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Greta Barksdale Brown embroidery patterns

Creation: 1853 Creation: undated
 Collection
Accession: 2093

Abstract

Greta Barksdale Brown (1891-1965) was a descendant of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) who founded the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company with his son Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) in 1802. The E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company is a chemical company more commonly referred to as the DuPont company. Greta Barksdale Brown was the daughter of Ethel du Pont (1857-1934) and Hamilton M. Barksdale (1861-1918), and the wife of (Frank) Donaldson Brown (1885-1965). The collection consists of about a hundred hand-drawn nineteenth century embroidery patterns that she inherited from female family members.

Dates

  • Creation: 1853
  • Creation: undated

Creator

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet

Biographical Note

Greta Barksdale Brown (1891-1965) was a descendant of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) who founded the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company with his son Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) in 1802. The E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company is a chemical company more commonly referred to as the DuPont company. Greta Barksdale Brown was the daughter of Ethel du Pont (1857-1934) and Hamilton M. Barksdale (1861-1918). Her father was a DuPont Company executive. In June 1916, she married Frank Donaldson Brown (1885-1965), another DuPont Company executive involved in finances. The couple had six children: Hamilton MacFarland Barksdale Brown, Frank Donaldson Brown Jr., Bruce Ford Brown, Greta Brown, John Vaughan Willcox Brown, and Keene C. Brown.

In 1921, the family lost their home in Irvington, New York, to fire. Servants rescued the children from the burning home. In 1938, the couple built a Georgian mansion, carriage house, and outbuildings atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Susquehanna River in Port Deposit, Maryland.

Brown died on February 7, 1965.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of about a hundred hand-drawn nineteenth century embroidery patterns that Greta Brown (1891-1965) inherited from female family members. Only one pattern is dated (1853). One pattern, with the monogram "SDP" contains the signature of Margaretta Lammot du Pont (1807-1898). Another group of patterns are labeled "Mrs. Henry du Pont." There are some patterns with the name "Alice" and "ADP" which may have been done for Alice du Pont (1863-1937), the aunt of Brown. Other patterns are marked "Sophie," "GMS," "AB," "GJS," "GB," "JSS," "Pauline," "Gabrielle," "Julia," "ARDP," and "MVDP." The patterns, used for embroidering cuffs, collars, and tablecloths, consist of monograms, floral and other elaborate designs. Many of the patterns were heavily used and still contain thread. The patterns typify the type of fancy sewing that middle- and upper-class women presented as gifts and which served as a means of displaying their skills.

The collection also contains several needlepoint color commercial printed patterns dating from 1910 to 1915; handwritten crocheting instructions; a visiting card of Rev. and Mrs. Dudley D. Smith; a business card of George Williams's Floral Establishment; calendars for 1871 and 1872; a handwritten thank you note addressed to Mrs. Hamilton Barksdale from Isabella C. Harkins.

Location of Originals

View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

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

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Greta Barksdale Brown embroidery patterns
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