Longwood Gardens, Inc. Office of Director.

The present site on which Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square is situated was originally part of a land grant that William Penn made to George Peirce in 1700. The Peirce family owned the site for 200 years. They were interested in horticulture and planted a number of species of rare trees and shrubs. During the 19th century the gardens were opened to the public.

In 1906 Pierre S. du Pont bought the estate and used it for a summer residence. Until his death in 1954 he devoted much of his time and energy to developing the gardens and greenhouses. The conservatories were completed in 1921 and soon became world famous for their collection of tropical plants from Africa and South America.

Pierre S. du Pont left the bulk of his $100,000,000 estate to the Longwood Foundation which now administers the site. In 1955 the Foundation hired Russell Seibert as the first executive director of Longwood Gardens a position he held until his retirement in 1979.

From the description of Records, 1955-1979. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122547950