Delaware's shore communities have been attracting summer visitors for over a century. Rehoboth and other resort towns have been seen as more family-oriented vacation spots, than the larger vacation destinations of Ocean City, Maryland or the New Jersey shore.

Howard S. Schroeder, 1910-
Schroeder: A Man and his Art edited by John R. Schroeder and Kevin N. Moore. Lewes, Del.: Howard S. Schroeder, c1994.

Born in New York City, Schroeder came to Lewes, Delaware as a soldier during World War II and has remained there ever since. He has painted throughout the world but has a special affection for portraying the Delaware shore.

Photograph of Lewes, Delaware. 1936. Willard S. Stewart. Delaware Photograph Collection.

"Boardwalk by moonlight. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware." Boston: Tichnor Brothers, circa 1946. Delaware Postcard Collection.

"Beach Scene, Rehoboth, Del." Rehoboth, Del.: Horn's, circa 1910. Delaware Postcard Collection.

"A Sudden Mood of a Sunset Sea. Rehoboth Beach, Del." Salisbury, MD: Photo-Lite Camera Shop, circa 1960. Delaware Postcard Collection.

Thornton Oakley (1881-1953).
Three watercolor sketches.

Thornton Oakley was an illustrator and painter who studied with Howard Pyle in Wilmington. He taught illustration for many years at the Philadelphia Museum's School of Industrial Art (now part of the University of the Arts) and produced many illustrations for both books and popular magazines such as Harper's and Collier's. These untitled watercolor sketches were probably done during one of the Oakley family's vacations at the shore. Special Collections holds several manuscript collections related to Oakley including diaries, letters, and artwork for the illustrations of several of his travel books.