Louise Deshong Woodbridge was the woman of her day.
The only daughter of John O. Deshong and sister of Alfred O. Deshong, she was a rich, well-educated woman passionate about science and art, evident through her vast photograph collection. She also was one of the founding members of the Delaware County Historical Society in 1895.
Woodbridge took pictures of contemporary 19th century Chester, including the Deshong Mansion and Woodbridge House, as well as moments among her travels from the White House to the Catskill Mountains to Europe, the Near East, Palestine and Egypt.
The Louise Deshong Woodbridge collection at the Delaware County Historical Society contains 200 glass negatives made by Woodbridge from her initial foray into photography in 1884 until 1905.
Her works have been shown in Philadelphia and in the Liberal Arts Pavilion of the World Columbian Exhibition of 1893.
Among her first pictures were those of the Deshong Mansion, including two views of the sitting room and an 1884 depicting the Alfred O. Deshong office.
She also extensively photographed the Woodbridge House at 1401 Potter St. in Chester. Woodbridge took pictures of it being constructed and both interiors and exteriors when it was completed. A 1900 photo shows the structure covered in greenery, which, in an age predating air conditioning, was one way to cool buildings.
Woodbridge also traveled widely locally and afar and captured images throughout her journeys.
Several of her images featured Ida McKinley in the conservatory of the White House, with the fern noted from the photographer who also fancied botany.
McKinley was wife of William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, who served from March 4, 1897 to Sept. 14, 1901.
It was sometime before 1939 that these pictures were acquired by the historical society, where they remain.
The Louise Deshong Woodbridge collection is owned by the Delaware County Historical Society Museum, Library & Research Center. The museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 1 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The museum’s telephone number is 610-872-0502. Parking is free on the society lot behind the building or across the street in the municipal lot.
Membership in the Delaware County Historical Society ranges from $10 for students, $27 for individuals to $250 at the patron level. It includes free admission to the society’s Chester museum and library at 408 Avenue of the States, the society newsletter and preferred reservations and discounts for lectures and events. To join, please visit www.padelcohistory.org or call 610-359-0832.
Louise Deshong Woodbridge photographed First Lady Ida McKinley in the conservancy of the White House.