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.
The hospital, founded in 1909, moved into the former Worrall mansion (pictured here) in 1911. Copy from negative made of original photo; source not noted.
The performance of the Keystone Kops was part of the 8-day Media Centennial Celebration in June 1950. The Kops "punished" beardless men who had not purchased the required "Beardless Permits," which were sold by the Lions Club leading up to this event. The club also held a Beard contest in which more than a hundred men participated. See Zimmerman Photograph Collection for many related photos. Names on reverse, left to right: standing, Percy Roberts, Hugh Bonner, Erich Bubat, unknown man, A. Fred Manno, Robert Burke, George Jeffries, and Donald Snively. Seated: Jack Kelley, Jr., Charles Allen, J. Clayton Snear, Francis Gray, Harry Walls, and Norman Yarnall. (Identifications made using Frank Lees' notes on reverse of photograph, IDs on Zimmerman Collection photographs, and various newspaper articles and photographs.)
Names on reverse (probably left to right): Frank Lees (front), Gleave Baker, A. Fred Schultz, Mayor; Ed Gibson, Francis Gray, Gus Houtman, Bob Burke, and Charles Outland
P-01276, P-01277 and P-01278 are mounted on identical boards, with identical handwriting in the captions, so they were all probably taken at the same time.
Two copies. IDs on photograph: Left to right: Standing: Pete Reilly, George Noblitt, Jack Murray, Bill Alexander, Phil Carlin, Billy Diggins, Ollie Plummer, Pete Russell, Al Mathues. Kneeling, Matthew Fox.
Caption found handwritten on piece of envelope with photograph: "Entrance, Furness or Media Swimming pool, located on the site of the old Media Gas Tank, southwest of Media Railroad Station on the old Indian Trail, now Media [Station] Road."
