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Jean Kane Foulke du Pont invitations

Creation: 1932-1971
 Collection
Accession: 1310

Abstract

Jean Kane Foulke du Pont (1891-1985) was a suffragette, prison reform activist, philanthropist, and wife of E. Paul du Pont (1887-1950). The collection contains invitations, mostly to weddings, but also to cocktail parties and debutante balls.

Dates

  • Creation: 1932-1971

Creator

Extent

1 Linear Foot

Biographical Note

Jean Kane Foulke du Pont (1891-1985) was a suffragette, prison reform activist, and philanthropist. She was born on May 21, 1891 in Lenape, Pennsylvania to George Rhyfedd Foulke (1865-1901) and Jean Kane Foulke (1867-1962). She was the granddaughter of William Foulke (1816-1865), who discovered the first full dinosaur skeleton in North America. Foulke grew up in Philadelphia and attended the Misses Hebb's School in Wilmington, Delaware. She was later active in the school's alumni activities.

In 1910, Foulke married E. Paul du Pont (1887-1950), son of Francis Gurney du Pont (1850-1904) and Elise Wigfall Simons (1850-1919). He founded Du Pont Motors and later bought and became president of Indian Motorcycles. The couple had six children: Éleuthère Paul, Jr. (1911-1963), Francis George (1913-1938), Stephen (1915-2012), Benjamin Bonneau (1919-1999), Robert Jacques (1923-1990), and Alexis Irénée (1928-2016).

Foulke was active in women's affairs, prison reform, the arts, and gardening. She was also a genealogist and compiled several books on family history. In 1916, she picketed the White House with a group of Delaware women in effort to persuade President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) to become active in the cause. In 1919, she helped found the Prisoners' Aid Society of Delaware as well as Bridge House, a detention home for juvenile offenders in Wilmington.

During World War I, Foulke was a leader of the Women's Auxillary for the Delaware Committee, as well as the Council of National Defense. She was also responsible for several "save the babies" stations, which resulted in Delaware's "pure milk legislation" intended to protect milk sold for babies, and also led to child welfare programs in the state. Foulke also played an important role in creating Delaware's family court; a plaque at the court was donated in 1963.

In 1964, she contacted the University of Delaware seeking a training and educational program for Delaware correctional workers, to benefit those "working in probation, parole, family court, and youth services, as well as the guards in state prisons." She created an endowment in honor of her husband, if the university agreed to train correctional personnel. She also donated a 10-year grant to encourage the university faculty to study prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation issues, eventually leading to the creation of the university's criminal justice program.

Scope and Contents

Invitations, mostly to weddings, but also to cocktail parties and debutante balls, sent to Jean Kane Foulke du Pont (Mrs. E. Paul du Pont) (1891-1985) between 1932 and 1971. Most involve members of the du Pont family, but there are some for other prominent people, including Jamie Wyeth's (1946-) wedding in 1968.

Access Restrictions

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

Related Materials

Mrs. E. Paul du Pont collection, Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, Delaware.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Jean Kane Foulke du Pont invitations
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021: Ashley Williams

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400