Skip to main content
Notice: The Library is open for research by appointment only, please visit our research services page for more information.

Hazle Edens collection of du Pont family graphic materials

Creation: circa 1840-1940
 Collection
Accession: 1982-323

Abstract

Henry du Pont (1812-1889) was the second son of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) and senior partner of E.I du Pont de Nemours & Company from 1850 to 1889. The collection consists of materials relating to the descendants of Henry and Louisa Gerhard du Pont. Primarily, the collection consists of portraits and other photographs of their daughters Evelina, Ellen, Louisa, Sara, Victorine, Sophie and other family members.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1840-1940

Creator

Extent

6 Linear Feet

General Physcial Description

163 photographic prints : b&w ; 10 x 13 in. or smaller; 40 albumen silver prints : b&w ; cartes-de-visite. 11 photographic prints: b&w ; cabinet cards. 3 daguerreotypes. 1 tintype. 2 opalotype. 1 glass plate negative : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. 18 photographic prints : color ; 4 x 6 in. 22 engravings. 4 postcards. 9 letters/envelopes.3 maps. 44 items.

Biographical Note

Henry du Pont (1812-1889) was the second son of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) and senior partner of E.I du Pont de Nemours & Company from 1850 to 1889. In 1837, he married Louisa Gerhard (1816-1900). Henry and Louisa du Pont had nine children including Henry Algernon du Pont (1839-1905), Evelina du Pont (1840-1938), Ellen Eugenia du Pont Irving (1843-1907), Louisa Gerhard du Pont (1845-1863), Sara du Pont Duer (1847-1876), Victorine Elizabeth du Pont Foster (1849-1934), Sophie Madeleine du Pont Chandler (1851-1931), and William du Pont (1855-1928). The family resided at "Eleutherian Mills," the original family homestead near Wilmington.

Elaine du Pont Irving Woodriff (1881-1965) was the daughter of Ellen Eugenia du Pont (1843-1907) and Alexander Duer Irving (1842-1910). She grew up in Sunnyside, the Irving family home near Tarrytown, New York, but spent much time visiting her du Pont aunts and cousins near Wilmington, Delaware. She married John Jaffray Woodriff (1885-1957) on March 27, 1909.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of materials relating to the descendents of Henry and Louisa Gerhard du Pont. Primarily, the collection consists of portraits and other photographs of their daughters Evelina, Ellen, Louisa, Sara, Victorine, and Sophie. As well, there are photographs of Sophie's husband, Theophilus Chandler and Ellen's daughter, Elaine du Pont Irving. There are also photographs of cousins and friends, including portraits of Bessie (Elizabeth) du Pont Bayard, and a group portrait of Louise du Pont Crowninshield and seven of her female du Pont cousins. There are also some portraits of du Pont family ancestors including Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, Sophie Madeleine Dalmas du Pont, Evelina du Pont Bidermann, Samuel Francis du Pont and his wife Sophie du Pont. In addition, there are photographs of two du Pont family employees, one the governess to Henry and Louisa du Pont's daughters, and the other a man who apparently worked in Evelina du Pont's stable.

The collection also contains photographs of family homes and gardens in Delaware, including Eleutherian Mills and Upper Louviers. There are also photographs of the First Office, the Brandywine Manufacturers' Sunday School, and Christ Church in Greenville, Delaware.

There are photographs and memorabilia related to Elaine du Pont Irving Woodriff and her family and friends. Many of these items are attached to scrapbook pages. There are family photographs, including both individual and group portraits and snapshots of family members, friends, homes, and activities. Family members pictured include: Elaine du Pont Irving (Woodriff); Ellen Eugenia du Pont (Irving) and her siblings Henry Algernon, Victorine, Sophie, and Evelina du Pont; Henry du Pont and Louisa Gerhard (du Pont); Alexander Duer Irving; Louis, Evelyn, John Duer, and Henry du Pont Irving; John Jaffray Woodriff; John Irving Woodriff; Louise du Pont (Crowninshield); Frances Boardman Crowninshield; and Henry Francis du Pont. One photograph of note shows Louisa Gerhard and Henry du Pont with their children in front of the Eleutherian Mills residence, Greenville, Delaware. Other family homes pictured include Sunnyside, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York; Frascati, Somerset, Virginia; a home in Marblehead, Massachusetts; and other unidentified houses. There are also photographs and memorabilia related to the marriage of Elaine du Pont Irving to John J. Woodriff, March 27, 1909, including portraits, the invitation, the seating plan for the church, newspaper clippings, and telegram messages. Louise and Frank Crowninshield's wedding portrait (June 28, 1900) is also in the collection. Other photographs and memorabilia include: Elaine du Pont Irving and friends horseback riding at Frascati; a 1902 invitation to a reception at the White House hosted by President and Mrs. Roosevelt; an invitation to the "one hundreth anniversary of the the first landing in America of their ancestor Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours" held at Saint Amour on Jan 1, 1900, and a news clipping describing the party. There is also a photograph of Jaffray Louise Edens (1958-) wearing the christening gown of her great great great Aunt Evelina du Pont (1840-1938) in 1959.

The collection also contains a number of miscellaneous prints, photographs, and other items. The prints include foreign views, religious pictures, and other miscellaneous subjects, such as a portrait of Napoleon. There are also three packets of small prints demonstrating how to draw and copy. Three maps are in the collection: one of the Zanesville & Ohio River Railway and connections (n.d.), a pocket map of South Carolina (1893), and a map of Jerusalem (n.d.). There are three Japanese block-printed books, one of which has Theophilus P. Chandler's (Sophie M. du Pont's husband) name inscribed in it, and brief notations on some pages, including a few about the architecture of ancient Japanese homes. Other miscellaneous items include the following: a clipper ship card of the Florence Nightingale, Coleman's California Line for San Francisco; a copy of Graham's American Monthly Magazine (November 1846, No. CCLI); a reward of merit for Louisa du Pont from her aunt Victorine; Christmas cards; and three volumes of sheet music with plates on the covers bearing the names of Louisa Gerhard, Sophie M. du Pont, and Louise G. du Pont.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Hazle Edens collection of du Pont family graphic materials
Author:
Laurie Sather
Date:
2013.
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400