Delaware Genealogy & LDS Family History Centers

Looking for your ancestors in Delaware? The best place to start your search is at the Delaware Family History Center near you. These offshoots of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City offer nearly endless resources to help you trace your family tree. The centers are all operated by the Delaware LDS church, and a staff of trained volunteers the provide genealogy training and are on hand to answer questions. Family history centers offer a wide array of print, microfilm and computer resources to help you locate your ancestry. While the facilities offer additional information about church members, offices are also open to the general public in Delaware.

If you have any questions or comments about family history centers, please send a message to [email protected].

LDS Family History Center
237 W Lebanon Rd
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 697-2700
Tues. and Weds. 10AM-2PM and 7PM-9PM, Thurs. 10AM-2PM, Sat. 9AM-1PM
Notes: Rt. 13, turn Rt. 10 E., go to 1st light and make a u-turn, 1st parking lot, go all the way back

Neward Family History Center
500 W Chestnut Hill Rd
Newark, Delaware 19713
(302) 456-9301
Tues/Thurs 6-9pm, Wed 10AM -4PM, Sat 10Am-1PM
Notes: Tom Sayers - director

Wilmington Family History Center
143 Dickson Ln
Wilmington, Delaware 19806
(302) 654-1911
es. 10-1; 6-9; Wed. 1-4; 6-9; Thur 1-4; Sat 10-1
Notes: Closed Sun, Mon, Fri and holidays

Delaware Genealogy Resources

Delaware is a small state with a big history. In 1631 the Dutch settled at Lewes, but were killed by the Indians. Then, in 1655 Delaware became a part of Dutch New Amsterdam, only to be seized by the English in 1664, and annexed by Pennsylvania in 1682. Delaware declared its independence from Pennsylvania in 1776, and became the first of the 13 colonies to ratify the constitution and become the first US state. You'll find early statewide registration of birth and death records from 1861 to 1863; after a gap, they resumed in 1881. Statewide marriage records begin in 1847. In addition, libraries and societies hold excellent collections of compiled research on Delaware families, as well as other valuable printed resources to help you track down your "First State" ancestors.

Office of Vital Statistics
Jesse S. Cooper Building
Federal and Water Streets
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-4549
Website

Delaware Tourism Office
99 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(866) 284-7483
Website

Afro-American Historical Society of Delaware
512 E. Fourth St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 571-1699

Delaware Genealogical Society
505 N. Market St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
Website

Delaware Legislative Council Library
Box 1401 Legislative Hall
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 744-4308
Website

Delaware Public Archives
121 Duke of York St.
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-5000
Website

Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Ave.
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 543-6312
Website

Fort Delaware Society
122 Washington Street, Box 553
Delaware City, DE 19706
(302) 834-1630
Website

Hagley Museum & Library
298 Buck Road E., Box 3630
Wilmington, DE 19807
(302) 658-0568
Website

The Historical Society of Delaware
505 N. Market St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 655-7161
Website

University of Delaware Library
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-2965
Website

Delaware Genealogy Websites

Ancestor Hunt--Delaware

Cyndi's List--Delaware

Delaware 1775-1883 Map

FamilySearch Wiki--Delaware

Linkpendium: Delaware Genealogy and Family History

Delaware GenWeb Project

Guide to Delaware Vital Records

A History of African-Americans of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore