Robert Lee Burton Jr. Reading Room
Archives
Map Room
Newspaper Room
Microfilm Room

Robert Lee Burton Jr. Reading Room

The Robert Lee Burton Jr. Reading Room contains over seven thousand titles with topics covering a wide range of topics related to Delmarva’s history and culture.  The room also contains approximately 2,500 sets of microfilm, which can be viewed by one of our fifteen microfilm machines.  An exhibit space displays an extensive variety of ever rotating exhibits designed by staff, students, and faculty alike highlighting the history of Delmarva.  Also housed in the reading room s the longest continuous set of court records in the United States on microfilm.

The general public may also take an interest in our prodigious collection of family history documents.  The Leslie Powell Dryden collection, also found in the reading room, consists of 445 binders of names for genealogical purposes.  Outside researchers may also be interested in information pertaining to the Underground Railroad and microfilm sets regarding the prominent Harriet Tubman.

The reading room is used for several purposes beyond general research.  Salisbury University students frequently attend class and local interest groups like Wicomico Preservation Trust hold meetings.  Amateur and professional scholars can use the resources of the Nabb Research Center for their research needs.  Employees of the Nabb Research Center are always available to provide their knowledge and assistance to help the students succeed.

  Archives

The Nabb Center’s archives are comprised of over 600 linear feet of artifacts and documents and are supervised by a professional archivist on staff.  Some of the rich materials collected include maps, newspapers, and a Folklore of Delmarva section, begun by Dr. Polly Stewart.  The archives are stockpiled in an environment-friendly climate controlled space to preserve the materials in the best condition possible.  If you are interested in preserving your valuable historical artifacts and would like to donate, please contact us at 410-543-6312 or online at rcdhac@salisbury.edu.

  Map Room

More information coming

  Newspaper Room

The Nabb Center’s newspaper room contains over 400 bound volumes, with a variety of collection including African-American newspapers such as The Commonwealth, The Maryville Republican, and The Afro American as well as local papers like The Salisbury Advertiser, and The Broiler.  We have newspapers dating back as early as the 18^th and 19^th century.

Any particular newspaper can be located within a few minutes via a finding aid located at the front desk.  Space is provided in the room for personal research.  Like the archives room, the newspaper room is climate
controlled to preserve the quality of the paper.

  Microfilm Room

Located adjacent to the reading room for easy access is the Nabb Research Center’s microfilm room, housing over fifteen microfilm readers.  We also offer electronic scanning technology for you to make copies of any microfilm document for a nominal fee.

Updated by Matt Jankiewicz (5/09)