The Historical Society of Delaware celebrates the 100^th Anniversary of the Christmas Seal with a new exhibit and lecture program by Dr. Constance Cooper, Director of Library and Archives. The fourth and final presentation in the Historical Society’s 2007 Signature Series Lecture program will focus on “Emily P. Bissell and the Christmas Seal.”  In addition to the lecture, which will be presented in Wilmington, Dover and Lewes in December and January, a small exhibit featuring both Emily Bissell and the Christmas Seal will be on display in the Society’s Willingtown Square Gallery at 505 Market Street.  The exhibit tells the story of Delaware’s Christmas Seal founder, Emily P. Bissell; the history of the Christmas Seal, itself; and the fight against tuberculosis in Delaware, the Nation and the World. Photographs, memorabilia and documents from the Society’s archives tell this inspiring story.

     In 1907, Emily Bissell’s cousin, Dr. Joseph Wales asked her to raise $300 to keep Delaware’s small struggling tuberculosis sanatorium open. At this time, TB was a deadly disease, and many people did not believe it could be treated or controlled. In an effort to raise the much needed funds, Emily Bissell introduced the Christmas Seal in the United States which originally sold for a penny a piece so everyone could afford to help “Stamp out tuberculosis!” The first seal succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations raising $3,000, profoundly changing the life of Emily P. Bissell and the course of the disease.