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Anna Lea cartes-de-visite album

Creation: circa 1860s
 Collection
Accession: 2013-233

Abstract

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).

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1860s

Creator

Extent

1 volume(s)

General Physical Description

1 cartes-de-visite album : brown leather, slightly worn, gold lettering imprint "Anna Lea" ; 5 x 6 in. (closed), metal clasps. Contains 37 albumen cartes-de-visite prints. 3 tintypes.

Biographical Note

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. In 1834, William Lea took over operation of the Tatnall-Lea grain mills from his father Thomas Lea (1759-1833) who had been in partnership with his father-in-law Joseph Tatnall (1740-1813).

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. William Lea died in 1876 and his sons carried on the business, modernizing the mills, but facing increasing competition from the West. The firm dissolved in 1923, after the death of Preston Lea. The Lea family was prominent in Wilmington and Brandywine Village, and married into several other prominent Delaware business families.

William Lea and his wife Jane Scott Lovett were married in 1836 had eleven children: Esther Lea (1837-1911), Henry Lea (1839-1888), Preston Lea (1841-1916), William B. Lea (1844-1913), Mary Lea (1846-1920), Sarah Lea (1848-1848), Anna Lea (1849-1927), Edward T. Lea (1852-1867), Alice Lea (1854-1857), Thomas Lea (1856-1858), and Jane Lea (1860-1927).

Anna’s sister Esther Lea (1837-1911) married historian, Ziba Ferris (1828-1888) in 1856 and had two children: Alice Lea Ferris (1858-1925) and William Lea Ferris (1860-1911), who went on to be Vice President of William Lea & Sons Company while his uncle, Preston Lea served as President.

Anna’s brother William B. Lea (1844-1913) married Sarah B. Bentley (1848-1928) in 1867 and had three children: Jennie Lovett Lea (1868-1933), Edith Bentley Lea (1872-1888) and Edward Tatnall Lea (1874-1922).

Scope and Content

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). There are a few portraits related to a school with the initials “B.B.S.” Many portraits are of unidentified individuals.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Anna Lea cartes-de-visite album
Author:
Laurie Rizzo
Date:
2014
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400