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.
3 copies. Same team and same location as Appleton AP-5666. Names on back of one copy, in Frank Lees' handwriting: Benjamin Stiteler, Leon Baker, Clarence McIntyre, Fred Cope, Harold Thomas, Bill Kelly, Matt Fox, George Barker, Clayton Worrall
Left to right, top row: Young, Harry Ottey, Albin Ottey, Clarence McIntyre, Matthew Fox. Bottom row: Elmer Lukens, Howard Brinton, Al Mathues, unknown, Crooks
Caption on envelope: "First mail delivery, Media Aviation Field, autogiro, about 1924." This does not match the date on the back of the print, which is July 5, 1938. This is probably related to National Airmail Week, in May 1938.
Probably Media Athletic Association team. List of players on reverse of two copies, each list slightly different: Top row, left to right: Mike Fahey, Bill (or Lane] Davis, Frank Dotts, Reds Pyle (or ____ Simcox), ____, Cliff Mooney, Marshall Harvey, Aikley Fields. Front Row: Bucky Green, Bush Cochran, ____ Fredrichs? (Joe Frederick), Greg Lavery, Gerald Mathues [may be Matheus]
This may be the "Old Stars" who played several games in Media in 1902. Players identified include Joe Egan, Joe McDowell, Culp, John Murray, Les? Parlette, Pete Russell, Willie Gibbons, and Ham Lutton. See Chester Times, August 8, 1902, page 6, and September 8, 1902, page 3.
On reverse, in pencil, probably left to right, top to bottom: Pete Reilly, manager; Carson Schaap, c.; Bill Kelley, 2d base, Punk Baker, 3d base; Jake Munch, pitcher, Duffy Brinton, pitcher; Jack Kelley, catcher; S. McIntyre, outfielder; C. Mooney, pitcher; Tommy Carr, outfielder; A. Ottey, Asst. manager. Team sitting on front steps of house numbered 207.
Provenance: given by Thomas S. Fields to Edward V. Streeper; then Chick Heavens gave it to the MHAC. Print of Appleton AP-8209. Probably taken at Baker's General Store in Gradyville section of Edgmont Township. Streeper's list is lost; and the typed list probably has the back row backwards. Best IDs for this group as follows: Left to right: Standing: Andy Dalton, Horace W. Manley, Marshall Altemus, Thomas Vernon Cooper, William Williamson, Thomas Stinson Fields, and A. C. W. Mathues. Keeling: Dr. Benjamin Mott Underhill, Isaac E. Johnson Esq., A Wilson "Diddy" Mathues, and Harvey Knight. See Chester Times article about this game, August 4, 1904, page 3
Two copies, with names on reverse: Left to right: Back row: Cliff Mooney, Pat Ahearn, Al "Doc" Gay, Lane Davis. Middle row: Frank Baldwin, Joe Frederick (or Fredericks), Mike Fahey, Reds Pyle, Greg Lavery, Dave Trost, and Gerald Mathues. Seated: Hap Lungren or Loughren, umpire, Dick Lavery, batboy, and J. Aikley Fields, manager. Absent when picture was taken were John Highfield and Addie Brennan, catcher.
Left to right: Front row: Lefty McCullough, Peter H. Baldwin, Lefty Paige, Charles Williams, Reds (Ed) Larkin, Frank Baldwin (manager), Lefty Johnson, Ivan Walseed. Back row: Henry Schuhardt, Bud Malseed, Charles (Fats) Baldwin, Connie Brown, Bill Snyder, Tommy Barr, Ray Worrell, Ernie Yarnall. For same team receiving H. Walker Yarnall Trophy, see P-15042.
2 copies. Same as Appleton AP-5158. IDs on photograph: “Phenomenal” John Smith, Curt Wiegand, Harry Barton, Phil Larkin, “Frosty” Stackhouse, George Noblitt, Jay Murray, Pete Band, Jimmy Toman, Matthew Fox, Phil Donnelly, “Cheese” Anderson, Bert Everson, Al Mathues, Frank Taylor, Tom Vernon
Frank Lees caption on reverse: From left to right: ?, Frank Wiltshire, ?, Gus Houtman, Maude Allen, Paul Clark, J. Orval Mancill, ? Tuckerman, J. Fred Schultz.
Frank Lees caption, left to right: Gleave L. Baker, Ambrose Smedley, Bill Van Leer, President Gus Houtman, Secretary Paul Clark, Walter Strine, John Hoffman, _____ Boyer, Mayor Frank Wiltshire
Frank Lees caption: "The Media Borough Hall from 1894 until 1969. This handsome building was built for the Media Borough Offices and the Media Fire Company, and was used until it was torn down in 1969. The house next to the Borough Hall was the home of Charles Pedrick. The original Media Free Library stood on Jackson Street in back of the main building." Both the borough hall and the library were designed by Walter Smedley, an architect who lived on Penncrest Farm in Middletown Township.
