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History of the Newark Historical Society
On April 13, 1758, King George II of England granted a charter to a "piece of land ten miles west of New Castle at the crossing of two very public roads," the same piece of land known today as Newark, Delaware. Centering on the city's Main Street, the earliest function of Newark was that of a market town. Later manufacturing, railroads, and the University of Delaware drove the growth of the old market town into a modern city.
The Newark Historical Society was formed in the fall of 1981, after a small group of residents, business people, professionals, educators, and students decided that such an organization was desirable in order "to preserve and celebrate Newark's past." The Society was incorporated, and soon began to sponsor public meetings and exhibits of artifacts in various locations around town.
The Newark Historical Society was formed in the fall of 1981, after a small group of residents, business people, professionals, educators, and students decided that such an organization was desirable in order "to preserve and celebrate Newark's past." The Society was incorporated, and soon began to sponsor public meetings and exhibits of artifacts in various locations around town.
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The most significant development in the Society's history came in April 1989, when the Society moved from a small room in the Academy Building on Main Street to the newly renovated 1877 Pennsylvania Railroad Station beside the South College Avenue bridge. Today, the Newark Historical Society's Museum occupies the bottom floor of the station, with offices and storage on the second floor. The city owns the building and maintains the facilities, but the Society has agreed to furnish the exhibit area with items from its collection of Newark history, and to pay all of the expenses associated with Society activities. The Newark Historical Society's area of focus includes the people, places and events that have shaped Newark's history. |
Our Area of Focus
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The NHS at a Glance
Year Founded
1981
Mission
To gather, preserve and share Newark's history with residents, visitors, students, researchers, and all who are interested in Newark's past.
We share our history through individual research projects, museum exhibits, society meeting presentations, museum archives, and community displays.
The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material concerning Newark's past and, in connection with existing institutions in Newark, to see that it is preserved and accessible, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine it. The Society will also seek to preserve historic buildings, monuments, and markers. The Society will disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspaper or otherwise; by sponsoring special events including pageants, addresses, lectures, papers, and discussions; by marking historic buildings, sites, and trails; and by using the media of radio and television to awaken public interest and to encourage public support.
We share our history through individual research projects, museum exhibits, society meeting presentations, museum archives, and community displays.
The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material concerning Newark's past and, in connection with existing institutions in Newark, to see that it is preserved and accessible, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine it. The Society will also seek to preserve historic buildings, monuments, and markers. The Society will disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspaper or otherwise; by sponsoring special events including pageants, addresses, lectures, papers, and discussions; by marking historic buildings, sites, and trails; and by using the media of radio and television to awaken public interest and to encourage public support.
Governance
The Newark Historical Society is a 501(c) 3 non-profit governed by a 9-member Board of Directors.
MEmbership
Membership consists of two classes:
Individual/Family/Institutional Members: Any person, family, organization, board, school, library, or institution interested in the purposes of the Society. Individual/Family/Institutional members pay annual dues of $25.00 to the Newark Historical Society.
Life Members: any person or institution interested in the purposes of the Society. Life Members pay a one-time fee of $300.00 to the Newark Historical Society.
Please visit our Membership page for more information.
Individual/Family/Institutional Members: Any person, family, organization, board, school, library, or institution interested in the purposes of the Society. Individual/Family/Institutional members pay annual dues of $25.00 to the Newark Historical Society.
Life Members: any person or institution interested in the purposes of the Society. Life Members pay a one-time fee of $300.00 to the Newark Historical Society.
Please visit our Membership page for more information.
Volunteers
The Newark Historical Society is a volunteer driven organization. Please visit our Volunteer tab for more infomation about how getting involved.
PAST RESOLUTIONS
3/11/1997 - State of Delaware House of Representatives - Resolution No. H139-225 "Tribute to Bob Thomas for his Inexhaustible Efforts to Preserve Newark's History Through The Formation of and Innumerable Volunteer Hours Dedicated to the Newark Historical Society"
5/2/2001 - State of Delaware House of Representatives - Resolution No. H141-478 "Tribute to the Newark Historical Society on Its 20th Anniversary"
9/26/2006 - New Castle County Council - Resolution No. 06-219
"Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Newark Historical Society"
10/11/2006 - State of Delaware House of Representatives - Resolution No. H143-2276 "Commending the Newark Historical Society on the Occasion of the Celebration of Your 25th Anniversary"
5/16/2007 - Delaware State Senate - Resolution No. 5144-237
"Marking the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Newark Historical Society"
5/2/2001 - State of Delaware House of Representatives - Resolution No. H141-478 "Tribute to the Newark Historical Society on Its 20th Anniversary"
9/26/2006 - New Castle County Council - Resolution No. 06-219
"Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Newark Historical Society"
10/11/2006 - State of Delaware House of Representatives - Resolution No. H143-2276 "Commending the Newark Historical Society on the Occasion of the Celebration of Your 25th Anniversary"
5/16/2007 - Delaware State Senate - Resolution No. 5144-237
"Marking the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Newark Historical Society"