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.
Broomall Barber Shop and Tony's Shoe Store. Datestone in building reads: Isaac Lawrence, 1817. According to the 1909 Mueller Atlas, Plate 30, this building stood on the northeast corner of the intersection of West Chester Pike and Sproul Road. See P-13006 for earlier photograph. Address is approximate.
According to newspaper research, Saha Manufacturing Co. was located on Springfield Road near MacDade Boulevard., or MacDade and Chestnut Street. Exact location is uncertain..
Scott Paper is in the background; the water tower resembles a roll of "Soft Weve" toilet tissue. Market Street is now Avenue of the States. Third street no longer intersects this street. Location uncertain.
