The I. Frank Lees Collection forms the backbone of the collections of the Media Historic Archives Commission, and is its reason for being. MHAC--an official arm of the Media, Pennsylvania government--was created to administer a collection of photographs and other material which I. Frank Lees (1919-1999), a lifelong resident, donated to the borough in 1981. The collection contains roughly 15,000 items, including the more than 1,800 photographs which are presented here. More photographs from this collection, and from other collections donated after Lees' death in 1999, will be added to this site in the future.
THANKS TO
- Chris Welc, for scanning more than 1,000 photographs in the photograph folders that Frank Lees had created. and for creating the first version of the Excel spreadsheet that became the basis of the catalog records on this site.
- Adam Levine scanned hundreds more photographs, fleshed out the photograph descriptions, and created the final metadata now attached to each image.
- Media Borough Council approved the purchase of a new computer and scanners for MHAC, and funded the creation and upkeep of this website.
Spatial Coverage
Media, Pennsylvania and vicinity, as well as other locations (including the Panama Canal Zone) related to Media people.
Thanks to Ryan J. Lynch for identifying the location of this photograph. The building in the photo stood from 1927 to 1965, when it was replaced by a new school. That building still stands, but the school was closed in 2005. A history of the church can be found at www.stgeorgeparish.org/about-our-parish .
The school in upper right corner of photograph is at the intersection of College Avenue and Princeton Avenue. Top center of the photo shows the intersection of Princeton, Elm, and Swarthmore avenues. Swarthmore Avenue is the diagonal road that starts in the lower left.
The school is now (2020) known as Williamson College of the Trades. The campus includes several buildings designed by architect Frank Furness. See also P-18054.
The school is now (2020) known as Williamson College of the Trades. The campus includes several buildings designed by architect Frank Furness. See also P-18022.
View showing the intersection of Pennell Road (PA 452), running from the bottom of the photo to the top; Concord Road, running from the bottom right to the left, and Knowlton Road, coming from the lower left to meet the other two roads. (Thanks to Theresa Hayden for identifying the exact location of this photo, which was not noted with the original negative. She identified several buildings in the old photo, including Griffin Memorials on Knowlton Road, that were still standing in November 2025.)
Back of card reads: "Thirty minutes by R.R. from Philadelphia. Media and Vicinity. Photographed by Samuel McMullin, Landscape Photographer, No. 1128 South Ninth Street, Philadelphia. Taken by request of James R. Cummins, Residence, Media, Penna."
The photo came with the following typescript, which likely indicates the subjects from left to right, going from top to bottom: Rosalba Peale Smith, 18, daughter of Clement L. Smith; Clement Lawrence Smith, 45; Lewis Lawrence Smith, 24, son of A. Lewis Smith; Margaretta Smith, 51; Benjamin Hayes Smith, 48; Anna Cheyney Smith, 21, wife of Henry C. Smith; George Lawrence Smith, 16, son of Clement L. Smith; Rebecca Emily Smith, 27 daughter of A. Lewis Smith; Abraham Lewis Smith, 58; William Easby Jr., 27, future husband of Rebecca E. Smith; Emma Griscora Smith, 43, wife of Clement L. Smith; Edgar Lawrence Smith, 7, son of Clement L. Smith; Alice Smith, adopted daughter of Benjamin H. Smith; Clement Lawrence Smith Jr., 14, son of Clement L Smith; Rebecca Levis Smith, 52, wife of A. Lewis Smith; Adeline Brooke Smith, wife of Benjamin H. Smith; S. Francis Wood, sister of Rebecca L. Smith; Helen Bright Smith, 14, daughter of A. Lewis Smith. Photograph taken by Henry Clement Smith, 29, son of A. Lewis Smith. Abraham Lewis, Margaretta, Benjamin Hayes and Clement Lawrence were the surviving children of Dr. George Smith. Abraham Lewis Smith was a lawyer, practicing in Philadelphia and Delaware counties. Benjamin Hayes Smith was a surveyor and cartographer who prepared the first official street map of Media. Clement Lawrence Smith was a professor at Haverford, Swarthmore and Harvard colleges.
Helen Allam with Childred: Paul, Robert, Mark, and Dortthy. Marion Hubbard, grandmother. This may be on Woodland Avenue in the Bortondale section of Middletown Township. . Removed from Box W3-2, Dr. Mark Allam folder. A print is in that folder. Donated by Mark Allam. See P-14013A for explanation.
