Pierre Gentieu papers
Creation: 1858-1911Abstract
Pierre A. Gentieu (1842-1930) was a photographer and a long-term employee of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, a chemical company more commonly referred to as the DuPont company. Gentieu's papers include correspondence with du Pont family members and coworkers, an account book of powder packed at the Hagley Yard (1858-1902), a record book with lists of explosions (1882-1909), time work sheets of powdermen during the 1890s, and a list of the principal events in the powder yards from 1882 to 1911.
Dates
- Creation: 1858-1911
Creator
- Gentieu, Pierre A., 1842-1930 (Person)
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet
Biographical Note
Pierre A. Gentieu (1842-1930) was a photographer and a long-term employee of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, a chemical company more commonly referred to as the DuPont company. Gentieu was born in France in 1842. He immigrated to the United States in 1860. As a member of the local militia in New Orleans, Gentieu refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. In July of 1862 he enlisted with the 13th Regiment of Volunteers of Connecticut, which was formed in Louisiana.
He began working for DuPont in 1877 and remained a loyal employee until his retirement in 1911. In 1879, while on a lunch break, Gentieu painted the Lower Yard. The painting impressed his direct supervisor, Lammot du Pont (1831-1884), who requested that Gentieu photograph it so that various members of the du Pont family could have a copy. Shortly thereafter, Gentieu was promoted to making sieves for separating powder grains. In 1881, he was promoted to yard clerk, and then later store keeper at the mills.
Drawing and photography were among Gentieu’s favorite pastimes. The du Ponts allowed Gentieu to photograph the DuPont Co. plant, property, family members, and their homes. He created an invaluable photographic record of the company's Brandywine Mills at the turn of the twentieth century.
Scope and Contents
Pierre Gentieu's papers include an account book of powder packed at the Hagley Yard (1858-1902), a record book with lists of explosions (1882-1909), time work sheets of powdermen under his supervision during the 1890s, and a list of the principal events in the powder yards from 1882 to 1911. This document describes the work process to manufacture black powder at Hagley, as well as several accidents that took place during this period.
Existence and Location of Copies
View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Subjects
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Pierre Gentieu papers
- Author:
- John Beverley Riggs
- Date:
- 1970
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020: Laurie Sather
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository