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.
Frank Lees caption: "The stage coach which ran from Media to Chester, on Providence Road in Nether Providence. This coach made several trips a day. It was operated by Joseph Pierson, out of his livery stable at Baltimore Avenue and Orange Street." Exact location uncertain. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Frank Lees caption: In July 1968 the Plumstead Inn and Tancreed's Dress Store were about to be torn down, for the relocation of Plum Street and the building of the First Keystone Federal Savings Bank. The building that house Tancreed's had earlier housed Media's first post office.
