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Delaware Newspaper Archives (1798–1923)

84 Publications • 228,486 Pages

1798–1923

Delaware's archive on NewspaperArchive holds 84 titles and 228,486 pages of coverage from 1798 to 1923. Among the earliest titles, the Wilmington Mercury dates to 1798, a decade after Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Though smaller in scale than neighboring states, the collection concentrates on the period when the DuPont family's industrial empire was taking shape and Wilmington was becoming one of the most important manufacturing cities on the East Coast. Search is free; full page access requires a subscription.

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Delaware Historical Newspaper Archives

Our Delaware newspaper archives hold 83 publications spanning the years 1798 - 1923. Newspapers provide a unique perspective on the people and events that go well beyond just a name and date. Have fun learning about how something happened instead of just when something happened! Read about your family’s past which sometimes can be found in their own words through newspaper articles. There is a lifetime to discover between a birth and death date here at NewspaperArchive.com.

Delaware's history is rooted in its early settlement by Dutch and Swedish colonists in the 17th century, followed by English control. Its strategic location along the Atlantic coast made it a vital area during the American Revolution and the Civil War. The state's history is marked by its role in industry, agriculture, and transportation, contributing to the diverse backgrounds of its inhabitants. This rich history is reflected in the state's archival materials, which are crucial for genealogical research covering Delaware obituaries, marriage, birth, military records and more.

What do Delaware Newspaper Articles Have

Delaware, the first state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787, holds a unique place in American history. It’s even known as, “The First State”. As a small state with a rich colonial past, Delaware offers a wealth of resources for those interested in exploring family history and genealogy. The state's historical records, including newspapers, provide valuable insights into the lives of its residents over the centuries.

Search for names and keywords to find your ancestors in historical newspapers. Look for your family members that have passed on and learn what they were known for among their community. Read their stories and experience the details of their everyday life. Or search for keywords to learn about historical events in Delaware. Learn about military operations and follow history through as it was written. Read about teachers and doctors who made the paper or those who hosted parties in their local community. Go back in time and read about events that changed Delaware, the United States, and the world.

NewspaperArchive.com reaches out to libraries, historical societies, and newspaper publications to gather content for our archives. We put great care into digitizing microfilm and physical newspapers, so we can offer relevant Delaware newspaper articles and help you find your family. We hope you find something old and something new!

Delaware Newspaper Archives FAQs

NewspaperArchive's Delaware collection centers heavily on Wilmington, with titles such as the Wilmington Evening Journal, Wilmington Daily Republican, Wilmington Daily Gazette, Wilmington Every Evening, and Wilmington Delaware Gazette and American Watchman. The collection also includes papers from other Delaware towns, including Middletown, Newark, Odessa, Smyrna, and Delaware City, giving researchers both city coverage and smaller-community newspapers to search.
Yes. Wilmington has the largest share of Delaware coverage, but NewspaperArchive also includes small-town and community titles such as the Middletown Transcript, Newark Post, Smyrna Herald, Odessa Herald, and Delaware City Press. The strongest smaller-town examples here are the Middletown Transcript and Newark Post, while the Smyrna, Odessa, and Delaware City titles are useful but have thinner surviving runs. These local papers can still be valuable for family history because they may include social notes, visits, illnesses, church events, school news, legal notices, and community items that larger city papers did not cover in the same detail.
Delaware newspapers can help place families within the events and industries that shaped the state. In NewspaperArchive's Delaware collection, Wilmington-area papers are especially useful for researching industrial growth, including early DuPont-related coverage, while 19th-century titles can also help researchers explore weather events, transportation, agriculture, elections, court cases, and local reactions to national news. These stories may mention workers, business owners, farmers, travelers, public officials, and residents affected by Delaware's growth.
Try searching nearby towns and larger local papers. Delaware is a small state, and many communities were covered by newspapers in neighboring towns or in Wilmington. For example, a family from Odessa, Smyrna, or Delaware City might appear in a nearby community paper such as the Middletown Transcript or Newark Post, or in Wilmington titles such as the Wilmington Evening Journal. Search by the person's name, nearby town names, church, school, occupation, business, or family surname to catch mentions beyond the hometown paper.