Grants from Delaware Humanities helped the Greater Harrington Historical Society preserve photos like this one of Blue Hen Records owners Sam Short and his wife, Ethel Thompson Short (Photo courtesy of Greater Harrington Historical Society)
Delaware Humanities, an organization that provides grant funding to many Milford area non-profits, recently announced the creation of the 302 Circle. The program is a brand new donor community offering a new way to support the work of Delaware Humanities.
“The name is inspired by the area code 3-0-2 that all Delawareans share as well as the historic Twelve Mile Circle that gives Delaware it’s iconic arch,” Engagement and Media Relations Manager for Delaware Humanities Kelly Murray said. “To join the 302 Circle, donors choose from two options. They can donate a one-time gift of $302 or they can sign up by December 31, 2024, to make monthly donations of $25 through 2025 which totals $300.”
According to Murray, this was a way to engage donors and provide a new way to get involved. Using the 3-0-2 moniker, Delaware Humanities not only celebrates humanities work in the state, but also the state itself.
“Delaware Humanities have become wonderful partners with us and funded a wide variety of programs and services that enhanced our museum as well as our visitor experiences,” Greater Harrington Historical Society Curator Doug Poore said. “We have been very fortunate to receive more than four grants from them. Two are COVID-19 grants while the others have assisted us with many programs.”
Poore stated that the organization had provided GHHS $1,000 for their Memorial Day Celebration in 2019 and $17,625 in funding to digitize the Harrington Journal for their collection in 2022. An $18,000 grant in 2023 was used to create a documentary “Blue Hen Records: The Sound of Delmarva,” while another $5,000 grant that year was used to digitize oral history stories of Harrington. In 2024, a $5,000 grant was used to create oral histories of Farmington.
“It is not a stretch to say that Delaware Humanities has been amazing,” Poore said. “None of these projects would have occurred without the support of Delaware Humanities. But while dollars are great, it’s been the impact to our organization that cannot be understated. They have become more than partners; they have become our friends. They support us in every way they can. They have helped us grow membership and artifact donation while also supporting efforts to expand our museum.”
In addition to GHHS, Bowers Beach Maritime Museum received several grants from Delaware Humanities which were used to support the Buccaneer Bash, our pirate festival, held Memorial Day weekend. The organization also received a $2,400 grant in 2019 to assist with Bowers Heritage Day.
“We couldn’t produce the event without their financial help,” Judy Martin, a volunteer at the museum said. “We accommodate thousands of visitors during that weekend and Delaware Humanities is very important to the success of the event.”
Another local recipient of a Delaware Humanities grant was Milford Museum who received $10,900 in 2020 as part of the CARES Act as did the Milton Historical Society who received $17,900. In 2019, Milton Historical Society also received a $3,000 grant for “Walking into Greatness: Bryan A. Stevenson Public Programs.” Milton Public Library received funding for “The REAL Women: Veterans of Vietnam.”
“Support from the 302 Circle will help us carry out our mission of connecting Delawareans through the diversity of human experiences. As the Delaware affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we offer programming and funding to Delaware organizations, including nonprofits, businesses, and state and government agencies, who want to provide humanities-based projects and events to their local communities,” Murray said. “These projects and events are open to the public and can range from lectures on local history and culture to children’s literacy events at a local library to podcast episodes interviewing people making a difference in Delaware. Our work is really centered on bringing people together to learn and celebrate all the aspects of what makes us human.”
Not only will the 302 Circle benefit Delaware Humanities, it will also provide benefits to donors. Murray explained that donors will receive an VIP invitation to an October donor event in celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month. They will also receive quarterly issues of “Humanities” magazine along with Delaware Humanities swag.
“Growing up in the Milford area in the 1980s, touchpoints with the humanities, through the Kent County bookmobile or Milford Public Library, Griffith’s Chapel in Williamsville or the Milford Museum, provided me with both a window on the world and a sense of identity as a Delawarean,” Executive Director of Delaware Humanities Michele Anstine said. “They also made me feel connected to the people and places around me. These are the experiences we look forward to offering through the 302 Circle — to our donors, and to all Delawareans through the programs their generosity will support.”
For more information or to join the 302 Circle, visit the Delaware Humanities website.
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