The Appleton Collection includes more than 2,000 glass photographic negatives, taken in Media, Pennsylvania and vicinity from 1888 to 1909. Media Historic Archives received the collection in 1988, but until 2018 most of these pictures had never been seen by the public.
Uncle Josh was a stock character in amateur theatrical and minstrel shows. One man is in blackface, a racist imitation of African American skin color. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran this photograph on March 2, 1902, page 9, with the following headline and caption: CLEVER YOUNG PEOPLE ACT FOR SWEET CHARITY'S SAKE. MEDIA, Pa. March 1.—The St. Vincent Dramatic Association is composed of young people of the Media Catholic church [Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or BVM], and organized for charity. The old church near the present large edifice [on the southeast corner of Franklin St. and Church St.] has been transformed into a miniature theatre, and used by the association. Their first entertainment, "Uncle Josh," played a few evenings ago, netted them $100. In the illustration, reading from left to right, the members are Burd Patterson, P. H. Reilly, William Suter, Joseph Devine, Albert K. Holl, Kate Nolan, M. C. [Matthew C.] Fox Jr. [in blackface], William Flack, Margaret Egan, Frank D. Suter, Kate Egan, John McGinley, and Thomas J. Dolphin. According to the Chester Times, April 2, 1902, this performance was such a success that it was repeated.
This photo appears to be a different building from AP-5162-1 and AP-5162-2. Frank Lees, in From Media's Past, says that the Trinity U.A.M.E Church at 420 N. Olive St., built in 1893, was originally chartered in 1839 as the United A.M.E. Church in Marple Township. Perhaps these pictures show both the old and the new church?
This photo like a different building from AP-5161-1 and AP-5116-2. Frank Lees, in From Media's Past, says that the Trinity U.A.M.E Church at 420 N. Olive St., built in 1893, was originally chartered in 1839 as the United A.M.E. Church in Marple Township. Perhaps these pictures show both the old and the new church?
This photo is the same building as AP-5162-1 and but different from AP-5161-5. Frank Lees, in From Media's Past (52), says that the Trinity U.A.M.E Church at 420 N. Olive St., built in 1893, was originally chartered in 1839 as the United A.M.E. Church in Marple Township. Perhaps these pictures show both the old and the new church?
Newspaper lists this as Linwood (1886) and Marcus Hook and vicinity (1902): "located at the Cross Roads, Linwood". I think this is the same place. See AP-5223 for close-up of Elsie Serrill and child on this porch.
