Mr. duPont's Legacy

Nemours and the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children have their roots in a profound act of philanthropy—the creation of a testamentary trust by Alfred I. duPont, a prominent American industrialist and inventor.

With two of his cousins, Mr. duPont transformed the family business from a small gunpowder manufacturer in the Brandywine River Valley to the chemical firm known today as the DuPont Company. He is remembered as an inventor, an extraordinary entrepreneur, and a "black powder" man who shared the dangers of the mill with his men. Late in duPont’s career, he created a new financial empire in Florida independent of the DuPont Company.

When Mr. duPont died in 1935, his will directed that a foundation called Nemours was to be established upon the death of his wife. However, so strongly did she feel about realizing her husband’s vision, Mrs. duPont and the trustees established The Nemours Foundation in 1936. With the guidance of the trustees, Jessie Ball duPont moved quickly ahead. The Alfred I. duPont Institute, located on the Nemours estate and gardens in Wilmington, DE, opened in 1940. A toddler with a congenital dislocation of the hip was the very first patient. She was carried into the hospital by her mother, but walked out on her own.

Jessie Ball duPont, an educated and accomplished business woman and philanthropist in her own right, was involved in every aspect of planning for the building. She was known to appear in costume at Halloween parties for children in the hospital and commissioned a beautiful mural for a children’s ward based on the story of “The Little Lame Prince”.

Edward Ball, Mr. duPont’s loyal associate and brother-in-law, advanced the charitable intent of Alfred I. duPont by building the assets of the trust. Upon his death in 1981, Edward Ball left the greatest portion of his own estate to Nemours to be used for the care and treatment of children in Florida.

Today, the trust created by Alfred I. duPont contributes a fifth of overall Nemours revenue annually—a magnificent legacy that improves the health of thousands of children each day.

Nemours, Mr. duPont's beautiful mansion and gardens in Wilmington, Delaware is undergoing a complete restoration and will reopen as a historic house museum in 2007. You can support the Nemours Mansion & Gardens with your contribution by clicking here.