Delaware Compiled Genealogies

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. Some of these must be searched in person. Further, Pennsylvania genealogies sometimes contain genealogies of people from Delaware. See also the "Genealogy" section of the Pennsylvania Research Outline.

Delaware Public Archives
Major collections of compiled genealogies in the Delaware Public Archives include:

Turner, Joseph Brown. Genealogical Collection of Delaware Families. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948. (FHL films 006272-300.) This excellent collection has about 3,000 alphabetically arranged files with genealogies, pedigrees, correspondence, newspaper clippings, etc. The Delaware Public Archives has these records online at: http://archives.delaware.gov/exhibits/document/turner/toc.shtml

Historical Society of Delaware Files
The following four sources are at the Historical Society of Delaware, but not at the Family History Library. These following sources cover the 1600s to the early 1900s:

Family Surname File.This is a surname with given name file of about 500,000 cards. It is the first source people go to at the Historical Society. It indexes church records, newspaper obituaries, the Catherine Harkness and Jeanette Eckmann research collection, and family history files which are kept in other collections at the historical society. Also included are cards submitted by genealogists researching Delaware families. The societywill search it for you for a fee.

Family History File. This is a separate file, and it is indexed in the Family Surname File, above. The Family History File consists of alphabetical folders containing miscellaneous family material. Each folder contains information ranging from miscellaneous notes to complete genealogies.

Book Card Catalog. This catalog includes family histories in published books and pamphlets.

Manuscript Card Catalog. This catalog includes letters, diaries, business records, organizational records, unpublished genealogical information, and other manuscript material. It can be searched by surname.

Published Collections
Virdin, Donald Odell. Delaware Family Histories and Genealogies. St. Michaels, Maryland: Raymond B. Clark, 1984. (FHL book 975.1 A1 number 11.) This lists 215 published family histories about persons who lived in Delaware between the 1630s-1980s.

Turner, Charles Henry Black. Genealogical Notes, Sussex &amp; Kent Counties, Delaware. . . Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1965. (FHL films 441425-31; index on FHL film 441425.) This contains records of people who lived about 1600-1950s. This collection has family history pamphlets, articles, deeds, wills, and other original documents. It was microfilmed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Rider, Fremont, ed. American Genealogical- Biographical Index. Volumes 1-186+. Middletown, Connecticut: Godfrey Memorial Library, 1952-. (FHL book 973 D22am serial 2; on 31 FHL films.) This is a continuing series. An earlier version of 48 volumes was published as The American Genealogical Index, 1942-1951. Over 4 million brief citations (name, date, and source) to manuscripts, periodicals, and books. The earlier version indexed 350 sources. The second version includes the original 350 sources and an additional 800 sources.

To help interpret citations and locate the original sources, use the colored pages in some volumes of:

Clark, Patricia L., and Dorothy Huntsman, eds. American Genealogical Biographical Key Title Index. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah. 1990. (FHL book 973 D22am index; film 1698167 item 4; fiche 6088377.) Lists the sources that are at the Family History Library and their call numbers.

Name Changes
The following chart will help you trace families that may have had name changes:

The list is copied from "Campanius's description of New Sweden," printed in 1702 at Stockholm. Many of the names have, since that day, undergone great changes in their orthography, and in some cases so great, as to destroy the resemblance. The following short list will give some idea of the transformation to which they have been subjected.