All posts tagged Life Magazine

Great American Family: The Lowells of Massachusetts

This is the last of the “Great American Family” Life magazines that I have. This edition is from March 18, 1957 and covers the Lowells of Massachusetts focusing on the sixth through the tenth generations.The Lowells of Massachusetts came to America over two centuries ago. The most notable of the Lowells started with the sixth generation and the Reverend John Lowell. The Lowell family has produced notable poets, federal judges, a famous college president, and has had a strong role in the shaping of Harvard and MIT.

Reverend John LowellReverend John Lowell

The family really began to flourish under the guidance of Reverend John Lowell’s son John Lowell. Known as the “Old Judge,” John Lowell made his fortune as a lawyer sorting out prize claims in the 1770s, was a member of Continental Congress, and founded the first U.S bank in Boston. The Old Judge married three times and had three children. The most notable of these children is Francis Cabot who went to England, studied cotton mills, and brought these techniques back to New England making it the industrial power that it became.

 The Old JudgeStarting with the tenth generation the Lowells began to venture into the arts, science and education. Amy Lowell (1874-1925) never attended college because her family did not believe that it was proper for a young woman. However, she did not let this stop her from becoming a famous poet and a leader of the Imagists poetry movement. She died at the age of 51 from a cerebral hemorrhage and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her book of poetry Whats O’Clock a year later.

Poetess Amy LowellPercival Lowell (1855-1916) Amy’s brother was a businessman, author, and mathematician, but is best known for his efforts as astronomer. He traveled to the Far East and wrote several books on the Orient pertaining to Japanese behavior, psychology, and religion. He founded  the Flagstaff observatory and contributed to the discovery of Pluto which was discovered 14 years after his death The name Pluto was influenced by his initials PL.

Pericival LowellAbbot Lawrence Lowell (1856-1943), brother to Percival and Amy followed in the footsteps of the Old Judge choosing a career in letters and law. Abbot became president of Harvard at 52. He was the first Lowell to hold this position, although Harvard had been without a Lowell on its faculty or board in only one out of the 13 decades before him. A. Lawrence Lowell served Harvard for 24 years and raised the endowment from $22.5 to $128 million. However, his tenure was not served without its controversies due to his his views surrounding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

A.Lawrence LowellA.Lawrence Lowell

The Lowell House at HarvardThe Lowell House at Harvard

Other Notable Lowells (below)

The Rebel

Robert Spence

Francis CabotReverend CharlesJohn AmoryJohn JRAugustusBeau Sabreur

The Lowells of today often trace their family line back to one of three loyalties. First, the are he descendants of the Rebel who later married an Amory are known as the Higginson-Amory. Second, are those who trace their roots back to Francis Cabot and are referred to as the Cabot-Jackson’s, as he married a Jackson. The third line is that of Reverend Charles, who married a Spence, and are called the Russell-Spence line. All three of these line are descendants of the Old Judge. Ralph Lowell explained that the descendants of the Old Judge had remained so prominent by marrying very carefully, although they often kept to themselves and married cousins. The Lowells are not as concentrated as they used to be, but still have a strong representation in the New England area sticking to professions in the arts, education, banking, law and other general good work.

A Great American Family: The Du Ponts of Deleware

duPonts-of-Deleware

The du Ponts came to America after fleeing from France during the Revolution. Welcomed to America by president Thomas Jefferson Eleutheress Irenee du Pont Nemours was encouraged to set-up a powder mill. Jefferson knew that Eleutheress had learned to make gunpowder from the famous chemist Lavoisier. in 1802, Ireneee built his mill on Brandywine Creek near Wilmington, Delaware. the rest is history. Du Pont is still one of the world’s largest chemical firms and to this day the du Pont family has considerable influence. The du Pont family still observes the dictum from Irenee’s father; “No privilege exist that is not inseparably bound to a duty.” I will let the  pictures from Life magazine’s August 19, 1957 edition tell the story of this this great American family.

Eleuthere Irenee - Thomas JeffersonIrenee with Thomas Jefferson

New-York-Harbor-1885Du Pont dynamite helping to clear New York Harbor 1885

DuPont-factory-1854Powder Mill outside of Wilmington

Lammot and Alfred

duPont-Company presidents-history

uPont-Company-presidents-history2

duPont-Company presdients-History3

Du Pont-Board MeetingDu Pont Board Meeting

duPont-Cuban-HomeIrenee’s Cuban Home Xanadu

swimming-CubaOne of his two daily swims

Colgate-Darden -Crawford-GreenwaltVisiting in-laws Colgate Darden and Crawford Greenwalt

Francis-Victor-du PontHighway expert Francis Victor du Pont

Henry-Francis-DuPontHenry Francis du Pont renowned horticulturist

William du Pont Jr.Horse expert and bank president William du Pont Jr.

George-duPontEngineer F. George du Pont at Remington Arms Co. which is controlled by Du Pont

Henry B. duPontVice President Henry B. du Pont (right)

Lammot-du Pont-CopelandArt Collector Lammont du Pont Copeland

yachtsmanYachtsman Pierre III secretary of the Du Pont firm

Jane DuPontJane “Dedo” du Pont daughter of Pierre at her coming-out party

Mrs.DuPontsVictorine and Mrs. Henry B. du Pont

duPonts-of-Deleware 4 du Ponts all named Irenee

The Buckleys: A Gifted American Family

Not only do I like thrifting, but I like to go to antique stores too. I have been going to antique stores more regularly since I started to decorate my apartment (still working on it). During a trip a couple weeks ago I noticed a booth full of old magazines. I didn’t look through them, but I thought about them all week. I went back the next weekend, and found a few cool Life magazines about American families. I am going to start my historic image posts with the Buckleys of Great Elm. This Life is from 1970, but it contains lots of the details that we all love, including 3/2 suits and blazers, button-down collars, dogs, and more.

First, a brief background of the Buckleys. William F. Buckley Sr. was born in 1881 and practiced law in Mexico at the beginning of his career. He provided counsel for major oil companies, before getting involved in the oil industry himself. His son James L. Buckley went on to be a  US senator from New York and then to hold various other offices including being a Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Jim’s oldest brother John ran a family business involving oil exploration and development. The most familiar family name is probably William F. Buckley who was an author and editor for the National Review which his sister, Priscilla, was managing editor. On to the pictures.

BuckleysI said that there would be dogs.

Jim BuckleyGreat haircut

William F. Buckley SrAnother dog.

Family Football

Buckley Family portraitA little 1970’s, but still there are still some good looks in there.

Yale and Vassar Marriage You have to love the caption. I think I would call this picture, “It is an Ivy life.”

I am going to hold off on posting pictures from the other two for a while. I think that posting them all at once would make it too hard to appreciate each picture. I have a few more ideas about how to get some other cool older pictures. I will keep working on it. I am also looking into a way to display bigger pictures on my blog. The other two Life magazines that I have feature the Lowells and the DuPonts. I hope that you enjoy these picture as much as I do.