Winterthur Magazine provides Members of Winterthur Museum & Country Estate even greater access to information about the museum, the garden, and upcoming events and exhibitions.

For more information visit winterthur.org.

About Winterthur:

Winterthur, an American country estate, is the former home of Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969), an avid antiques collector and horticulturist. In the early 20th century, H. F. du Pont and his father, Henry Algernon du Pont, designed Winterthur in the spirit of 18th- and19th-century European country houses.

A visit to Winterthur will immerse you in another time and place. Rediscover America's heritage through its unparalleled collections of antiques and Americana. Venture out over the fields and farmland to learn about the workings of a great American country estate. Wander through the breathtaking beauty of the 60-acre naturalistic Winterthur Garden. Youngsters (and the young-at-heart) will wonder at the magic of Winterthur's famous fairy-tale children's garden, Enchanted WoodsTM, and enjoy hands-on learning in the Touch-It Room. Researchers will find a wealth of resources awaiting them in the Winterthur Library.

Every season, and every visit, promise inspired new experiences and the Winterthur tradition of hospitality.

Download Winterthur Magazine, Winter 2008

PDF format, 7.7MB, 52Pages.

It is a bittersweet coincidence that this issue commemorates the recent death of Henry Francis du Pont’s elder daughter, Pauline Louise, even as it features a charming reminiscence from her sister, Ruth Ellen. This rare moment reminds us that Winterthur has been immeasurably enriched by the long-standing involvement and guidance provided by both of these remarkable women.

Pauline du Pont Harrison, who died at age 89 on September 11, 2007, was a treasured friend to Winterthur and a respected leader, gracing this museum with vision and vitality. Appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1951, the year that Winterthur became a public museum, “P.L.” was an active and activist Trustee, devoting 40 years of service prior to her 1991 retirement. Even then, she remained involved with Winterthur as a Trustee Emeritus, attending Board and committee meetings regularly. Her contributions were many and her influence considerable.

Like her father, P.L. looked to the future and, aware of the need for trained museum professionals, was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of Winterthur’s graduate degree programs. Her dedication to maintaining the museum’s preeminence spurred her to take an active role in nurturing so many programs that have enriched and strengthened Winterthur, including two of the museum’s most important membership groups, the Friends of Winterthur and the Henry Francis du Pont Collectors Circle.

P.L. generously shared her thorough knowledge and understanding of Winterthur and its history, always sensitive to her father’s intentions. Although she honored his vision, she would not allow tradition to become a binding constraint.

P.L. was a strong and consistent voice in support of programs to maintain Winterthur’s relevance in a changing world and was an early and energetic advocate of adopting new initiatives to broaden Winterthur’s outreach efforts to attract younger and more diverse audiences.

The museum’s archives are full of photographs that provide us a window into P.L.’s life at Winterthur: the adored firstborn cradled in her mother’s arms, the sturdy toddler playing in the garden, the youthful debutante, the ebullient bride, and the beaming new mother bringing her infant daughter home to Winterthur. But there are no photographs—and certainly no words—to adequately capture Pauline Harrison’s rich legacy of stewardship and visionary leadership. She is lovingly remembered and will be sorely missed.

Leslie Greene Bowman
Director

ON THE COVER
A detail of the hand-painted Chinese wallpaper and a Chippendale chair in the Port Royal Entrance Hall. Photographed by Laszlo Bodo

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Longing for more? Get insights about the collection, estate activities, and additional details related to articles in this issue:

• Chinese Wallpaper: Get a close-up view of these exquisite wall coverings.
• Collectors Circle: a behind-the-scenes look at the recent North Carolina trip.
• Trillium Symposium: These three-part blooms are woodland beauties.
• Book excerpt: Textiles in America, 1650–1870.
• Plus: See more of the museum’s patriotic porcelain, colorful spatterware, and historic stereoviews.

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