Through the Lens of Time: The Rediscovered Photography of Tom Frew

Every man’s work is not necessarily every man’s dream. For community pillar and former SCVHS President Tom Frew, who passed away in January 2024, the business he was known for wasn’t his passion, but in a George Bailey way, one he took over to keep the Frew blacksmith town servicing the farms and families in Newhall. We needed a blacksmith in town, and Tom was no stranger to seeing to the public’s welfare. He inherited the business from his father, who took over the business from Tom’s grandfather. But for Tom, blacksmithing wasn’t what sparked his fire.
He wanted to be in the movie business and studied filmmaking, but no blockbusters were in his future. His eye with the still camera would be the thing that brought him fulfillment. Shortly before his death, the SCV Historical Society acquired nearly 3,000 of Tom’s photographs, 4×5 negatives, prints and film reels. A great many of the images are not local, although many are, and many are important.
It’s going to take a lot of investigating to identify all the locations, people, and events depicted in the collection, and some volunteers are already at work on the project. A treasure trove of frozen moments in time, some of the images are sure to be shared on the walls of the two museums being developed at the Santa Clarita History Center.
It was believed that the entire collection was in the Society’s possession, but they recently discovered that there are more Frew photos out there – some that are distinctly local and evidence of the joy he discovered behind the lens. Fate saved the best for last.
The latest acquisition appears to be the “best of the best” and were found at a swap meet in the San Diego area before posting them on eBay. There are approximately 270 images from Tom’s early days as a commercial photographer. There are many photos from the 1947 Newhall Fourth of July parade, an American Legion baseball game at Newhall School (which was the big public park at the time), photos that he shot that ran in The Signal newspaper and other newspapers (with clippings).
Leon Worden wrote of the find: “Perhaps more importantly, the 270 images and documents paint a picture of Tom’s aspirations. There are photos from a film he made, and his business cards and letterhead, and photos of Tom with his film crew, and his family, and evidence that he sold photos commercially, and more. Lots of undiscovered country in there.”
Just another day in the life at the Santa Clarita History Center. Lots of detective work and wonderful stories to reveal about one of the colorful characters woven into our local legacy.
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