Hazel Brittingham honored by DAR at local, national levels

Hazel Downs Brittingham of Lewes was recently recognized for her work as a historian by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Mitchell Chapter. She also received recognition from the DAR national headquarters. 

Her writings have been published in newspapers, journals and magazines as well as books. Brittingham is an extraordinary and talented woman with a deep passion for Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware, and the history of the entire area. She has shared this passion for decades through the use of her pen. When she is not researching or writing about area history, she is a guest speaker sharing her findings on topics as diverse as Groome Church history, Victorian teas, Delaware's maritime history, Miss Lil' s House of Entertainment for Men, and the Junction & Breakwater Railroad. Her efforts were instrumental in gaining recognition of the unknown sailors’ cemetery with the placement of a historic marker at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Lewes.

Brittingham was honored by the National Society DAR with a Women in the Arts Recognition Award, designed to recognize worthy women at the community level for outstanding achievements in the non-performance arts. The nomination process required biographical information plus letters of reference from the local chapter chairwoman and two non-DAR members with professional qualifications to judge the nominee, as well as 10 articles and chapters from her books along with pictures.