Wilson family photographs
Creation: circa 1860s-1942Abstract
Andrew Gray Wilson (1844-1905) was well-known among shipbuilders as a preeminent marine engineer and naval architect. This small collection consists primarily of individual and group portraits and snapshots of the Wilson family and the family of one of the daughters, Natalie Wilson du Pont. The collection is organized into three series; family photographs; home interiors and exteriors; and family cars and dogs photographs.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1860s-1942
Creator
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
General Physical Description
2 cyanotypes ; 8 x 10 in. 2 silhouettes : 6.5 x 5 in. 1 gelatin silver chloride print ; 2.5 x 4 in. 1 gelatin silver chloride print ; cabinet card. 1 matte collodion silver print ; 4 x 5.5 in. (2 copies). 2 collodion silver chloride print ; 6 x 8 in. 1 collodion silver chloride print ; 3.75 x 5 in. 2 collodion silver chloride print ; cabinet card. 5 albumen silver prints ; carte-de-visites. 1 albumen silver print ; 4.25 x 5 in. 1 albumen silver print ; 7.5 x 9.5 in. 7 albumen silver prints ; cabinet cards. 1 item : mixed media art ; 2.75 x 4.5 in. 1 copperplate engraving ; 6 x 8.5 in. on 12 x 16 in. paper. 4 gelatin silver prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. mounted on board. 59 gelatin silver prints : b&w ; 3.5 x 5 in. or smaller. 2 platinum prints ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.
Biographical Note
Andrew Gray Wilson (1844-1905) was well-known among shipbuilders as a preeminent marine engineer and naval architect. Wilson began his career with the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company in 1866, leaving for Maryland Steel Company in 1898. Wilson was the general manager of the marine department of the Maryland Steel Company at Sparrow’s Point, Maryland, a position he held until his death.
He was born in Newark, Delaware and later relocated with his family to Wilmington, Delaware where he attended the Col. Wyatt’s School. In October of 1872, he married Natalie Green Driver (1846-1912), daughter of Joshua Driver, who was the mayor of Wilmington in 1852. The couple settled in Wilmington at 1119 Market Street.
The Wilsons had six children: Rodgers Wilson, (1874-1923), Esther Driver Wilson (1875-1891), Natalie Driver Wilson (1877-1918), Andrew Wilson Jr., (1880-1897), Reynolds Driver Wilson, (1884-1948) and Paul Edmondstone Wilson (1886-1916). Esther and Andrew Jr. both died in their youth. Natalie Driver Wilson married Lammot du Pont (1880-1952) who was president of the DuPont Company from 1926 to 1940. The couple had eight children. Reynolds Driver Wilson married Deborah B.H. Wilson (1886-1970). Paul Edmondstone married Alice Hounsfield du Pont (later Buck) (1891-1967) on October 29, 1912 and had two children before Mr. Paul Wilson's death in 1916.
Natalie Green Wilson continued to live in Wilmington until her death in 1912. The couple is buried at Old Swedes Church in New Castle, Delaware.
Scope and Content
This small collection consists primarily of individual and group portraits and snapshots of the Wilson family and the family of one of the daughters, Natalie Wilson du Pont. The collection is organized into three series; family photographs; home interiors and exteriors; and family cars and dogs photographs.
The Family photographs series contains portraits of Andrew Gray Wilson, Natalie Green Wilson and their five children. There are two snapshots of Andrew Gray Wilson standing with others on a dock of the Maryland Steel Company. The photographs of the Wilson children are mostly group portraits, with individual portraits only of Rodgers Wilson as a young boy and of Natalie Wilson du Pont (at various ages). There are portraits and snapshots of Lammot and Natalie du Pont and their eight children. The images of their children are unidentified. There are a sequence of images of an unidentified young man eating a piece of fruit (possibly a lemon) and an portrait engraving of T.C. du Pont.
Home interiors and exterior photographs date from around the 1940s. The photographs are mostly exterior views of residential homes. The house locations and owners are unidentified.
Family cars and dogs photographs are a few photographs of dogs that seem to have been family pets of the Lammot and Natalie du Pont family. There are a few photographs of cars that possibly also belonged to the Lammot and Natalie du Pont family.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Additional Description
Separated Materials
Wilson family miscellany (Accession 2592), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- Du Pont, Lammot, 1880-1952 (Person)
- Du Pont, Natalie Wilson, 1877-1918 (Person)
- Du Pont family (Family)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Wilson family photographs
- Author:
- Laurie Rizzo
- Date:
- 2014
- 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
