Collections

The archives of the Nabb Research Center encompass a diverse group of historical collections found in the Local History Archives, University Archives, and Special Collections. These primary sources offer researchers a glimpse into the past lives of people in the Chesapeake region and beyond.

• Finding Aid Portal: The Nabb Center archival collections encompass a diverse group of historical collections found in the Local History Archives, University Archives, and Special Collections. The Finding Aid Portal provides written descriptions of the materials in those collections, as well as their affiliated artifacts, to help facilitate access for researchers. Collections are non-circulating; requesting a collection within the finding aid portal will initiate the process to view that collection in our research room located on the 4th floor of the Guerrieri Academic Commons. For questions please contact us at nabbcenter@salisbury.edu. 
• Enduring Connections: Enduring Connections: a long-term digital humanities project that features a searchable database for finding meaningful connections within digitized and transcribed sources, such as censuses, certificates of freedom, church records, newspapers, ledgers, and oral histories that illuminate the history of Black communities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (and beyond) across the Delmarva Peninsula.
• Internet Archive: A variety of selected digital items from the collections at the Nabb Research Center, including yearbooks, genealogical publications, transcriptions, and more.
• Flickr: Images from the photograph collections in the Local History Archives, Salisbury University Archives and Special Collections.
• YouTube: Historic film and video from the archives at the Nabb Research Center.
• SOAR@SU: A digital archive that provides public online access to historic Eastern Shore newspapers, items from the Salisbury University archives, Special Collections and Local History Archives.
• Digital Maryland: Selections from the photograph collections of Orlando V. Wootten and Walter C. Thurston, Jr. in the Local History Archives, documenting the people and places of Maryland’s Eastern Shore during the mid-20^th century.

Our non-circulating collection contains over 12,000 books and published materials. While the focus of our library is the history and culture of Delmarva and its families, our published materials stretch beyond our borders and include United States history, African American history, military and government history, decorative arts, exploration, Native American history, and religion.

This Special Collections Microfilm Guide lists the extensive microfilm and CD special collections the Nabb Research Center has available in our Reading Room.  This collection is divided into the following broad research categories:

• African-American Studies
• Ante-bellum Period thru Civil War Period
• Census
• Colonial Period thru Revolutionary Period
• Economic Records (ledgers, journals, etc.)
• Family History
• Newspapers
• Native American
• Religion / Church Records
• Twentieth Century

In addition to the above, we have a large collection of microfilm consisting of government, church, and newspaper records relating to our main areas of interest: the states (or colonies) of Delaware (Kent & Sussex Counties), Maryland (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, & Worcester Counties) and Virginia (Accomack & Northampton Counties).  We do have some assorted films from other counties. Locator guide of microfilm on hand, varying by state and county and dates available, includes: 

• Chancery Court
• Church records
• Debt Books
• Judicial Records
• Land Records and Deeds
• Maryland State Papers (black, red, brown, & blue books)
• Newspapers
• Order books
• Orphans Court and Guardian Accounts
• Probate records (Wills, Administration Accounts, Administrations Bonds, Inventories)
• Tax lists
• Vital Records
• Warrants & Surveys

The Franklin P. Perdue Museum of Business and Entrepreneurship provides a unique opportunity for visitors and students to study the core values and philosophies of Arthur, Frank and Jim Perdue within a framework of the business models Perdue Farms has followed over a century and three generations of family ownership.

• The Perdue Museum is located in SU’s Perdue Hall, located off U.S. Business Route 13.
  - Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and by appointment.
  - Summer Hours: By appointment.
  - Parking: Lots B & C - parking map
• Records of Perdue Farms, Inc. Finding Aid

More information: 410-548-5391 or PerdueMuseum@salisbury.edu

• American Origins Database
• Early Somerset County, MD Land Records
• Vertical Files
• COVID-19 Collection