Alice Lea Spruance (1876-1967) was the daughter of Delaware governor Preston Lea (1841-1916) and his first wife Adelaide Moore (1846-1888). Since the 1770s, the Lea family were among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Falls, north of Wilmington, Delaware. This collection of personal and business papers document Spruance's personal investments, a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds that was managed by her relative Alfred E. Bissell (1903-1975) of Laird, Bissell & Meeds, brokers. Also included are descriptions, anecdotes, memoranda, and clippings relating to Wilmington and the Brandywine area, particularly the Brandywine Mills, the source of the Lea family's wealth.

Anna Lea (1849-1927) was the daughter of William Lea (1805-1876) and Jane Scott Lovett (1817-1888). Since the 1770s, the Lea family were among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Falls, north of Wilmington, Delaware. This item is a carte-de-visite photograph album which contains portraits of the Lea and related families, primarily the families of William and Jane Scott Lea’s children (Anna’s siblings, their spouses, nieces, nephews, and friends).

The Lea family was among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Falls, near Wilmington, Delaware, since the 1770s, when Thomas Lea (1757–1823) joined in partnership with Joseph Tatnall (1740–1813) to operate mills on the north bank of the stream. This small collection of Lea family papers documents Delaware and Pennsylvania land use and ownership, elite family and social relationships, and agricultural business operations from the early eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. The materials are from four generations of the William Lea (1805-1876) family lineage. The collection is arranged into four series: Real estate and financial papers, Correspondence, Personal papers, and Newspaper clippings.

Thomas Lea (1757–1823) joined in partnership with Joseph Tatnall (1740–1813), and passed on the Tatnall-Lea grain mills in Wilmington, Delaware to his son William Lea (1805-1876), who took over operation of the mills in 1837. In 1864, William Lea brought his sons Henry Lea (1839-1888) and Preston Lea (1841-1916) into the firm, changing the name to William Lea & Sons Company. This collection includes portraits of members of the Lea and related families. These include such family names as Tatnall, Warner, Preston, Ferris, Downing, Spruance, Lovett, Moore, Bush, Ely, and others.

The Lea family were among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Falls, north of Wilmington, Delaware, since the 1770s, when Thomas Lea (1757–1823) joined in partnership with Joseph Tatnall (1740–1813). The album contains considerable genealogical information on the Lea family, as well as thirty-eight silhouette portraits of members of the Lea and related families. These include family names such as Tatnall, Baily, Bellah, Warner, Pusey, and Rodman.

The Lea family were among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Fills, near Wilmington, Delaware, beginning in the 1770s until 1927. The mill operated under multiple company names, including Tatnall & Lea, William Lea & Sons, William Lea & Sons Company, Lea Milling Company, and Lea & Company. The records consist of letters, orders, receipts, and advertisements of the William Lea & Sons Company and its predecessors.