author

Frank Cousins

b. 1851

A Salem writer and photographer, he became known for preserving the look of early New England architecture through words and images. His work helped record Federal-style buildings at a time when many were at risk of disappearing.

1 Audiobook

The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia

The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia

by Frank Cousins, Phil M. (Phil Madison) Riley

About the author

Born on July 1, 1851, Frank Cousins was an American writer and photographer based in Salem, Massachusetts. He is remembered for documenting Federal-style architecture in New England, combining careful visual record-keeping with a strong interest in historic buildings.

His photographs became part of the early preservation movement, capturing houses and architectural details that might otherwise have been lost. Because he lived and worked in Salem, much of his legacy is tied to that city and to the broader effort to value and protect New England's built past.

Cousins died on June 6, 1925. Today, he is chiefly recognized not just as a photographer, but as someone whose work helped preserve a vivid picture of American architectural history.