His appreciation for art and his desire to give back to the community led to his becoming a prominent philanthropist in the early 20th century, particularly of the Brandywine School.

Samuel Bancroft became the president of the new company, and younger managers began handling many of the firm's day-to-day affairs.

This close family connection led to Samuel's continuing interest in England, and in 1880, he was introduced to Pre-Raphaelite English artwork by his cousin, architect Alfred Darbyshire.

He fell in love with the art, and once Bancroft stepped back from directly managing the family firm in 1889, he began to purchase numerous pieces of artwork.

[8] In 1905, Bancroft built homes and studios for four of the most prominent students of Pyle: N. C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, Harvey Dunn, and Clifford Warren Ashley.

Bancroft's children donated the estate's collection of Pre-Raphaelite artwork to the Society and gave them land upon which to build a museum and an endowment to maintain it.