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.
Caption by Frank Lees: In the 1920s J. E. Fitzgerald also had a gas station at Baltimore Avenue and Olive Street. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Earl Babbitt, Mr. (Richard H.) Crockford (the church's organist and choir director), Bill Halsey, Horace Ross, Bill Mingin, and L.C.S. (Lewis Cheyney Smith).
The Plush Mill Bridge collapsed April 20, 1913, when an 18-ton steamroller was crossing and crashed through the floor. See Chester Times, April 21, 1913 and a March 13, 1914 article about the lawsuit that ensued. Frank Lees caption: "Trolley trestle stands alongside of where bridge once stood."
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
Bridge over the Delaware River between Bridgeport, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in 1974. With negatives. See “Delaware County Today, 1975-50th Edition” (in MHAC Collection), pages 9-12, for more photos of the bridge.
This was part of the Pennsylvania National Guard unit based in the Media Armory, at camp in Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania. Paul Clark is second from left; the rest are unidentified.
