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.
This is the former Malin family homestead. Address is approximate. The building was on the west side of Ridley Creek Road, the same side as what is now called Louis Scott Park.
View includes high school athletic field, Lines Motor Co. on State Street, in center, and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, in upper right.
the 1909 Mueller map identifies the church and surrounding complex as the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus. The other building is the Sharon Hill School. Calcon Hook Road winds through the upper left. The entire site is now (2020) occupied by Academy Park High School and Sharon Hill Elementary School. The original school was demolished, and only one building of the convent complex remains. The Academy Park stop on what is now SEPTA's Wilmington Line shows up as a simple shed on the inbound side of the tracks. Thanks to Ted Xaras and Chuck Denlinger for identifying the location of this photograph.
View looking west on Providence Road. Diagonal in foreground is Springfield Road. Houses under construction are on Aldan Avenue, Walnut Avenue, and Magnolia Avenue (which has yet to be extended into this development.
This view shows the Delaware River and the built-up part of Chester and vicinity at the top. Part of Chester Creek is also visible. The intersection of Concord Road and Dutton Mill Road (running along the bottom of the photo) is in the lower left.
