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.
"Red Ink" photo, series by same photographer named for red ink used for writing descriptions on reverse side of similarly-mounted images. Looking south on Rose Valley Road, near intersection with Possum Hollow Road, at t what are known as the "Mill Houses.".
Note on reverse: "Dr. Russel Levis was messenger boy for Alice P. Fox, who was telegrapher for Western Union." It is to be assumed that he became a doctor much later in life.
Note on reverse: "Dr. Russel Levis was messenger boy for Alice P. Fox, who was telegrapher for Western Union." It is to be assumed that he became a doctor much later in life.
Left to right: Unknown woman, jockey Charlie Curtsinger, Samuel D. Riddle, and Charles Schoff. This may have been taken at Belmont Park, in Elmont, Long Island, N.Y., based on the location of the photo service in Queens, N.Y. The woman holds some kind of printed material that reads "Astor Bar."
Second Street between Orange and Olive streets was abandoned when additional county offices were built in back of the Delaware County Court House. The County Prison and Juvenile Home are on the left, with the warden's house the next building to the east. The date of this photo was derived from the style of the parked automobiles.
The Shriners, now (2019) called Shriners International, are a fraternal organization once known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America.
Sign reads: Baker Street Urban Renewal Area. Project No. PA. R-248. A project of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Delaware and the Borough of Media. This urban renewal project is being undertaken with Federal financial aid under Title 1 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Part of a series of stereoviews of "Media and its vicinity" by Samuel McMullin, Landscape Photographer, No. 1128 South Sixth Street, Philadelphia. Handwritten note reads: "412 W. State St. Purchased by A. Lewis Smith from Judge John M. Broomall in 1866, when H. Clement Smith was six yrs. old. - Henry C. Smith. Birthplace of L. Cheyney Smith 7/1/1891. Picture taken soon after purchase by A.L.S."
