Oral histories on work and daily life in the Brandywine Valley
About this collection
The Oral histories on work and daily life in the Brandywine Valley (Accession 1970.370) collection contains approximately 200 interviews conducted between 1953 and 1990 with people who lived and worked in New Castle County, Delaware. The recollections of the subjects cover a period from about 1900 to 1960.While the majority of the interviews are with those who have a connection with the DuPont Company or du Pont family either as employees or inhabitants of the area surrounding the company's operation on the Brandywine River, the collection also includes interviews with those who worked in other industries in Delaware during this era such as Hodgson Woolen Mill, Lobdell Car Wheel Company, Hoopes Brother & Darlington, and Joseph Bancroft & Sons.In addition to documenting work and labor during this period, the interviewers delve deeply into the social and cultural lives of their subjects. Issues related to domesticity, gender, education, childhood, ethnicity, medicine, etc. are among the topics covered in the interviews. Also of note are interviews with a journalist (Fred Reybold) and an early broadcaster (Willard Wilson) who worked in Delaware.Image: Vance Mitchell during 1968 interview. Click here to view in the collection.
Transcript of interview with Faith Betty Lattomus and Madaline Betty Walls recalling their time growing up along the Brandywine. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Becker describes how he was hired as the assistant superintendent of Eleutherian Mills and how Louise du Pont Crowninshield took an interest in him and asked him to be the groundskeeper. He describes the unkempt state of the grounds when he arrived in 1928 and his plans to improve them, as well as how his job has changed over time. He also discusses his impressions of Mrs. Crowninshield, his home along the Brandywine, improvements made to the house throughout the years, and preparations for going to Boca Grande., [Description and dates], Hagley ID, Box/folder number, Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation interview transcripts on the history of the DuPont Company Powder Yard (Accession 2026), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807
Transcript of interview with Ann Hudson recalling life on the Upper Banks while her father worked as a powder man at the Experimental Station. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Catherine C. Irving recalling her memories of Louise du Pont Crowninshield. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Emily Blackwell who lived at Squirrel Run while her father worked in the powder mills for DuPont. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Catherine Cheney who lived in Free Park and whose grandfather and father were guards at Hagley mills. The interview took place in New Castle, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with George Christ who worked for the Hoopes Brothers and Darlington Company. The interview took place in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Transcript of interview with Mary Hazzard Collins who worked as a forelady and elevator operator for DuPont. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Katherine Collison recalling life on the Brandywine while living in Belin House during the time her father was a bookeeper. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with William Flanigan recalling life on the Brandywine and in the powder mills while his father was employed by DuPont. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Benjamin Foster who worked for the Power Division of Engineering Department. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Samuel Hackendorn who lived in Charles Banks, Squirrel Run, and Free Park while his father worked in the Hagley Yard grinding mill. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Transcript of interview with Joseph B. Kauss who recalled working for DuPont while driving around the powder yards. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.