The Hagley Portrait file is an artificial collection (e.g., created and assembled by the archivist) composed almost entirely of photographic reproductions and copy negatives, with very few original prints. The Portrait file is intended to be a resource to assist in locating images of individuals. The images are not always of high quality, nor does Hagley own the copyright or the originals of all the images. The portraits are primarily formal individual portraits; there are some informal snapshots or group portraits. More than half of the collection depicts du Pont family members or those associated with the du Pont family. The du Pont family is a prominent Delawarean family descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817), who founded E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company with his son, Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834), in 1802. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company is a chemical research and manufacturing company more commonly referred to as the DuPont Company.