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.

Search Collection

Interview with Thomas Dunlop, 1985 April 19 [audio]
Dunlop describes floods along the Brandywine, the celebration of the Scottish holiday of Hugmanah, various items in the household, his father's garden, and medical care.
Interview with Jennie Sicco Leto, 1984 June 21 [audio]
Leto describes life along the Brandywine, including christenings, her grandmother's home and garden, her education, and entertainments and amusements. She also describes her family's history and emigration from Italy, Christmas traditions, and impression of various du Pont family members.
Interview with C. Natalie Rogerro Meriggi, 1984 July 24 [audio]
Meriggi largely focuses on vegetable gardening and ornamental plantings at Hagley gardens. She discusses how her family gardened, including crop storage, choosing of plants, making jams and jellies, buying seeds, and typical tools used.
Interview with Blanche MacAdoo Yetter, 1984 July 25 [audio]
Yetter discusses ornamental and vegetable gardening near the near the DuPont Company Hagley Yards. Mrs. Yetter talks about the types of vegetables her family grew and how they did so, as well as what kind of flowers was grown on their property. Other areas and family gardens in which Mrs. Yetter was familiar is also discussed.
Interview with Thomas Dunlop, 1985 April 19 [transcript]
Transcript of third interview with Thomas Dunlop who continues to discuss life on the Brandywine. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Interview with Jennie Sicco Leto, 1984 June 21 [transcript]
Transcript of second interview with Jennie Leto who was an Italian immigrant who grew up in Squirrel Run and Free Park and whose father was killed in an explosion. The interview took place in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Interview with C. Natalie Rogerro Meriggi, 1984 July 24 [transcript]
Transcript of third interview with Natalie Meriggi in which she recounts ornamental and vegetable gardening in houses along the Brandywine. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.
Interview with Blanche MacAdoo Yetter, 1984 July 25 [transcript]
Transcript of third interview with Blanche Yetter who recalls her time on the Brandywine, in particular vegetable and ornamental gardening. The interview took place in Claymont, Delaware.