Henry Miller oral history interview transcript
Creation: 1922Abstract
Henry Miller (1845-1926) was first employed at the Brandywine Works of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. In 1922, he was one of the oldest surviving employees when he was interviewed by Alfred I. du Pont (1864-1935). In the interview, Miller describes the layout of the Brandywine Works as it changed over time, as well as the various apparatus and processes used in the manufacture of gunpowder and its constituent ingredients.
Dates
- Creation: 1922
Creator
- Du Pont, Alfred I. (Alfred Irénée), 1864-1935 (Interviewer, Person)
- Miller, William H. (William Henry), 1841-1926 (Interviewee, Person)
Extent
1 item(s)
Biographical Note
Henry Miller (1845-1926) was first employed at the Brandywine Works of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, where his father already worked.
William Henry Miller was born May 4, 1841, at Henry Clay, Wilmington, Delaware, to Jonas Miller (1804-1873) and Jane Higgins (1808-1875). Jonas worked for the DuPont Company when Henry joined in 1858. Eventually, Henry became head millwright and stayed with the company for fifty years. In 1922, he was one of the oldest surviving employees when he was interviewed by Alfred I. du Pont (1864-1935), who was contemplating writing a history of the family business.
Miller was a veteran of the Civil War. He represented the Christiana Hundred section of the state in the Senate for a four-year term. In 1865, he married Ella White (1845-1939). The couple had eleven children: George, Robert S., Jane, Mary, William Henry, John, Ella, Jonas Willard, Elizabeth Lester, Victoria S., and Garnett.
Scope and Contents
In response to questions from Alfred I. du Pont (1864-1935), Henry Miller (1841-1926) describes the layout of the Brandywine Works as it changed over time, as well as the various apparatus and processes used in the manufacture of gunpowder and its constituent ingredients. It is one of the few such first-person descriptions from the nineteenth century.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Related Names
Subject
- E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Brandywine Works (Organization)
- Du Pont family (Family)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Henry Miller oral history interview transcript
- 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
