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.

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Interview with William Stewart Allmond, 1969 July 3 [audio] (part 2)
Allmond's interviews detail the work environment at the Wilmington plant site in the early 1900s until the 1940s; various markets for car wheels; the expansion of the company and acquisition of Morton Poole Company and Nazel Engineering Works; and the effects of the Great Depression on Lobdell, which led to the company's purchase by Walter Lippincott and the United Engineering and Foundry Company in the late 1940s.
Interview with Luther D. Reed, 1968 May 28 [audio](part 1)
Reed describes his early working career with DuPont in the dynamite plant in Gibbstown, his movement to the Hopewell, Virginia plant, the beginnings of DuPont's values regarding safety, and the introduction of on-site medical care. He also discusses the typical plant working environment and the challenges he faced at the Hopewell plant.
Interview with Luther D. Reed, 1968 May 28 [audio](part 2)
Reed describes his early working career with DuPont in the dynamite plant in Gibbstown, his movement to the Hopewell, Virginia plant, the beginnings of DuPont's values regarding safety, and the introduction of on-site medical care. He also discusses the typical plant working environment and the challenges he faced at the Hopewell plant.
Interview with Luther D. Reed, 1968 May 29 [audio](part 3)
Reed describes in detail the planning and execution behind the 150th anniversary celebration of the DuPont company as well as his role as director of these events. He also describes the efforts of du Pont family members in planning, including Louise du Pont Crowninshield. He also describes his role as the director of the Hagley Foundation, including the building the museum and library, the selection of the trustees, and the development of the by-laws.
Interview with William Stewart Allmond, 1969 June 10 [audio] (part 1)
Allmond's interviews detail the work environment at the Wilmington plant site in the early 1900s until the 1940s; various markets for car wheels; the expansion of the company and acquisition of Morton Poole Company and Nazel Engineering Works; and the effects of the Great Depression on Lobdell, which led to the company's purchase by Walter Lippincott and the United Engineering and Foundry Company in the late 1940s.
Interview with Luther D. Reed, 1968 June 6 [audio](part 4)
Reed describes the Hopewell plant in detail, his job responsibilities regarding labor and payroll, DuPont during World War I and the closure of the Hopewell plant, and the acquisitions of other companies. Reed focuses on his sales, managerial, and personnel work for DuPont. He also describes his experience at the Arlington plant and his eventual promotion to service superintendent at the Rayon Company and later move to Wilmington. He also touches on unionization in the industry.
Interview with William Stewart Allmond, 1969 June 10, July 3 [transcript]
Transcript of interview conducted with W. Stewart Allmond who worked in the foundry business. The interview took place in Newark, Delaware.
Interview with Luther D. Reed [transcript]
Transcript of interview with Luther Reed who worked in sales, managerial, and personnel positions for DuPont and who was involved with forming the foundation at Hagley as well as its early development. The interview took place in Wilmington, Delaware.