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.
Slide marked "Duplicate." Identified from Google Maps. Stream is either Crum Creek or a raceway leading to factory from this creek. Exact location uncertain.
Slide marked "Duplicate." No identification. The mouth of Chester Creek at the Delaware River, viewed from 2nd Street. Thanks to Ted Xaras for identifying this location.
Man of the Week Luncheon honoring Charles Palmer on his 100th birthday. Palmer, according to newspaper research, was the oldest practing realtor and lawyer in the United States. In this photo, Gus Houtman is at the far left, and Edward H. Rigby of the Provident Tradesmens Bank & Trust Co., formerly the First National Bank of Media, sits to Palmer's right. No. P-659
Man of the Week Luncheon honoring Charles Palmer on his 100th birthday. Palmer, according to newspaper research, was the oldest practing realtor and lawyer in the United States. No. P-660
Man of the Week Luncheon honoring Charles Palmer on his 100th birthday. Palmer, according to newspaper research, was the oldest practing realtor and lawyer in the United States. Edward H. Rigby of the Provident Tradesmens Bank & Trust Co., formerly the First National Bank of Media, sits to Palmer's right. No. P-660. Used in News of Delaware County
Man of the Week Luncheon honoring Charles Palmer on his 100th birthday. Palmer, according to newspaper research, was the oldest practing realtor and lawyer in the United States. No. P-662
Caption in folder:" North side of building was owned by John Bennington and the south side by James Weaver, in 1880. The building has been used for many things, including a hospital, and the Sprogell School." Sign on building reads: "Attorneys at Law, James W. Robertson, Ernest L. Green, Jr." See also AP-5203-1.
Copy of original: Signal Corps USA, Photograph number 38487. "Catalogue of Official A.E.F. Photographs taken by the Signal Corps, U. S. A. (War Department Document No. 903, 1919; Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=daAtAAAAIAAJ) describes this photograph as follows: "Observers from G-2, Third Army Corps, Capt. G. D. Morris in charge. Dun sur Meuse, Meuse, France, November 16, 1910."
Location on slide is a few blocks off. This view, looking down from Township Line Road, is not Old Lane Street, but the alley street between Agnew Drive and Bryan Street. Hillcrest Elementary School is on the left. Address is for the school.
View showing St Bernadette of Lourdes Catholic Church on Turner Avenue, from what is now (2019) the Dermond Recreation Area. Address is for the church.
