations and Contributions: General donations and contributions supporting preservation and educational programs, including annual fund campaigns and planned giving options.
3. Event Rentals: Venue rental income from properties including Old Town Hall (Poole Gallery, Council Chambers), Delaware History Museum (Copeland Room), and Read House & Gardens historic gardens for private events such as business meetings, luncheons, lectures, seminars, and cocktail receptions.
4. Research Services Fees: Fee-based research services where library staff conduct preliminary research projects for a nominal fee, with services limited to one hour of investigation.
5. Image Reproduction Fees: Fees for digital image reproduction and usage permissions for publication, research, and commercial purposes, in addition to reproduction fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Delaware Historical Society preserves, studies, and shares Delaware history through a network of museums, historic properties, archives, and educational programs. It operates the Delaware History Museum, the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, Old Town Hall, Willingtown Square, Read House & Gardens, and a Research Library & Archives holding about 3 million items. It also delivers K-12 educational programs (including National History Day in Delaware), runs fee-based research and image reproduction services, and provides online access to its collections through digital catalogs.

Product overview

The Delaware Historical Society operates a multi-site museum and educational organization offering cultural heritage experiences, research services, and digital access to Delaware history. The organization comprises physical facilities including the Delaware History Museum, Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, Old Town Hall, Read House & Gardens, Research Library & Archives, and Willingtown Square in Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware. Its digital products include online catalogs (Digital Collections, Object Catalog, Archives Catalog, Library Catalog), the Minker Family Letters digital collection, and the Speaking of Delaware... video series. Educational offerings feature Primary Source Packets for educators, Delaware History Day competitions, and field trip/outreach programs. The society also maintains special collections including the Senator William V. Roth Collection and manages permanent exhibitions such as Forging Faith, Building Freedom and Journey to Freedom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delaware History Museum: Museum featuring exhibitions on Delaware history and culture, located in a former Woolworth's building at 504 N Market Street, Wilmington.
• Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
• Old Town Hall
• Willingtown Square
• Read House & Gardens
• Research Library & Archives

Products and services

• Delaware History Museum Main museum at 504 N Market Street, Wilmington, featuring permanent and rotating exhibitions on Delaware history and culture, located in a former Woolworth's building. Open to the general public and visitors.
• Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage The state's only institution dedicated to Delaware's African American history, featuring the 'Journey to Freedom' exhibition and related programs. Housed alongside the Delaware History Museum at the Wilmington campus.
• Read House & Gardens National Historic Landmark Federal-style mansion completed in 1804 for George Read II, with 1.5 acres of formal gardens, located on The Strand in Historic New Castle. Open to visitors as a historic house museum and gardens.
• Old Town Hall Historic civic building dating to 1798 and acquired by the Society in 1916, restored and reopened in 1927 as its permanent home. Hosts changing exhibitions, public events, and private rentals (Poole Gallery, Council Chambers).
• Willingtown Square Urban courtyard created in 1976 as part of Wilmington's Bicentennial, comprising four early-19th-century residential buildings relocated from around Wilmington, including the Cook-Simms House and the Jacob and Obidiah Dingee Houses. Open to the public as a heritage site.
• Research Library and Archives Research facility housed in the former Artisans' Savings Bank (Art Deco building acquired in 1977) holding approximately 3 million items including manuscripts, photographs, rare books, maps, newspapers, pamphlets, and genealogical resources. Open to academic researchers, genealogists, and the general public for in-library research.
• Digital Collections Online searchable database providing global public access to digitized photographs, documents, manuscripts, and artifacts from the Society's holdings.
• Object Catalog (Online) Searchable online catalog of more than 16,000 artifacts and objects related to Delaware history, including textiles, ceramics, silver, furniture, works of art, weapons, housewares, toys, and business-related items.
• Archives Catalog (Online) Online searchable catalog of manuscripts, personal and organizational records, photographs, and visual materials in the Society's archival holdings.
• Library Catalog (Online) Online catalog of books, rare books, serials, newspapers, pamphlets, and maps in the research library collection, including Delaware newspapers dating from the late 1700s to mid-1960s and Delaware school yearbooks spanning the 20th century.
• Annual Membership Program Annual subscription membership offering tiers with benefits such as early access to exhibitions, invitations to special events, and member gatherings. Members support the Society's preservation and education mission.
• Event Rentals Venue rental service across historic properties including the Poole Gallery and Council Chambers at Old Town Hall, the Copeland Room at the Delaware History Museum, and the Historic Gardens at Read House & Gardens (max capacity 140). Available for business meetings, luncheons, lectures, seminars, and cocktail receptions.
• Research Services Fee-based preliminary research service where library staff conduct archival and genealogical research on behalf of clients, limited to one hour of investigation per request.
• Senator William V. Roth Collection Special archival collection of nearly 500 cubic feet of congressional papers documenting Senator William V. Roth's 34-year career, including legislative files, constituent services, and photographs spanning 1967-2000. Available for in-person and digital research.
• Forging Faith, Building Freedom Exhibition Permanent-style exhibition exploring African American faith experiences in Delaware from 1800 to 1980, with sub-sections on Preachers, Congregational Life, and Building Freedom.
• Minker Family Letters Digital Collection Digital collection featuring letters from an American family during World War II, including correspondence from Ralph L. Minker, Jr. documenting his military service.
• Primary Source Packets for Educators Downloadable educational resource packets for K-12 educators covering topics including Blueprint for Preservation, Discover Delaware, Pirates on the Delaware, The Art of Storytelling, The Lenape and Settlers in New Sweden, Delaware and the American Revolution, North vs. South, Nylon, Underground Railroad in Delaware, and WWII in Delaware.
• Delaware History Day Program Annual statewide competition for students in grades 6-12, run by the Society as the home of National History Day in Delaware. Develops student research, analysis, and presentation skills through historical research projects and competition.
• Field Trips and Educational Outreach Student programs delivered on-site at the museums and via outreach at schools throughout Delaware, including the Harry N. Baetjer III Junior Fellows Program for high school students. One of the largest providers of student programs in Delaware.
• Speaking of Delaware... Video Series Monthly video series presented by the Society exploring Delaware history and human stories, produced by Short Order Production House and funded by Longwood Foundation, Delaware Humanities, and Delmarva Power.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest providers of student programs in Delaware
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Claymont Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Educational partnership honoring the 70th anniversary of Claymont High School integration. Fifth-grade students created portraits of the 'Claymont Twelve' African American students who integrated the school in 1952.
• Chinese American Community Center (CACC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Chinese New Year celebrations. CACC founded in 1982, encouraging awareness of Chinese, Chinese-American and American cultures through public education and cultural programming.
• CAMP RehobothminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021LGBTQ+ community organization partnership through the Community Canvas program for Pride Month celebrations, highlighting organizations making history in Delaware.
• AIDS DelawareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Collaboration on 'Existence is Resistance' queer history project, examining queer community building and structures of power influencing queer organizing in Delaware.
• Delaware Juneteenth Association (DEJA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership for Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations. DEJA founded in 1994 as a statewide organization commemorating and celebrating Juneteenth through cultural events and educational workshops.
• Jewish Historical Society of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Strategic partnership to create a Center for Jewish History on North Market Street. Collaboration to document and preserve Jewish history in Delaware, including synagogues, organizations, businesses, and family histories dating to founding in 1975.
• University of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Academic partnership supporting research, student programs, and access to university archives. Collaboration on various history and heritage initiatives including the 'Existence is Resistance' queer history project.
• National History DaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of National History Day in Delaware competition for students grades 6-12, developing key skills through historical research and competition.
• Lenape Indian Tribe of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Native American Heritage Month celebrations. Tribal government formed in 2010, granted state recognition in August 2016. Partnership acknowledges Lenapehoking as traditional homeland.
• Nanticoke Indian TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Native American Heritage Month celebrations. First recognized by the State of Delaware in 1881, with vision to 'Protect and Preserve our History' through education and cultural preservation.
• American Alliance of Museums (AAM)coreOthersProfessional organization membership. DHS adheres to highest professional standards as prescribed by AAM, American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), and Society of American Archivists (SAA).
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)coreOthersProfessional organization membership setting standards for historical organizations. DHS follows AASLH best practices for historical societies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago History Museum: Private nonprofit historical society operating a museum, research library, and educational programs focused on Chicago and Illinois history. Comparable as a state/regional historical society with a museum-library dual mission, though operating in a much larger metro market.
• Massachusetts Historical Society: One of the oldest historical organizations in the U.S. (founded 1791), operating a research library with extensive manuscript and rare book collections. Comparable as a state-level historical research library and archive, though it is research-focused rather than museum-focused.
• Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Private statewide historical society operating a museum, library, and research services focused on Virginia history. Comparable in operating model, research focus, and educational programs, with a similar blend of physical exhibits and digital collections.
• Pennsylvania Historical Society: One of the oldest state-level historical organizations in the U.S., operating a research library, museum, and historic site holdings centered on Pennsylvania history. Closely comparable in mission, multi-site model, and educational programming to DHS, with a similar blend of physical and digital collections.
• Maryland Center for History and Culture: Formerly the Maryland Historical Society, this Baltimore-based private nonprofit operates a museum, library, and historic house (the 1815 House) focused on Maryland history. Comparable in collection scale, multi-site model, and educational programming to DHS.
• New-York Historical Society: Operates a major museum and research library focused on New York and U.S. history, with substantial educational programming and exhibitions. Comparable as a state-level historical society with a museum-library dual mission, though at a significantly larger scale than DHS.
• Connecticut Museum of Culture and History: Connecticut's statewide private nonprofit historical organization, operating a museum, library, and historic properties. Directly comparable as a New England state-level historical society with multi-site operations and education focus.
• New Jersey Historical Society: Statewide private nonprofit dedicated to New Jersey history, operating a museum, library, and archives with comparable programs in education, exhibitions, and genealogical research. A directly analogous mid-Atlantic state historical society with a similar scale and operating model.

Regional players

• Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library: Nearby Delaware-based institution operating a museum, library, and historic garden focused on American decorative arts. Comparable as a regional peer with a museum, library, and garden estate model, with overlapping audiences in the Mid-Atlantic heritage tourism market.

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Historical Society: Large statewide historical society operating a museum, library, multiple historic sites, and educational programs. Comparable in mission and model, though significantly larger in scale and more diversified in revenue than DHS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbET_sq-t7_WxZ7Vaaxd70g
• Facebookfacebook.com/dehistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/delawarehistoricalsociety
• Xx.com/thisisdehistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Delaware Historical Society