This collection consists of the papers of the descendants of Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1827) and Eleuthère Irénée "E.I." du Pont (1771–1834) and members of allied families. The principal holdings are for Amelia Elizabeth du Pont (1796-1869) and Charles Irénée du Pont (1797-1869), children of Victor du Pont, and Charles's wife, Dorcas Van Dyke (1806-1838), as well as for Victorine du Pont Bauduy (1792-1861), Alfred Victor du Pont (1798-1856), and Eleuthera du Pont Smith (1806-1876), children of E.I. du Pont. Fragmentary papers survive for Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865) and Julia du Pont Shubrick (1806-1882), children of Victor Maire du Pont, and Henry du Pont (1812-1889) and Alexis I. du Pont (1816-1857), sons of E.I du Pont. The papers are primarily family-oriented, but those of Alfred Victor, who succeeded his father as senior partner of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, contain information on the powder business. They contain information on Alfred Victor's role as a laboratory assistant to Thomas Cooper, his work in the chemistry of black powder manufacture, the turbine experiments of Ellwood Morris, and Delaware Whig Party politics. The balance of the group contains the papers of forty-six individuals. The papers of Lammot du Pont (1831-1884) include his letter book as president of the Mocanaqua Coal Company and papers of the Delaware Volunteers (Company B, 5th Regiment), of which he was captain during the Civil War. The papers of Nicholas Van Dyke (1769-1826) refer to his political career as Attorney General of Delaware, congressman, and senator, including correspondence with a number of important political figures.

Where additional information is known, it has been detailed in the scope and content note for each series or subseries.