Delaware County Historical Society

Mission Statement:

The mission of Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) is to collect, protect, and preserve the history and culture of Delaware County, PA, making it accessible to all through strong educational outreach.

Purpose: 

Archive and research center: Store, protect, and preserve pieces of Delaware County history and culture that are considered significant.         

Create accessible avenues for historic research through digitization of historic items.          

Educational outreach through curated events and programming. Working with local k-12 schools and colleges to advocate and promote local history.        

Reflect and promote all narratives of Delaware County, especially those of historically underrepresented communities such as the Black community, LGBTQ+, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latinx, Indigenous Communities, and those who are differently abled. DCHS also shares and protects the history of all 49 municipalities, townships, boroughs, and incorporated territories within Delaware County.

For 130 years, DCHS has served the community of Delaware County as the premier stewards of Delaware County history and culture. Our goal is to continue that mission while also expanding our outreach, diversifying our audience, and ensuring that the historic treasures of Delaware County are preserved and made available to the public.

Pillars:

DCHS has four core pillars that drive our mission. 

• Archives/Research: Providing the people of Delaware County with a secure, reliable, and accurate archive to house the historic treasures of Delaware County. 
• Education: Creating accessible avenues for K-12 and collegiate students to have equitable access to local history.
• Collaboration: Working with like-minded institutions to provide accessible humanities and local history to the people of Delaware County. DCHS should act as a beacon for all local historical societies and groups.
• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Curating programming that is reflective of all communities within Delaware County and ensuring that programming is accessible to all.