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Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School photographs

Creation: 1963-1966
 Collection
Accession: 1968-004

Abstract

The Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School (BMSS) was organized in 1817 as a non-sectarian school for the children of the local factory workers, with instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. This collection contains eleven Kodachrome prints of exterior views of the school building taken by Nancy Wootten (of Wilmington), between 1963 and 1966.

Dates

  • Creation: 1963-1966

Creator

Extent

11 item(s)

General Physical Description

11 photographic prints, color, 3 x 4.5 in.

Historical Note

The Brandywine Manufacturers' Sunday School (BMSS) was a nonsectarian school offering classes in reading, writing, arithmetic, and Bible lessons. The students, both male and female, were workers or the children of workers in the local manufactories along the Brandywine River, near Wilmington, Delaware. Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) financially supported the construction of a school building on his property in 1816. It was incorporated in 1817 and opened with James Siddall (1801-1874) as its superintendent; he had originated the school's concept in Wilmington.

Éleuthère Irénée du Pont's daughters, Victorine du Pont Bauduy (1792-1861), who succeeded Siddall as superintendent, Eleuthera du Pont Smith (1806-1876), and Sophie M. Du Pont (1810-1888), were teachers at the school, as were other family members and friends. The du Pont women devoted much time and energy preparing school lessons, teaching, and visiting students in their homes. In the nineteenth century, teaching and religion were considered acceptable public activities for women, and Sunday school teachers were predominantly female.

In 1823 the BMSS became affiliated with the American Sunday School Union for the purpose of obtaining less expensive reading materials. The passage of Delaware's Free School Law of 1829 and the development of an organized public school system changed the character of the BMSS. In 1851 the BMSS building was used for Episcopal services, and with the completion of Christ Church in 1856, the BMSS became an Episcopal church school. Classes continued in the school building but were restricted to religious subjects. The building became the Hagley Yard office for the DuPont Company in 1902 until 1921 and then was converted into a private dwelling.

Scope and Content

Kodachrome prints of the Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School by Nancy Wootten (of Wilmington), taken between 1963 and 1966. Presented to Eleutherian Mills Hagley Library, possibly by Mrs. Kenyen at Winterthur, on 1968 August 13. The prints are exterior views of the building.

Location

GL Box 2

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Related Material

Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School (BMSS) records (Accession 0389), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Winterthur Manuscripts, Group VI. (Accession WMSS:VI), Series A: Victorine du Pont Bauduy Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Winterthur Manuscripts, Group VI. (Accession WMSS:VI), Series C: Eleuthera du Pont Smith Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School photographs
Author:
Ruthanna Hindes
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