During her first year at Briarcliff Junior College, when other girls in her class were having their debuts, Diane Carroll Jones decided it was too much trouble to come out. One year later, in 1955, her mother prevailed and Diane made her debut not just once but half a dozen times. She came out in New York at the Debutante Cotillion with 103 other debutantes, at the Junior League Ball with 47 others, at the Grosvenor Ball with 11 others and in Miami Beach she came out with nine. She was also honored alone at dinner dances given by her grandmother in St. Louis and by her parents in New York.

Although she was presented more widely than any other debutante of the season, the pert brunette managed to avoid the inevitable glasses of imported champagne - she doesn't like the taste. Asked how she got through all these coming-outs and goings  on Diane mused, "Well, I lost 12 pounds and that's lovely."

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images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection

The Du Pont Empire started with gunpowder and expanded into chemicals and automotive. It all started with the 1800 New Year's eve, when Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours arrived in Newport, R.I. as a political refugee from France. Alongside him there were his sons Victor and Eleuthere Irenee, their wives and his 5 grandchildren.

In 1802 Eleuthere Irenee started a gunpowder mill on the banks of the Brandywine River near Wilmington, Delaware. 

The Du Ponts were a very educated family with a love for fine arts and history. They played a major role in establishing museums, a conservancy and  the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  William du Pont, Jr. and his sister, Marion duPont Scott, were avid lovers of horses so they dedicated a big part of their life into breading race horses. 

In 1950 the Du Ponts celebrated 150 years since Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours set foot on the U.S. land.

632 members of the family came at the gorgeous Longwood greenhouse, this being the largest event ever hold in such a building.

The greenhouse near Kennett Square, PA was built by Pierre Samuel Du Pont jr. in 1919, being the largest private greenhouse in the world. Inside there were flowers from all over the world, a 10.000 pipe organ, water gardens, rose gardens, yew gardens and many fountains. It was manned by 25 expert gardeners and 100 auxiliary personnel. In 1921 the building was opened for public.