I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection

Title: I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection
Description: 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.
Date: 1860-2000
Identifier: I. Frank Lees Photograph Collection

View as:

First National Bank of Media

Building before construction of present (2019) 1901 structure

First National Bank of Media, 1927.

This photograph documents the addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. Probably J. E. Green photo; modern copy of original

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Banking floor

This photograph documents the addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Board room

This photograph documents the addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo 30340

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Bookkeeping office with check writing machines.

This photograph documents the addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo 30341

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Elevated view of banking floor.

This photograph documents he addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo 30361

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Entrance

This photograph documents he addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo

First National Bank of Media, 1927. New vault.

This photograph documents he addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo 30363

First National Bank of Media, 1927. Reception area

This photograph documents he addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. J. E. Green photo 30339

First National Bank of Media, 1927. View of Tellers cages and vaults

This photograph documents the addition and renovations, completed in 1926, pictured in P-17052 to P-17076. Probably J. E. Green photo; modern copy of original

First National Bank of Media, 1950

The building is decorated for the Media Centennial Celebration, June 3-10, 1950.

First National Bank of Media, addition under construction

The photos documenting construction (P-17052 to P-17076) were arranged in approximate chronological order based on dates on the prints or negatives and then interpolating those images without dates based on stage of construction. Images with only the date 1925 were not dated. This removation included the addition to the bank buiilding on the east side, and following that, the complete renovation of the banking floor, and the installation of a new vault. The newly renovated bank reopened to the public in November 1926.