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Version: 5/2002
Last modified: 03/10/06
The collections of the University of Delaware Library include material of interest to those conducting genealogical research. They are particularly strong for Delaware history and families. This research guide provides a description of the scope of the collections in the Library and lists some of the major resources available to genealogists.
Most genealogical searches begin with resources available in one's home or family. Then a good guide to research is useful.
The Library's electronic, printed, microform, and manuscript materials include family genealogies, publications of genealogical societies and state historical societies, local histories, vital statistics, collections of wills or deeds, military records, census material, and other categories.
Most of the genealogical materials in the Morris Library are located in the following six areas:
| 1 | The The Delaware Collection, on the Second Floor in the Special Collections Department, is a collection of materials relating to the history, culture, and domestic, business, and social aspects of Delaware. Besides printed material, it includes correspondence, manuscripts, documents, diaries, journals, account books and ledgers, family papers, business records, archival material, photographs and graphic materials, and miscellaneous items. In addition, Special Collections holds numerous groups of family and personal papers of Delawareans which complement the holdings of the Delaware Collection. | Material from the Delaware Collection must be used in the Department of Special Collections. Decisions about photocopying are made on a piece-by-piece basis.
Some Special Collections materials are included in DELCAT. Additionally, Special Collections has specialized finding aids and guides. |
| In DELCAT and the Genealogy research guides, materials in the Delaware Collection are indicated by the designation Del preceding the call number. | ||
| 2 | Many titles are located in the open bookstacks (stacks) of the Library, including additional copies of material in the Delaware Collection. Most are classified with CS (Genealogy), E (United States History), or F (United States Local History) call numbers and are shelved on the Third Floor. | Most of these materials circulate for home use. Information about library cards for public borrowers is available. |
| In DELCAT and the Genealogy research guides, call numbers with the location Morris Library and no other location designation are located in the stacks. See: Directions and Maps for maps of the UD campus and of the floors of the Morris Library. | ||
| 3 | Material of a Reference nature is shelved in the Reference Collection, on the First Floor. | Materials shelved in the Reference Collection do not circulate. |
| The designation for the Reference Collection is Ref. | ||
| 4 | Materials in microformat (microfilm, microfiche, and microcard) are located in the Microforms Area, Lower Level. | Many microforms are included in DELCAT. Also consult Micromedia in the Hugh M. Morris Library (in both Microforms and Reference).
Microform reader/printers and a Microform Digital scanner are available. |
| Designations for this material vary as to format; in addition, both microfilm and microfiche are arranged in two numerical sequences: one represented by a number only, the other by a number preceded by an S (for material that is "serial" in nature). | ||
| 5 | Some relevant materials are in the United States Government Documents Collection or the Delaware State Documents Collection, both located on the Lower Level. | State Documents are included in DELCAT. Many U.S. Documents are in DELCAT; also ask for assistance at the Reference Desk.
Many documents circulate. |
| These materials have either U.S. DOC or STATE DOC as the first element in their call numbers. | ||
| 6 | The Maps Collection on the Lower Level has a large number of maps published by various agencies which may be of interest and use to genealogists. | Many maps are included in DELCAT. Most maps circulate. |
Genealogical material can be found by consulting DELCAT, the Library's online catalog.
Browse by subject:This guide describes primarily Delaware-related materials. The Library has some other materials of interest to genealogists that do not pertain to Delaware. Strengths are the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly Chester and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, and Cecil County, Maryland. Some material concerns the entire country.
The Morris Library at the University of Delaware is only one of the local and regional collections containing genealogical materials. For more, see: Delaware & Regional Resources for History and Genealogy and Delaware Genealogical Research Guide (Reference Desk F163 .D349 2002).
