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.
Contact sheet of film negatives showing various scenes from the parade day. 1. Radnor Fire Company, with dalmatian dog. 2. Unidentified veterans. 3. Boy scout. 4. and 5. LuLu Temple String Band, Philadelphia 6. Fire Fighters String Band, Philadelphia. 7. Unidentified fire company 8. Unidentified marching band. 9. String band of the Garretford-Drexel Hill Fire Company. 10. Highland Park Fire Company, Upper Darby, Pa., with bagpipers of the Washington Memorial Pipe Band, Philadelphia. 11. Unidentified marching band. 12. Unidentified fire engine. 13. Media Fire Company ambulance. 14. Drum and bugle corps from Riverside, N.J. American Legion post. 15. 16. 17. Firefighters enjoying refreshments.
Media Fire Company truck parked on Jackson Street and Jasper Street. Corner of original Media Free Library building is on far right. The houses behind the trees on the left were removed in the late 1960s, to make room for the current (2020) fire house.
