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Better Living magazine photographs

Creation: 1946 December-1972 January
 Collection
Accession: 2015-206

Abstract

Better Living magazine was an E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont Company) employee magazine that features articles that highlight how the DuPont Company improved the lives of its employees and the American standards of living. Researchers can expect to find original photographs, proofs, contact sheets, and negatives taken for use in the Better Living magazine. The images included are both the ones used and unused in the publication and date from 1946 to 1972.

Dates

  • Creation: 1946 December-1972 January

Creator

Extent

24 Linear Feet

Historical Note

Better Living magazine was an E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont Company) employee magazine that featured articles that highlighted how the DuPont Company improved the lives of its employees and the American standards of living. DuPont Company, established in 1802 by Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) and his son Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) as a black powder manufactorer, changed its focus to chemistry in the 1900s and 1910s. Issues of Better Living features DuPont employees at leisure and at work and features the DuPont Company advertising slogan "Better Things for Better Living… Through Chemistry." The DuPont Company, Public Relations Department, published the first issue of Better Living in 1946 from Wilmington, Delaware.

The Public Affairs Department, originally called the Publicity Bureau, was created in 1912. In 1938 it was renamed the Public Relations Department until 1973, when it was renamed the Public Affairs Department. During the 1930s, the Public Affairs Department attempted to counter the Nye Commission investigation, which labeled the DuPont Company as a "merchant of death." It developed the slogan "Better Things for Better Living through Chemistry" and developed the DuPont Cavalcade of America on the radio. The Community Relations Division, established in 1946, published the magazine Better Living.

All issues of Better Living were published under the Public Relations Department. Better Living features annual reports from the DuPont Company, the 1964 New York World's Fair, and occupational safety measures. In 1972 the last issue of Better Living was published for a total of 148 issues.

Scope and Contents

Researchers can expect to find original photographs, proofs, contact sheets, and negatives taken for use in the Better Living magazine. The images included are both the ones used and unused in the publication and date from 1946 to 1972. Many photographs contain notes on the back providing contextual information like article title, year, location, or notable people. Some photographs are marked with crop lines indicating the portion of the image that the editor wished to reproduce in the magazine. This collection is arranged chronologically by issue.

These images include employees on-the-job and at leisure, production facilities, and final products. The images in the collection accompanied articles about topics such as environmental impact and pollution, women in the industry, workers’ safety, fashion, and industrial recreation. Notably found among this collection’s contents are images from the 1964 New York World’s Fair and the DuPont Cavalcade of America. The annual reports include photographs of operating statements, facilities, new business ventures, and formal events. Industrial equipment and facilities are featured prominently in this collection, with such examples as the pigments department slurry tank, storage spheres for urea-ammonia liquor, and an ultra-centrifuge. Also included are images of multinational pursuits, such as photographs of the Showa Neoprene plant in Japan, and new business ventures, like photographs showcasing the opening of new plants.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

Negatives (Boxes 25-48) are located in remote storage. Please contact staff 48 hours in advance of research visit at askhagley@hagley.org

Related Materials

Better Living [f HD9651.9.D94 A14] magazine, Published Collections Department, Hagley Musuem and Library. View this publication online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Better Living magazine photographs
Author:
Chloe Tolman
Date:
2022
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