Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield
Encyclopedia
Louise Evelina du Pont Crowninshield (August 3, 1877 – July 11, 1958) was an American
heiress and preservationist, who was the great granddaughter of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
, the founder of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
.
She was a daughter of Henry A. du Pont
(1838–1926) and Pauline Foster du Pont (1849–1902); her brother was Henry Francis du Pont
(1880–1969). She was born, raised, and educated at the family estate, Winterthur, north of Wilmington
, Delaware
. A debutante whose coming-out party was held in New York in 1896, she socialized with members of the city's most exclusive families.
In 1900, Louise du Pont married Francis Boardman Crowninshield (1869–1950), a renowned yacht-racer and expert marksman of the Boston Brahmin Crowninshield family
. There were no children by this marriage. The Crowninshields had homes in Marblehead
and Boston, Massachusetts; Boca Grande, Florida; and the original du Pont family estate, Eleutherian Mills
, north of Wilmington, Delaware.
Louise du Pont Crowninshield actively participated in charitable organizations, horticulture, historic preservation
, and collected antiques and hooked rugs
. One of Louise du Pont Crowninshield's earliest historic restoration projects was the original du Pont family estate; Eleutherian Mills, where she resided during the spring and fall months. She was a founding trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
in 1949 and was vice-chairman of the board in 1953. In recognition of her services to historic preservation, the National Trust instituted an annual award, the Louise Evalina du Pont Crowninshield Award.
In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
appointed her to the Boston National Historic Sites Commission. She was also involved with historic restoration in Virginia, particularly the Kenmore Association, of which she was a regent, (Kenmore was the Fredericksburg, Virginia
, home of Fielding Lewis
and his wife, Betty Washington Lewis, (George Washington
's sister.) She often provided financial assistance and artifacts when needed at historic sites. In addition, she was a member or trustee of numerous historical societies, museums, art, and symphony organizations.
Archival materials relating to Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield are part of the Archives owned by the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum
, near Wilmington, Delaware.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heiress and preservationist, who was the great granddaughter of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours , known as Irénée du Pont, or E.I. du Pont, was a French-born Huguenot chemist and industrialist who immigrated to the United States in 1799 and founded the gunpowder manufacturer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company...
, the founder of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
.
She was a daughter of Henry A. du Pont
Henry A. du Pont
Henry Algernon du Pont , known as "Colonel Henry", was an American soldier and politician from Winterthur, near Greenville, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the American Civil War, and a member of the Republican Party, who served two terms as U.S...
(1838–1926) and Pauline Foster du Pont (1849–1902); her brother was Henry Francis du Pont
Henry Francis du Pont
Henry Francis du Pont , Harvard 1903, married 1916 Ruth Wales was an American horticulturist, an expert on early American furniture and decorative arts – particularly of the Federal furniture, and a member of the prominent du Pont family....
(1880–1969). She was born, raised, and educated at the family estate, Winterthur, north of Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. A debutante whose coming-out party was held in New York in 1896, she socialized with members of the city's most exclusive families.
In 1900, Louise du Pont married Francis Boardman Crowninshield (1869–1950), a renowned yacht-racer and expert marksman of the Boston Brahmin Crowninshield family
Crowninshield family
The Crowninshield family is an American family that has been prominent in seafaring, political and military leadership, and the literary world. The founder of the American family immigrated in the late 17th century from what is now Germany...
. There were no children by this marriage. The Crowninshields had homes in Marblehead
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
and Boston, Massachusetts; Boca Grande, Florida; and the original du Pont family estate, Eleutherian Mills
Eleutherian Mills
From 1802 to 1921, Eleutherian Mills was a gunpowder mill site used for the manufacture of explosives by the Du Pont family business. The name also refers to the house on the hill above the mills, which was the first Du Pont family home in America. The business was founded by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont...
, north of Wilmington, Delaware.
Louise du Pont Crowninshield actively participated in charitable organizations, horticulture, historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, and collected antiques and hooked rugs
Traditional rug hooking
Rug hooking is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle for leverage...
. One of Louise du Pont Crowninshield's earliest historic restoration projects was the original du Pont family estate; Eleutherian Mills, where she resided during the spring and fall months. She was a founding trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
in 1949 and was vice-chairman of the board in 1953. In recognition of her services to historic preservation, the National Trust instituted an annual award, the Louise Evalina du Pont Crowninshield Award.
In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
appointed her to the Boston National Historic Sites Commission. She was also involved with historic restoration in Virginia, particularly the Kenmore Association, of which she was a regent, (Kenmore was the Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, home of Fielding Lewis
Fielding Lewis
Fielding Lewis was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law of George Washington....
and his wife, Betty Washington Lewis, (George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's sister.) She often provided financial assistance and artifacts when needed at historic sites. In addition, she was a member or trustee of numerous historical societies, museums, art, and symphony organizations.
Archival materials relating to Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield are part of the Archives owned by the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum
Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum
Winterthur Museum and Country Estate is an American estate and museum in Winterthur, Delaware. it houses one of the most important collections of Americana in the United States of America. It was the former home of Henry Francis du Pont , a renowned antiques collector and horticulturist...
, near Wilmington, Delaware.
External links
- Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield papers owned by Winterthur Museum
- A description of the Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield papers is available from the Hagley Museum and LibraryHagley Museum and LibraryThe Hagley Museum and Library is a nonprofit educational institution located in Wilmington, Delaware. Hagley Museum and Library collects, preserves and interprets the history of American enterprise.- Hagley Library :...
's website.