John W. Macklem collection of DuPont Company powder yards photographs

About this collection

    John W. Macklem (1867-1948) began working for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company as an errand boy at a young age and remained with the company his entire career.
    The John W. Macklem collection of DuPont Company powder yards photographs (Accession 1968.010) materials show buildings and scenes in DuPont Company explosives manufacturing plants along the Brandywine Creek near Wilmington, Delaware. Most pictures were taken after the yards ceased operation in 1921 and the buildings were abandoned. The collection also includes views of private residences near the yards, a press house being demolished, Breck's Mill, and Henry Clay Village. Three albumen photographs taken by Pierre Gentieu (1842-1930) in 1889 depict the aftermath of an explosion.
    Most of the photographs have extensive captions handwritten and signed by Macklem on reverse.
    Image: Rolling mills in Upper Hagley Yard. Click here to view in the collection.

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