Dupont: the Explosives Era

DuPont: The Explosives Era DuPont Science & Discovery Raymond Loewy Hagley Museum and Library Annual Report 2002 DuPont: The Explosives Era In 2002, Hagley installed three exhibits; two that are permanent, and one DuPont Science & Discovery that received such acclaim that its stay was extended by seven months. Raymond Loewy 1 President’s Report Edward B. du Pont This was a year of transitions. DuPont; Howard E. Cosgrove, former Mostly notable was Glenn Porter’s CEO of Conectiv; Edie Hedlin, decision to retire as director and the Director of Archives for the Board of Trustees’ careful search for a Smithsonian Institution; Margaretta successor. Dr. Porter’s career at Hagley (Peg) Stabler, a du Pont family was outstanding, and the board member with long service at Hagley honored him appropriately for his and other area institutions; and me. I excellent stewardship and strong role have enjoyed serving on Hagley’s Tin building the library and archives to board and wish to thank my fellow its present renown. We wish him and board members for their faithful his wife Barbara Butler a happy and service to Hagley over the years. productive retirement in New Mexico. At year’s end, the board elected two In George L. Vogt, Glenn’s new members. These are Ann Copeland successor, the board found an Rose, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. experienced leader who has directed Lammot du Pont Copeland, who were the South Carolina Department of instrumental in creating and building Archives and History and, most Hagley Museum and Library; and Robert recently, the Wisconsin Historical V. A. Harra, Jr., president of Wilmington Society. He brings strong planning and Trust, which has long been a major management skills to the job and corporate supporter of Hagley and the considerable fund raising experience— sponsor of our annual fireworks always a desirable attribute in a new evenings. We are delighted to welcome director. We welcome him to Delaware both Mrs. Rose and Mr. Harra to the and look forward to many years of Board of Trustees. association. And, finally, I offer a comment The year also saw some longtime about Hagley’s fiscal health. During the trustees rotate off the board as they last several years, the markets have completed their third terms. These wreaked havoc on many institutional were John A. Krol, former CEO of portfolios. Hagley has suffered some 2 but much less than most, thanks to the astute management of our endowment and other funds by an able investment committee, with whom I have had the pleasure of serving. These gentlemen— Edward J. Bassett, chairman, Matt Brown, Eugene D. Crittenden, Jr., and H. B. King—have chosen capable investment managers and supervised the movement of funds as required. We owe them our thanks for their extraordinary performance. Edward B. du Pont President The director of DuPont’s Diversity Choir led with enthusiasm during their performance at the DuPont time capsule dedication in July. 3 Director’s Report George Vogt When the board invited me to years and years of hard work by all become Hagley’s director, I had only an who came before. I am no exception, inkling of this institution’s depth and and I want to sing the praises of my magic. Since August, when I began immediate predecessor, Glenn Porter, work here, hardly a day has passed who retired from Hagley after 26 years without a renewed sense of wonder at as head of our Center and director of the intellectual and natural wonders in the institution. Glenn, who is a modest our little valley. True, the expatriate Texan—in his case, that isn’t an Wisconsinite could have done with a oxymoron—is probably holding his few feet less snow in this record breath as he reads this. WDelaware winter, but even then the His first great gift to Hagley was beauty of the grounds shown through. recognizing early in his directorship What I found last August was a that the institution was overspending remarkably secure and mature its endowment and that serious erosion institution, something particularly of the endowment’s purchasing power noteworthy because Hagley as a not- was certain unless the board took for-profit library and museum is only drastic action. At his urging, the board fifty years old. The minutes of the adopted stringent budgets with Board of Trustees show that the reduced staffing levels—always a du Pont family and Hagley’s friends painful measure—and steadied the have been supremely generous of time, ship. Glenn also conducted a successful care, and money in restoring the campaign for additional endowment industrial site and residence, creating funds. By acting when he did, he solid educational programs, and preserved Hagley’s endowment and building a magnificent library and allowed it to grow substantially archives collection. Both the board and through the 1990s. At his retirement, the staff take stewardship seriously. the endowment alone was capable of Every director knows, deep down, sustaining approximately 75 percent of that he or she is the beneficiary of Hagley’s operating costs, and Hagley’s 4 draw on the endowment was a very a wonderful book to accompany it. The conservative 4.6 percent of average exhibit, co-curated by Lynn Catanese total return. and Jim Hinz, has drawn much acclaim Glenn’s next great gift was and will probably become a traveling intellectual. His interest in and exhibit after it closes at Hagley in knowledge of business history is August of 2003. Museum conservator comprehensive. During the last fifteen Ebenezer Kotei and Mechanical Exhibits years, he has used that knowledge to Specialist John McCoy assisted in the help the library and archives staff preparation of objects for display, members enhance the collections including a beautiful, working jukebox substantially. From combing dealers’ designed by Loewy. catalogs for rare items to taking an In other ways, too, the year has active hand in negotiations for major been notable. Here are more highlights collections, such as Avon and Seagram from the major programs. archives, Glenn was determined that Hagley would have the best and be the best. Today, we commonly hear Administration and scholars say that Hagley is the best Human Resources place anywhere to do business history research. That is the legacy of Glenn Strategic planning has been a Porter and the fine staff members major activity involving the he hired. management team, several board Glenn’s last gift—literally as he was members, and numerous members of drawing plans for a home in New the general staff. As we have begun Mexico and preparing to retire—was to shaping a plan for presentation to the mine the papers of Raymond Loewy, Board of Trustees in October of 2003, which he had helped Hagley acquire, we have consulted many of Hagley’s for a stunning museum exhibit of funders and friends and conducted Loewy’s industrial designs and to write conversations with staff members at 5 each key stage of the process. Our Other highlights were the opening next annual report will contain specific of the Powder Yard Trail, including new information about the plan and signage and a brochure developed as Hagley’s future. an internship project by Alan Meyer, Employment at Hagley remained and special programming in July for the relatively stable, with eighty-four full- Creek Kids on Blacksmith Hill, which time employees and ninety-six part-time was provided by our volunteer youth employees. During the year, we hired group. One of our young volunteers, eight full-time (six were replacement Aaron Bradford, received the hires), four part-time, and eight Governor’s Tourism Volunteer of the temporary (seasonal) staff members. Year award as a result. In August 1,700 people participated in Summer Science Sundays, planned by Candy Dunson. Museum Overall visitation to Hagley declined slightly for the second straight The year 2002 was the 200th year, mirroring similar attendance anniversary of the DuPont Company, problems at most of America’s large and Hagley joined the company in outdoor history museums; but there celebrating the event with two new were some positive signs. General exhibits (“DuPont: The Explosives Era” admissions were the highest since and “DuPont Science & Discovery”), 1996, and adult tours were the highest the opening of a time capsule sealed since 1998. The two areas of decline in 1952, and the preparation of a were special events and student tours, new time capsule to be opened in the victims of bad weather and security 2102. Most of the museum staff and concerns following the September 11, much of the rest of Hagley’s staff 2001, terrorist attacks. participated in the installation of the On an amusing note, the very dry new exhibits, notably coordinated by summer forced most of the region into Museum Director Dan Muir and severe water conservation measures. At curated by Debra Hughes, curator of one point, Delaware environmental collections and exhibits, and the officials forced Hagley to shut down its associated events. As the exhibits were water-powered roll mill demonstrations evolving, Education Coordinator Lisa Marcinkowski developed a new school visitation program, Marvelous In 1880, DuPont joined competitor Laflin and Materials Presented by DuPont, Rand in forming the Repauno Chemical which complements the Science & Company in New Jersey to manufacture Discovery exhibit. dynamite on the East coast. 7 on the faulty assumption that we were Under the direction of External using up 5 million gallons of water for Affairs and Development Head Jill each demonstration. In fact, the roll MacKenzie, the Hagley Fund, our mill demonstration momentarily diverts annual appeal, received fine support. 20,000 gallons of water but consumes Once again, total giving rose, none.

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