Callender, Donald W., Jr.

Donald W. Callender, Jr., is an industrial archaeologist whose career in the greater Delaware-Pennsylvania-Maryland-New Jersey area has involved maintenance and restoration of railroads and rail cars, as well as the establishment of a regional living history museum, and leadership of historic preservation organizations.

Callender graduated from Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Archeology. He began his career working as director of the Bishop's Mill Historical Institute, a non-profit organization that created and maintains the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation in Ridley Creek State Park (Edgemont, Pennsylvania). After working with the institute from 1973-1977, he became tourist development officer of the Visitor's Council of Delaware County, Pennsylvania from 1978-1979. In 1980, he served for three years as executive director of the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he developed its initial marketing plan, promotional materials, staffing, membership, and work programs.

From the years 1983-1989, Callender served as executive director of Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc., a non-profit organization that operated the Wilmington and Western Railroad (Delaware's only steam tourist railroad). Moving from the non-profit sector into the arena of business, he began employment with Railroad Management services in 1989, and researched, wrote, and presented a study of three potential sites for a Claymont, Delaware, commuter rail station for the Delaware Department of Transportation. From 1992-2005 he served as a vice president and partner for Four States Railway Services, a Delaware corporation responsible for managing the West Chester Railroad in Chester County, Pennsylvania. While working at Four States, Callender also served as a historic interpreter at Hagley Museum and Library in Greenville, Delaware. In April, 2005 he became a justice of the peace for New Castle County Courts.

He is the father of Samuel Callender and Joseph Callender.

Biographical information derived from the collection.

From the guide to the Donald Callender papers, 1968-2008, (bulk dates 1974-1999), (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)