Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical / Historical ................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 4 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 4 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 5 - Page 2 - Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 Summary Information Repository: Manuscripts and Archives Creator: Spruance, Alice Lea, 1876-1967 Title: Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers ID: 1168 Date [inclusive]: 1879-1965 Physical Description: 230 item(s) Language of the English . Material: Abstract: 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. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical / Historical Alice Moore 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. On May 4, 1907, she married William Corbit Spruance, Jr. (1873-1935), an electrical engineer and executive with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. They had three children. Alice Lea Spruance died in Wilmington, Delaware on August 26, 1967. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 3- Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 Scope and Contents The bulk of the papers concern Spruance's personal investments, and stocks and bonds. Materials describe William Lea's account of the Brandywine Mills; extracts from Benjamin Ferris's history of original settlements in Delaware and the arrival of William Shipley and his wife Elizabeth in Wilmington; William Lea's account of George Washington at the Brandywine during the Revolution; extracts from Elizabeth Montgomery's reminiscences of Wilmington relating to Joseph Tatnall; an 1879 description of the modernization of the Brandywine Mills; an 1880 history of the Brandywine Mills; extracts from Francis Vincent's history relating to Christiana Hundred and the Brandywine Mills; receipt to Henry and Preston Lea for the sale of mill property. ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Publication Statement Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Revision Description Marsha Mills 2020 Access Restrictions This collection is open for research. ^ Return to Table of Contents Controlled Access Headings • Correspondence. • Brandywine Creek (Pa. and Del.) - Page 4- Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 • Investments • Flour mills • Lea family Collection Inventory Title/Description Instances 59 sales slips for securities purchased by Alice Lea Spruance, box 1 1917-1941 Correspondence - In, 1916-1965 box 1 Scope and Contents Principal correspondents include: American Gas and Electric Company (NYC); George P. Bissell; Delaware Power & Light Company; Equitable Trust Company (Wilmington); Farmers Bank of the State of Delaware; The First National Bank (NYC); Hercules Powder-Company; Irenee du Pont Laird & Company; Laird, Bissell & Meeds (mostly signed by Alfred E. Bissell addressed to "Aunt Alice"; The North American Company (NYC); North American Match Corporation (NYC); Paul J. Nowland (Wilmington); Old Colony Trust Company (Boston, Massachusetts); The Pennsylvania Company; Robt. H. Richards (Wilmington); Standard Ice Company (Philadelphia); Standard 0il Company; Union National Bank (Wilmington); West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (NYC); Wilmington Trust Company (includes company brochure and prospectuses. Envelope containing descriptions and anecdotes of the Brandywine box 1 Mills, 1872-1914 Scope and Contents Include: William Lea's "The Brandywine Mills", undated; Letter of John Taylor to Mr. Lea , 6 June 1891 enclosing report of salesman on market conditions in various parts of the country; Extracts from Benjamin Ferris' "History of the original settlements on the Delaware", 1846. This is an account of William and Elizabeth Shirley's removal from Ridley Township and their settlement in Wilmington with descriptions of bridges over the Brandywine; "William Lea Account 1914" regarding General George Washington and the Revolutionary War in the Brandywine area; Miss Betsy Montgomery's Account" of Joseph Tatnall; Extracts from "Reminiscences of Wilmington" by Elizabeth Montgomery, 1872; "Delaware Gazette" December 8, 1879 Mills", a description or the modernization in the Lea Mills in New Castle; Short history and description of The Brandywine Mills, 1880; Extracts from Francis Vincent's History regarding laws stating procedures and regulations of Christiana Hundred and Brandywine Mills; Newsclippings about old mills; - Page 5- Alice Lea Spruance personal and business papers 1168 Receipt to Henry Lea and Preston Lea for sale of Joseph Tatnall's interest in Brandywine Mill Creek, 1897, January 29. - Page 6-.