American National Biography.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref E176 .D565x 1999)
Location: Library Databases

The foremost source of biographical information on Americans (deceased prior to 1996). The ANB Online also includes illustrations and links to selected websites. The online version is updated quarterly. Can be searched by the state of birth.

Bendler, Bruce A. Colonial Delaware Assemblymen, 1682-1776. Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1989.
Location: Morris Library (F163 .B46x 1989)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .B46x 1989)

Includes background sketches of each member -- property, family, heirs, church affiliation, and public service.

Biographical and Genealogical History of the State of Delaware, Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Settlers. 2 vols. Chambersburg, PA: J.M. Runk Co., 1899.
Location: Morris Library (F163 .B54)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .B54)

In addition to biographies, this publication features city and community descriptions, for all different sizes of places. Descriptions include lists of residents. Place descriptions are at the end of volume 2.

Blue Book of Delaware. Wilmington, DE.
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F162.6 .B55)

A society register of old and socially prominent families in Delaware. Only one volume was published of this directory (1939-40).

Delaware History. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware, 1946- .
Location: Morris Library (F161 .D47)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F161 .D47)

This is the premier historical journal for the state of Delaware. Published since 1946. Issues from 1963 to present are indexed in America: History and Life, one of the Library Databases. Volume 27 has a cumulative index for 1946 to 1996; located in Special Collections and in the Reference Room (Ref F161 .D47 Cum Index).

Delaware Miscellany. 3 vols. [Newark, DE].
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F161 .D48)

Encyclopedia of Delaware. Santa Barbara, CA: Somerset Publishers, 2001.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref F162 .E53x 2001)

Has sections on "Governors" and "Biographies".

Harrington, Jessie. Silversmiths of Delaware, 1700-1850. Wilmington, DE: National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Delaware, 1939.
Location: Morris Library (NK7112 .H26)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del NK7112 .H26)

Historical and Biographical Encyclopaedia of Delaware. Wilmington, DE: Aldine, 1882.
Location: Morris Library (F163 .H67)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .H67)

Lawmaking and Legislators in Pennsylvania: A Biographical Dictionary. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991.
Location: Morris Library (KFP421.5 .L4 L39 1991)

Vol. 1, covering 1682-1709 also includes what later became the State of Delaware. From 1682 until the first Delaware Assembly met at New Castle in November 1704, Pennsylvania and "the Three Lower Counties" (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex) had a single government.

Scharf, John Thomas. History of Delaware, 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Richards, 1888.
Location: Morris Library (F164 .S31)
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref F164 .S31)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F164 .S31)
Location: Library Databases via American County Histories to 1900

A comprehensive history of Delaware and its people. Vol. 2 contains histories of New Castle County (pp. 611-1028), Kent County (pp. 1028-1200), and of Sussex County (pp. 1200-1346). There is a 3-volume index: Index to J. Thomas Scharf, Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware, 1976. The print edition is accompanied by a 3-volume index: Index to J. Thomas Scharf, 3 vols. Wilmington: Historical Society of Delaware, 1976. Reference and Special Collections (F164 .S33). The Library Database edition does not include the Index but does have keyword searching. Note: The author's name is pronounced "Skarf."

Thomas, Samuel W. Biographical Sketches of Prominent Delawareans. Papers of the Historical Society of Delaware, no. 32. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware, 1901.
Location: Morris Library (F161 .D45 no. 32)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F161 .D45 no. 32)

Turner, Joseph Brown. Genealogical Collection of Delaware Families. Dover, DE: Bureau of Archives and Records, 1948.
Location: Morris Library - Microforms (Microfiche no. 391)
Location: Internet (http://archives.delaware.gov/exhibits/document/turner/toc.shtml)

Genealogical notes concerning several thousand families in the Delmarva Peninsula. The records range in content from the medieval period to 1935, but are principally of the 17th through 19th centuries. The original films are in the Delaware Public Archives (DPA). DPA's Internet site provides digitized page images from Turner's collection.

Ward, Mary Sam Smith. Delaware Women Remembered. Wilmington, DE: Modern Press, 1977.
Location: Morris Library (CT3260 .W36)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del CT3260 .W36)

Who's Who in Delaware: A Biographical Dictionary of Delaware's Leading Men and Women. Philadelphia: The National Biographical Society, 1932.
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .W67)
Location: Morris Library (F163 .W67x 1932)
Location: Library Annex - Special Collections (F163 .W67x 1932)

Who's Who in Delaware: A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men and Women of the States of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and West Virginia. Chicago: A.N. Marquis Co., 1939.
Location: Morris Library (F163 .W68)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .W68)
Location: Library Annex (F163 .W68)

Biographies from all five states are in one alphabetical arrangement. Indexes by state.

DELCAT Examples

For More Information

Delaware Genealogical Research Guide. 3rd ed. Wilmington, DE: Delaware Genealogical Society, 2002.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref F163 .D349 2002)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del F163 .D349 2002)

The most important guide for doing genealogical research in Delaware. It covers specific types of records and where they can be found in the state. Edited by Thomas P. Doherty and published by the Delaware Genealogical Society (http://delgensoc.org). Includes a description of the "Family Surname File" at the Historical Society of Delaware, the Tatnall Collection and index at the Delaware Public Archives, and the "Delaware Index" at the Wilmington Library.

Notable Americans: What They Did, from 1620 to the Present. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1988.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref E176 .N89 1988)

Contains lists of famous people. For Delaware, has lists of Governors, Senators, Chief Justices, University of Delaware Presidents, and others.

Bibliography of Delaware Through 1960. By Henry Clay Reed. Newark, DE: Published for the Institute of Delaware History and Culture by the University of Delaware Press, 1966.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref F164B .R43)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del Z1267 .R4)
Location: Morris Library (F164.B R43)

See, especially, the sections on "Biography and Family History" and "History." Has an index that includes people, places, and topics, for example: "churches" and "wills."

Bibliography of Delaware, 1960-1974. By the University of Delaware Library, Reference Department. Newark, DE: University of Delaware, 1976.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref F164B .H84 1976)
Location: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del Z1267 .H84 1976)
Location: Morris Library (Z1267 .H84 1976)

See, especially, the sections on "Biography and Family History" and "History." Has an index that includes people, places, and topics, for example: "probate records" and "genealogy."

Social Security Death Index.
Location: Internet (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=ssdi/search_ssdi.asp)

Social Security Death Index.
Location: Internet (http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/)

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