Elsie Steele Williams, wife of the late U.S. Senator John Williams of Millsboro, Delaware, bequeathed her doll collection to the college in February 1990. Mrs. Williams' doll collection is a poignant reminder of her life - who she was, where she traveled and her varied experiences.

Of her diverse collection she once said, "Many of the dolls in my collection from foreign countries are fast becoming a thing of the past as more and more people adopt the dress of the Western world."

This collection of dolls offers us a unique insight into the customs and traditions of a world outside our own. While there is much variance in the monetary and cultural value of each of Mrs. Williams' dolls, all have the immeasurable value of history.

Anna Teel of Seaford, Delaware brought part of her extensive collection to the Owens Campus in the Spring of 1992. While the variety of Mrs. Teel's collection is great, the sentimental value is even greater as each doll was a gift from her husband Captain Richard Teel.

From the streets of Berlin, Germany to the fields of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, all of Mrs. Teel's dolls have a unique persona representative of the place of origin. Each has a specific time period or is typical of the world it represents. Many of the dolls were handmade and individually fashioned and, thus, now are irreplaceable.

The most recent additions to the collection were received from Kathryn Megyri, a high school English teacher from suburban Maryland. This selection of teacher dolls came from the collection started by her mother in 1962 upon Ms. Megyri's decision to enter that profession. Each of the dolls is intended to represent the backbone of the American education system, the teachers.

Since 1990 the Stephen J.. Betze Library on the Owens Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College has been home to the Elsie Williams Doll Collection. Currently the collection of over 600 dolls is housed in more than one dozen glass cases and is continuing to grow. The estimated value of the collection is nearly $100,000.

The Owens Campus of Delaware Tech is honored to be the only college campus in the United States to feature an exhibit of international and domestic dolls.

The collection features dolls of all sizes and shapes - some in traditional native costume and others in special occasion garments. Many of the dolls are dressed in costumes crafted from the elaborate hand woven laces of Europe or pure silk of the Orient. The attention to detail often is exceptional - from hand painted features to delicate miniature jewelry with semi-precious stones.

The Elsie Williams Doll Collection is located in the Stephen J. Betze Library on the Owens Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College, RT. 18/404 Seashore Highway, Georgetown, Delaware. The exhibit is open to the public during regular library hours. Admission is free. For more information, please call 302-856-9033.

Stately Treasures

The "Trees of the States" exhibit originated in 1976 during the bicentennial celebration when the College of the Redwoods, Eureka, California, donated a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) to Delaware Technical & Community College. This small gift inspired Campus Director Jack F. Owens to create a living part of each state right here in the nation's first state. Mr. Owens requested a state tree seedling from the governors to be planted at the Southern Campus.

Over the years, some of the trees died, but Mr. Owens' vision to establish a tree haven remained, and the project was revitalized in 1989. With the cooperation of the governors, state foresters and the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the "Trees of the States" exhibit is now open to the public. It is the pioneer exhibit of a state tree collection in the United States.

The "Trees of the States" exhibit provides a self-guided walking tour of fifty-one trees. Each tree is identified with a marker and displays the tree name, its scientific classification, and the tree's donor.

The exhibit is part of the Southern Campus Arboretum. The arboretum serves as an outdoor classroom for educating the public. Its focus is to create an understanding and appreciation of the value of trees and their economic, social, and environmental benefits to society.

• Visitors enter the Southern Campus Arboretum at their own risk.
• Park in designated parking lots only.
• All pets must be kept on leashes.
• Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.
• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Fishing in the pond is prohibited.
• Picnicking is permitted only in the designated area.
• Please use receptacles for litter.
• Breaking limbs and carving in trees is prohibited.
• The building of fires is prohibited. Visitors are requested to be especially careful during dry periods in disposing of cigars, cigarettes, and matches.