Today in History: Delaware

Map of the Maryland-Pennsylvania boundary used as trial exhibit in the 1735 court suit brought by the Penns against Lord Baltimore to determine the official interprovincial boundary line
Today in History–August 24–the Library of Congress features Delaware, the territory of which was deeded to William Penn by order of the Duke of York on this day in 1682. Penn wanted the territory to insure ocean access to the state he founded, Pennsylvania. It would take more than a century for this carved out section of land to become a state. Learn more about Delaware by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary sources.

Delaware stories from America’s Library

Delaware primary source set with Teacher’s Guide

Pictorial Americana: select images from Delaware

More Delaware images

Delaware maps

Delaware-related sheet music

Delaware song recordings

Delaware books & other texts

Correspondence & other texts related to Delaware

Delaware historical newspaper collections

Delaware legislation

Delaware Guide to Law Online

More U.S. state primary source collections