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.
This bridge carried Baltimore Pike over the creek at Palmer's Dam. View looking south at railroad bridge in background. Frank Lees Slide 1568. One of a series of photographs, possibly by same photographer or from same album. Date not certain. Possibly from 5 x 7 inch glass negative
Left to right: Back: Norman Phillips, Raymond Plotts, D.D.G.M; Francis Austin, Edward Yarnall, Alvin P. Ottey. Front: Addison Delrow?, I. Frank Lees, D.D.G.S; George Major
The locally famous organist played in the lobby of the Provident Tradesmens Bank & Trust Co. (formerly the First National Bank of Media) on March 12, 1964, to help celebreate the bank's 100th anniversary. See P-17037 to P-17043 for photos of that event.
The college was renamed Widener College on July 1, 1972, at which time the PMC Corps of Cadets was replaced by a civilian ROTC unit (according to the Chester Times, April 7, 1972, page 1).
Bob Laxton Sr., Bob Laxton Jr., and Thurman Rock. The company may also have been called Laxton Motor Co., according to advertisements in the Chester Times on May 10 and 17, 1929, on page 3.
This photograph was taken by Edward V. Streeper Jr. in January 1931, and removed from one of his scrapbooks. A modern enlargement was made from his original negative, also enclosed, with a vintage print. Streeper's identifications of the buidligns shown is included in the image.
Frank Lees caption: This shows the big red car of the Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company, headed towards Upper Darby. The store on the corner was a candy store. The store on the left is Major's Plumbing Shop. Copy of original photo; source not noted
State Cut Rate Store and Snowden's are the first two buildings on the left (north) side of the street, and the First National Bank is the first building on the south side. The tall tower sits atop the old Media Borough Hall, at Jackson Street, which was demolished in 1969.
Frank Lees caption: "This view, dated about 1922, is a view looking east on State Street at South Avenue. Robinson & Crawford grocery store is on the corner, in the original store building built in Media in the early 1850s. Although Robinson and Crawford are not the original grocer on this corner, the building has been used for a store most of its existence. Today (1979) it is a restaurant. The bank building on the corner was built in 1900." Copy of original photo; source not noted
Police Station (in north section of Borough Hall) is on far right, with the portico and façade of the Media Free Library also visible on right. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Frank Lees caption: The Delaware County Court House can be seen through the trees. A mailman rides his bicycle with the mail. The trolley tracks carried the trolley from Orange and Lincoln St. to Front Street, then on to Chester. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Frank Lees caption: "A series of homes made into offices." The second pair of houses from the left were combined into one office building, with a single address: 14 W. 2nd Street.
View includes, from east to west, Media Drug Stores, Arcadia Restaurant, former Pastime Theater, State Grille Restaurant, Snowden's Hardware, and other stores beyond.
