Governmental records at the state, county, and city level are important resources for studying the past and the documents are usually available in state or local archives. But when local bodies digitize public historical resources, it makes the researcher’s job so much easier, increases efficiencies for agency staff, and reduces custodial and preservation problems as…
Year: 2016
Temperance Crusaders Gave Fountain to Salem City
Two years ago, I spent a fine summer day in South Jersey, becoming familiar with Salem City while contemplating research strategies for investigating the community’s recent past. My interest focused on seeking out narratives associated with the City’s transformations in the post-World War II decades, so I concentrated on identifying archived materials and interviewing sources….
History of the Sassafras River: A Community Discussion, Nov. 3
The Sassafras River Association invites you to participate in a program that examines the history of the scenic tributary that rises in the marshy areas along the Delaware line and flows some 20 miles to the Chesapeake Bay. Historian Mike Dixon will share narratives from the colonial era to the 20th century, while facilitating a…
A New Lecture: Life in the Past Lane: Country Roads
Life in the Past Lane: Country Roads is the title of a new program I do for the Delaware Humanities Forum. With the arrival of modern, high speed highways, many of Delaware’s scenic routes and the small hamlets and villages clustered around those old corridors are overlooked. This program explores the character, ambiance and history…