Collecting Delaware Books
Books by Carol E. Hoffecker
University of Delaware history professors over the years have followed a pattern: they are popular with their students, they write and edit insightful and readable books about Delaware, and their books become collectable.
Dr. Carol E. Hoffecker continues in this tradition like H. Clay Reed and John A. Munroe before her.
Hoffecker, who lives in Hockessin, received a B.A. degree with honors from the University of Delaware, the M.A. from Radcliffe College, and her Ph.D. from Harvard University. Though she taught at Sweet Briar College and Northwestern University, her academic career has centered in Delaware since 1968, briefly at Hagley and then at the University of Delaware for 30 years. She was awarded the Richards Professor of History chair in 1982. Hoffecker chaired the university's Department of History from 1983 to 1988, and was Associate Provost for Graduate Studies for seven years. She retired to emerita status in 2003 but is still active active in educational, professional, and civic capacities.
Wilmington: A Pictorial History is perhaps Hoffecker's most sought-after book. It is a wonderful collection of early Wilmington pictures with supporting text. The hardbound edition regularly sells at $60 to $90 in fine condition. The softbound edition can fetch half as much.
Her Corporate Capital: Wilmington in the Twentieth Century should be required reading for every candidate for public office. It shows how the city and New Castle County got to be what they are today, both good and bad, as a result of public policy decisions. The light shed on the powerful role of state and national highway agencies is especially revealing.
Books
Hoffecker has written many articles for publications like Winterthur Portfolio, Delaware History, Delaware Lawyer, and Quaker History. However, it is her books and pamphlets that are most collected. A checklist of these follows.
- Democracy in Delaware. Cedar Tree Books 2004.
- Delaware the First State. Middle Atlantic Press 1988, 1989, 2001.
- Honest John Williams U.S. Senator from Delaware. Univ. of Del. Press 2000.
- Familiar Relations the du Ponts & the University of Delaware. Univ. of Del. 2000.
- Unidel a Foundation for University Enrichment. Unidel Foundation, Inc. 1995.
- Beneath Thy Guiding Hand a History of Women at the University of Delaware. Univ. of Del. 1994.
- The Rocks and the Rock a Comparison of the Plymouth Colony to New Sweden. 1993.
- Federal Justice in the First State. 1992.
- Acres of Diamonds in Your Own Back Yard. 1998.
- Books, Bricks, & Bibliophiles the University of Delaware Library. Univ. of Del. 1984.
- Corporate Capital Wilmington in the Twentieth Century. Temple Univ. Press 1983.
- Wilington, A Pictorial History. Donning, Virginia Beach VA 1982.
- Water and sewage works in Wilmington, Delaware 1810-1910. Chicago 1981.
- Delaware, a Bicentennial History. Norton, New York 1977.
- Brandywine Village the Story of a Milling Community. Wilmington 1974.
- Wilmington, Delaware Portrait of an Industrial City 1830-1910. Univ. Press of Va. [1974].
- Readings in Delaware History. Univ. of Del. Press [1973].
- Delaware Troops in the Revolution. 1958.