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.
Caption: "412 W. State Street in the 1880s. Taken by Henry C. Smith. Residence of A. Lewis Smith who maintained a law office on the first floor to the right of the evergreen tree."
View includes many identical automobiles, probably Ford Model T, a trolley car, and an ice wagon. The Charter House Hotel, with its new entrance, is on the left. Copy of original photo; source not noted
Caption probably added in 1959: In front of Paul's Row, Washington Ave., South Media, Pa. 1959 - Built up now nice homes for colored folks. Exact location in South Media is uncertain.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
The focus of this series is on Tancreed's, at the southeast corner of State and Plum streets, a building that had formerly housed Media's original post office. Several images also capture other buildings on the south side of State Street from Plum to Jackson streets.
