Library, Museums and Press Staff
April 22, 2026

Friends of the Library: What They Leave Behind

By David Cardillo, Digital Collections and Preservation

 

It is with deep appreciation and a measure of sadness that we mark the closing chapter of the Friends of the University of Delaware Library, formerly the University of Delaware Library Associates, who will disband this year.

For nearly 70 years, this dedicated philanthropic group contributed more than $2.5 million in support of the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. Their generosity strengthened collections, advanced preservation efforts and expanded access to knowledge for scholars and the broader community. Among their many contributions, the Friends supported the acquisition of Special Collections print and manuscript materials, as well as the conservation and digitization of rare and unique holdings.

Digital Collections and Preservation has been a direct beneficiary of this support. Funding from the Friends enabled the purchase of advanced scanning equipment, allowing staff to digitize a broader and more complex range of materials than before.

One such project includes the Robert Kirkwood documents from the collection of Helen and Paul Helm. Capt. Robert Kirkwood served as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Digitized materials from this collection include troop rolls, equipment inventories and requests, as well as a receipt authorizing a soldier to travel to Newark to collect pay for members of the regiment, along with reimbursement for travel expenses. These records offer a tangible glimpse into the daily realities of military life during the nation’s founding era.

 

 

Digital Collections and Preservation has also digitized a significant body of materials related to the desegregation of public schools in Delaware. Among these items is a document focused on conflict resolution strategies intended for administrative staff, reflecting the complexities and challenges of that pivotal period in the state’s history.

 

 

With the Friends’ support, Digital Collections and Preservation digitized portions of the papers of civil rights activist and educator Littleton Mitchell. The collection includes correspondence between Mitchell, an advocate and member of the NAACP, and the University of Delaware concerning African American student athletes. These materials shed light on issues of equity and access in higher education.

In addition to supporting collections, funding from the Friends made it possible for Digital Collections and Preservation to employ a graduate assistant over the past two years. These students gained hands-on experience working with rare and fragile materials while contributing to meaningful digital scholarship. Reflecting on his time with the unit, former graduate assistant Ryan Dittmar, a Master of Fine Arts student, shared:

“Another large aspect of this work is the handling of rare materials. I learned how to handle priceless materials and how to safely digitize them. Lastly, just getting the opportunity to learn about all of the rare book materials available to us here at UD was really wonderful. I got to look at and learn about materials I would have otherwise never gotten the chance to see.”

Support from the Friends of the UD Library has enabled Digital Collections and Preservation to digitize more than 25 manuscript collections documenting Delaware’s history. Their impact will continue to be felt in classrooms, research and public engagement for years to come.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Friends for their decades of generosity and vision. Their legacy is enduring and leaves a lasting mark on digital scholarship, access and preservation at the University of Delaware.

A complete list of collections digitized with support from the Friends of the UD Library can be found here.