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.
First row, left to right: unknown, Sid Agnew, unknown, John Brown, Stanley Hibberd, Bob Jones, Bill Campbell, Alfred Black. Bottom row, left to right: George Major, Walter Clough, unknown, Harry Jones, unknown, Francis Nolan.
On reverse: Return to Chas. L. Smith, 8 Brinton Ave., Elwyn, Pa. Besides Charles Smith, picture includes: Harry F. Habbersett, Sidney Agnew, Charles Worrilow, Ernest Hibberd, Walter Clough, Sherman Wells, John Work, Mariano Maldonado, Greg Lavery, Paul Massey, Bart Lattimer, Joseph Tuckerman, Pennell Fury, Thomas Malin, Pat Ahearn, Gerald Mathews, Albert Harvey, and Mr. Segal, Coach.
Probably left to right: Back row: Albert Connelly, C. Guy, ___ Lisby, Arthur English, Frank Anderson, James Ross, Charles Summers, William “Billy” Snear, Ed Smith. Center row: Roy Hoffman, coach; James Wood, Edgar Colton, John Taliaferro, Walter Plantholt, Lewis English, Lewis Young, Robert Parker, Jimmy Pomeroy, Ralph Walters, assistant coach. Bottom row: William Drayman, David Harris, John Weidlien, John “Jack” Valenti, Roland Erskine, Pearson Wood, captain; John Burrows, Lee Yeager, Charles Jefferis, Thomas Tryon, Miller Pendleton. Names compiled from names on the back of the photograph, from a roster and list of names with the photograph, and with newspaper research.
Includes signatures of various players, including Moat, J. A. Taliaferro, Ed Smith, Dave Harris, Schaffner, John Valenti, and several illegible. Label on reverse: "Mildred D. Wilding, 3704 Taylor Ave., Drexel Hill, PA 19026"
This is probably a more select group of the singers. Frank Lees ' identifications, from reverse, probably left to right: Front row: Bill Driehaus, Jean Wood, Dorothy Kolb, music teacher; James Stewart. Back row: Roland Erskine, Lewis Young
These young me, earing their sweaters with large varsity letters, were probably team leaders during the 1948-1949 school year. Identifications on reverse: Left to right, back row: Mr. Gabriel, R. Van Zant, L. Sharp, J. Ford, K. Ford, C. Shull, Holloway, Herb Rathy. Front row: F. Loveland, B. Blackburn, D. Lane, G. Baker, A. Shaw, B. Eckternok, B. Kauffman, D. Barrall.
