Skip to Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Sidebar Navigation Skip to Search Area Skip to Live Chat Skip to Footer
UD Logo
Library, Museums and Press News
  • Research
    • Databases
      • Find a Database
      • How to Connect
      • Report a Problem
      • Status Updates
    • DELCAT Online Catalog
    • Digital Collections
      • Digital Collections Home
      • Highlights
      • AM Quartex
      • UDSpace Institutional Repository
      • JSTOR
      • Finding Aids
      • Online Exhibitions
      • Propose a Digitization Project
      • Copyright Policies
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
    • Film and Video Collection
      • Film and Video Home
      • About
      • Collections
        • Browse Collections
        • Search for Media
        • 16mm Films
        • New Acquisitions
        • Video Games
      • Using Media
        • Circulation and Scheduling
        • Our Spaces
        • Streaming Media
        • Instructional Support
        • Media and Copyright
        • Forms
      • Policies
        • Circulation and Scheduling
        • Collection Development
        • Fines
        • Scheduling Request Form
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Ask Film and Video
        • FAQ
    • Journal Article Search
    • Journal Browse
    • Research Guides
    • Special Collections
    • UDSpace Institutional Repository
      • Go to UDSpace
      • About UDSpace
  • Services
    • Borrow and Renew Materials
      • Borrow and Renew Home
      • How to Find a Book
      • UD Library Self-Checkout
      • Manage My Account
        • My Library Account Information
        • My Library Account Support
        • Telephone Renewal
      • Request Materials
        • Overview
        • All Circulation Forms
        • Book Holds Service Form
        • In-Process Material Request
        • Library Annex Request Form
        • Obtaining a Locker
        • Report a Missing Book
      • For Faculty
        • Authorized Borrower Card Application for Faculty
        • Faculty Research Studies
        • Library Retired Faculty Room
      • For Graduate Students
        • Graduate Student Carrels
      • Borrowing Policies
        • Overview
        • Loan Periods
        • Renewals
        • Public Borrower Information
        • Reciprocal Borrowing Programs
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Staff Directory
        • Ask Help Center
        • FAQ
    • Borrow Equipment/Technology
      • All Equipment and Technology
      • Video Cameras
      • Digital Still Cameras
      • Camera Accessories
      • Laptops, iPads and Drives
      • Audio Equipment
      • Cables
      • Headphones and Other
      • Equipment Borrowing Policies
    • Course Reserves
      • Course Reserves Home
      • For Faculty
      • For Students
    • Digital Initiatives and Preservation
      • Digital Initiatives Home
      • About Digital Initiatives
      • Request a Workshop
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Staff Directory
        • Ask DIP
        • FAQ
    • Forms
    • Interlibrary Loan
      • Interlibrary Loan Home
      • Interlibrary Loan Services
        • Getting Started
        • Article DELivery Service
        • Associate in Arts Program Delivery
        • Distance Learning DELivery Service
        • HathiTrust Accessible Text Request Service
        • Office Delivery
        • SHARES
      • Other Libraries
        • Lending to Delaware Libraries
        • Lending to Other Libraries
        • Registration for University of Delaware ILL Lending
      • Policies
        • Our Policies and Procedures
        • Cancelled Requests
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Ask ILL
        • FAQ
    • Teaching and Learning Services
      • Teaching and Learning Home
      • Request for Teaching Collaboration
      • Teaching and Learning Support
      • What We Teach
        • Data Literacy
        • Digital Badge Programs
        • Research Skills
        • Multimedia
        • Primary Sources
        • Publishing and Sharing Work
      • English 110 Resources
      • Video Tutorials
        • All Tutorials
        • Citation
        • Off-Campus Access
        • Research
        • Subjects
        • Workshops
      • Success Stories
        • Case Study: Undergraduates Engage with History
        • Case Study: Multimedia Instruction
        • Case Study: Using Library Resources to Perform Industry Research
      • Teaching and Learning Directory
      • Open Education Resources
    • Print, Copy and Scan
    • Reference Services
      • Reference Services Home
      • About
      • Research
        • Getting Started
        • Evaluating and Citing Sources
        • Learning More
        • Research Guides
        • Digital Initiatives
      • Teaching and Learning
        • Teaching and Learning Services
        • Workshops
      • Video Tutorials
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Subject Specialists
        • Staff Directory
        • Ask Reference
        • FAQ
        • Recommend for Library Purchase
    • Research Data Services
      • Research Data Services Home
      • About
      • Data Management Resources
      • Data Services Directory
      • Services
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • FAQ
    • Reserve Spaces, Lockers, Carrels
    • UD Press
  • Visit
    • Building Information
      • Visiting Information
      • Locations and Hours
      • Library Floor Plan Maps
      • Driving Directions
      • Shuttle Bus Routes
      • Parking
      • Renovations and Updates
      • Restrooms
    • Events and Workshops
      • Upcoming Events and Workshops
      • Past Events
      • Scholar in the Library
    • Branch Libraries
      • Branch Libraries Home
      • Chemistry Library
        • About
        • Services
        • Location and Hours
        • Contact
      • Education Resource Center
        • About
        • Services
        • Location and Hours
        • Contact
      • Marine Studies Library
        • About
        • Services
        • Location and Hours
        • Contact
      • Physics Library
        • About
        • Services
        • Location and Hours
        • Contact
    • Film and Video Collection
      • Film and Video Home
      • About
        • Our Collection
        • Events
      • Collections
        • Browse Collections
        • Search for Media
        • 16mm Films
        • New Acquisitions
        • Video Games
      • Using Media
        • Circulation and Scheduling
        • Our Spaces
        • Streaming Media
        • Instructional Support
        • Media and Copyright
        • Forms
      • Policies
        • Circulation and Scheduling
        • Collection Development
        • Fines
        • Scheduling Request Form
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Ask Film and Video
        • FAQ
    • Museums and Galleries
      • Museums and Galleries Home
      • About
      • News
      • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Visiting and Services
        • Class Visits and Tours
        • Locations and Hours
        • Museum Galleries
      • Collections
        • About
        • AM Quartex
        • JSTOR
        • Digital Collections
      • Research Tools
        • Overview
        • Finding Aids
        • DELCAT Online Catalog
        • Research Guides
        • Access to Primary Resources
        • Awards and Funding Opportunities
      • Policies
        • Special Collections Policies and Procedures
        • Copyright Restrictions
        • Reproducing Materials
      • Contact
        • Contact Museums
        • Contact Special Collections
        • Staff Directory
        • FAQ
    • Our Spaces
      • Our Spaces Home
      • Directions and Maps
      • Find My Event
      • Hours
      • Reserve a Seat
      • Print, Copy and Scan
      • Spaces
        • All Spaces
        • Inclusive Spaces
        • Study Spaces
        • Make and Create Spaces
        • Learn and Connect Spaces
    • Special Collections
      • Special Collections Home
      • About
      • News
      • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Visiting and Services
        • Class Visits and Tours
        • Locations and Hours
        • Museum Galleries
      • Collections
        • About
        • AM Quartex
        • JSTOR
        • Digital Collections
      • Research Tools
        • Overview
        • Finding Aids
        • DELCAT Online Catalog
        • Research Guides
        • Access to Primary Resources
        • Awards and Funding Opportunities
      • Policies
        • Special Collections Policies and Procedures
        • Copyright Restrictions
        • Reproducing Materials
      • Contact
        • Contact Museums
        • Contact Special Collections
        • Staff Directory
        • FAQ
    • Student Multimedia Design Center
      • SMDC Home
      • About
      • Multimedia Tips and Tricks
      • Equipment Kits
        • All Equipment Kits
        • Video Cameras
        • Digital Still Cameras
        • Camera Accessories
        • Laptops, iPads and Drives
        • Audio Equipment
        • Cables
        • Headphones and Other
      • Reservations
      • Services
        • Getting Started
        • Microforms
        • Print, Copy and Scan
          • UD ONEcard and Flex
          • Copying
          • Large-Format Printing
          • Printing
          • Scanning
      • Software
        • All Software
        • Audio Software
        • Graphics Software
        • Text Software
        • Video Software
      • Spaces
        • All Spaces
        • Audio Spaces
        • Graphics Spaces
        • Video Spaces
        • Other Spaces
      • Policies
        • General Policies
        • Circulation Policies
        • Reservation Policies
      • Contact
        • Contact Information
        • Location and Hours
        • Staff Directory
        • Ask SMDC
        • FAQ
    • Writing Center
  • About
    • About Library, Museums and Press
    • Building Information
      • Visiting Information
      • Locations and Hours
      • Library Floor Plan Maps
      • Driving Directions
      • Shuttle Bus Routes
      • Parking
      • Restrooms
    • Collections
      • Our Collections
        • DELCAT
        • Digital Collections
        • Curated Collections
        • Film and Video
        • Special Collections
      • Budget Information
      • Open Access
      • Policies
    • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
    • Employment
      • Employment Information
      • Student Employment Information
      • Library Rank and Promotion System
    • Initiatives
      • Mellon Poetry as Activism
      • Open Education Resources
      • Pauline A. Young Residency
      • UDLib/SEARCH
      • Collaborating on a Grant Proposal
    • Library Policies
      • All Library Policies
      • General Library Policies
        • Community Norms
        • Confidentiality of Library Records
        • Copyright and Database License Restrictions
        • Gifts of Materials and Objects
        • Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and Code of Ethics
      • Library Facilities Policies
        • Group Study Room Policies
        • Retired Faculty Room Policies
        • Room Reservations for Non-Library Events
      • Library Collection Policies
        • Circulation Policies
        • Collection Development Policy
        • Course Reserve Services and Policies
        • Digital Collections Copyright Policies
        • Film and Video Collection Policies
        • Institutional Repository Policies
        • Interlibrary Loan Policies
        • Special Collections Policies
        • Student Multimedia Design Center Policies
        • Textbook Policy
    • News
      • Library, Museums and Press News
      • Sign up for Mailing List
    • Publications
      • Impact Report
    • Strategic Directions
      • Strategic Directions Home
      • Overview
      • Student Success and Learning
      • Research, Scholarship and Discovery
      • Our Spaces
      • Partnerships and Collaboration
  • Help
    • Ask the Library Chat/Email
    • Disability Assistance
    • E-Resource Status Updates
    • FAQs
    • Off-Campus Access
      • General Information
      • Eduroam
      • OpenAthens Bookmarklet
      • OpenAthens FAQs
      • Permalinks
    • Research Guides
    • Subject Specialists
    • Video Tutorials
  • My Accounts
    • Canvas@UD
    • My Library Account (DELCAT)
    • My Interlibrary Loan Account
    • Staff Intranet Login
    • UD Webmail
  • Hours
    • Morris Library 8am–5pm
    • View All Hours
  • Support Us
    • Making a Gift
    • Friends of the UD Library
      • Overview
      • Faculty Lecture
      • Annual Dinner
      • Book Collecting Contest
      • Research Award
    • Gifts of Materials and Objects
  • Contact Us
    • Call (302) 831-2965
    • Live Chat Daily
    • All Contact Info
    • Subject Specialists
    • Staff Directory
    • Organization Chart
Search Library Resources Search Library Websites
FOR:
IN:
SEARCH
GO TO: Advanced Search | Databases | E-Journals | UDSpace
FOR:
IN:
SEARCH
GO TO: Advanced Search | Events | Research Guides | Online Exhibitions
Keyboard focus is
  • Home
  • News
  • Longwood Gardens: Retro Edition
    • Home
    • About
    • Events
    • Sign up for Mailing List
    Red and white azaleas on view in an indoor exhibition space
    Library, Museums and Press Staff
    December 13, 2023

    Longwood Gardens: Retro Edition

    Sign up to receive news via email

    By David Cardillo, Digital Initiatives and Preservation

     

    Longwood Gardens, a part of the Pierre S. DuPont estate, has long been known for its botanical aesthetic. Walking paths wind through indoor and outdoor gardens, complemented by fountains and light displays. The displays are thematically enhanced for Christmas, and for 2023, the theme is “A Very Retro Christmas.

    In celebration, we’re highlighting digitized postcards from our collections that feature Longwood Gardens and date back as far as 1907. This subset of postcards is part of the Delaware Postcard Collection, which consists of more than 2,000 postcards of Delaware and nearby areas.

    A postcard showing a flower garden

    Postcard of the Flower Garden on the P.S. DuPont Mansion Grounds, 1907

     

    A postcard showing a red mansion

    Postcard of the P.S. DuPont Mansion, 1907

     

    The external grounds offer several unique examples of botanical geography, such as the Sunken Gardens illustrated below.

    A postcard showing a garden with shrubs and fountains

    Postcard of the Sunken Gardens, 1930s.

     

    Some areas blend architectural artistry and flowering fauna, such as  with the Sundial in the Peony Garden.

    A postcard of a sundial surrounded by walking paths and flowers

    Postcard of a Sundial in the Peony Garden, 1990.

     

    The fountains in the Water Garden are also known to draw crowds.

    A postcard showing grand fountains throughout a green space

    Postcard of the Fountains, 1950

     

    The indoor exhibitions are just as impressive. Some exhibits rotate while others are on long-term or permanent display. Below is such an example with the Azalea Room Exhibition.

    A postcard showing white and red azaleas inside a closed exhibition space made of glass

    Postcard of the Azalea Exhibition, 1950

     

     

    The indoor exhibitions allow for a controlled environment amid the region’s ever-changing and unpredictable weather patterns. For a 1997 exhibition of tropical plants and flowers, Longwood Gardens was able to simulate the tropical rainforest environment needed. This allowed patrons to experience an ecosystem and botanical beauty that was quite foreign to the area.

    A postcard showing tropical plants on view in an indoor exhibition space

    Postcard of the Tropical Touch Exhibition, 1997.

     

    For more than a century now, Longwood Gardens has been a destination for horticultural beauty. More than that, it has brought botanical experiences from around the world close to home through special exhibits. Hopefully it will continue to foster a deep appreciation for nature, both indoors and out, for centuries to come.

     

    The Delaware Postcard Collection consists of more than 2,000 postcards of the First State and nearby areas from the 19th and 20th centuries. The postcards often depict well-known Delaware buildings, monuments and views, as well as elements of small-town life. They are made freely and digitally accessible through the Library, Museums and Press. Researchers interested in material culture, local history, state and neighborhood development, and all things Delaware may find these resources especially useful.

    How to Screenshot Retro Games with ..
    How to Create an Overlay in Adobe P..
    Library, Museums and Press
    181 S. College Avenue Newark, DE 19717-5267
    View our website in:
    • DELCAT Online Catalog
    • Research Guides
    • Support Us
    • Databases
    • Interlibrary Loan
    • About
    • Electronic Journals
    • Reserve a Space
    • Events and Workshops
    • Off-Campus Access
    • Hours
    • Contact
    Sign Up for the Latest News and Events
    I would like to receive...
    ©2025 University of Delaware
    Accessibility
    Comments
    Legal Notices