This collection honors the legacy of Mary Matthews Edwards (1919-2014), a longtime Media resident and one of the borough's best known social activists. Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Rev. Elizabeth Bland Oveide and William E. Oveide. After moving with her family to Media when a child, Mary became a member of the Campbell A.M.E. Church and attended Media High School. She worked as a teacher's assistant at Media-Providence Friends School, and later as an administrator at Glen Mills School and the Media Fellowship House. At age 60 she began studies at the Delaware County Community College.
Throughout her life she was involved in local, national, and international projects and groups promoting social justice and improved human relations, including the American Friends Service Committee, Pendle Hill Quaker Study Center, the NAACP, and the National Association of Negro Women. As a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, she traveled to India and Scandinavia working to unite women worldwide to oppose oppression and exploitation.
The collection includes photographs, letters, family records, and newspaper articles from Mary's scrapbooks. Besides her family life, these items cover Mary's political activities (including a stint as chair of the Media Democratic Committee) and, more generally, a series of racist incidents in Media and Delaware County in the late 1990s and the response of Mary and others to these crimes. In 1996, the highlight of Mary Edwards social justice activities was her founding of the Citizens-Community Task Force to combat hate activities and racial disparity in Media and surrounding communities.
She was married to John J. Edwards, Sr., and they had two children, Juanita and John Jr.
Thanks to Mary's daughter, Juanita Edwards, for allowing MHAC to scan and post this collection of digital images and documents, which reflect a long commitment by Mary Edwards to better the lives of all Media residents. Juanita Edwards retains the original items and any rights to reproduce them.
Article from Media Press by Eileen Laskas about a Rose Tree Media School District in-service training, at Penncrest High School, at which Mary Edwards and Liz Womack arrived to observe and were asked to leave.
Article in Delaware County Daily Times, by Bette Alburger, about a call for Rose Tree Media Superintendent's Warner's resignation because of racial indifference.
Article in Delaware County Daily Times, by Susan L. Serbin, about Mary M. Edwards disputes with the borough of Media over discriminatory actions against her and her two properties. She was supported by the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement.
Letter to Media Borough Democrats urging them to vote for the Media Democratic Committee endorsed slate of candidates. Signed by chair, Mary Edwards and vice chair, Chesterfield M. Cotton
Official ballot endorsed candidates by the Media Democratic Committee for the April 27, 1976 primary election. Mary Edwards is running for committee member.
On reverse: "Left to right: Claudia Williams, Thelma Nacho, Hazel Chambers, Elward Gales, Mary Short [standing, right; later Mary M. Edwards], and Caroline White [probably in front]
Matthew J. Ryan , speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, offering support for Media's [2nd annual] Unity Day and sending regrets that he is unable to attend.
Photograph used on page 405 of "The Crisis: A Record of the Darker Races," the official organ of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Vol. 66, No. 7, August-September 1959. Caption reads: "Mrs. Elizabeth Oveide (L) of the Media, Pennsylvania, branch hands a check to her daughter Mrs. Mary Edwards, chairman of the branch life membership committee, to become first NAACP life member in the branch. Others pictured are James Austin, Clifford Moat, Percy O. Batipps, Sr., branch president, and Mrs. India Lee, whose personal donation made it possible for the branch to take out an NAACP life membership." On back of print: "Photographic Illustrations by F.F. Zimmerman, 6 E. Front St., Media, PA."
Photographs of 4 pages of "The Crisis". Photograph on page 405 of "The Crisis: A Record of the Darker Races," the official organ of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Vo. 66, No. 7, August-September 1959. Caption reads: "Mrs. Elizabeth Oveide (L) of the Media, Pennsylvania, branch hands a check to her daughter Mrs. Mary Edwards, chairman of the branch life membership committee, to become first NAACP life member in the branch. Others pictured are James Austin, Clifford Moat, Percy O. Batipps, Sr., branch president, and Mrs. India Lee, whose personal donation made it possible for the branch to take out an NAACP life membership. [Photograph by] F. F. Zimmerman." See ED-004 for original print.
