This collection focuses mainly on the Media Centennial Celebration, which ran from June 3-10, 1950 and included thousands of participants and attracted tens of thousands of spectators. Besides covering the centennial activities for local newspapers, Zimmerman took many photographs of local business, churches, and community organizations for inclusion in a souvenir book sold during the events. (The page number of these photographs, in this publication, are noted in each item’s description). To view a selection of Centennial photos by Zimmerman, click here. For an overview of the Centennial activities, click here.
A smaller but fascinating group of aerial photographs of Media and other nearby Delaware County, Pennsylvania communities, taken in 1950, show how much open space existed in the area at the time, and how quickly that land was being bought up and built up as part of the post-World War II housing boom.
Thanks to Adeline Cianella, for scanning most of the 750+ negatives and choosing appropriate subjects for each image; also to Matt Lake, for kicking off the project with a few dozen scans of his own. Most of the photographer's captions were minimal, so thanks also to Adam Levine, who edited each image and fleshed out the descriptions by perusing the Centennial souvenir book along with captions of published photos and newspaper articles describing the events, from both online databases and MHAC’s own scrapbooks and newspaper collection.
Identifier
Francis F. Zimmerman Photograph Collection
Spatial Coverage
Media, Pennsylvania and surrounding municipalities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Patty Highfield and her court on the Miss Greater Media float. Attendants this day were Mary Ann Schultz, Mary Lou Vivian, Pauline Walls, Helen Stern, Virginia Merion, and her sister, Donna Highfield. (Chester Times, June 8, 1950)
Patty Highfield and her court on the Media Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) Miss Greater Media float. Attendants this day were Mary Ann Schultz, Mary Lou Vivian, Pauline Walls, Helen Stern, Virginia Merion, and her sister, Donna Highfield. (Chester Times, June 8, 1950)
Left to right: Arthur C. Throne, Delaware County Engineer; William H. Milliken Jr., state representative, clerk of the county court, and burgess of Sharon Hill Borough; John H. Doherty, chair of the county board of commissioners; John J. McClure, state representative and Republican power-broker; Harold Ervin, president judge of the county court; Edward H. P. Fronefield, county solicitor; James H. (Jim or Big Red) Duff, governor of Pennsylvania; Albert J. Crawford, Jr., county commissioner; G.D. (Gus) Houtman, president of Media Borough Council; J. Fred Schultz, burgess of Media; Fred F. Duke, county commissioner; and Benjamin H. James, state representative from Radnor.
Media High School Marching Band. View looking east on State Street. Sun Ray Drug Co. and Horen's Budget Shoe Shop also shown; both stores on the north side of State Street at Olive Street.
Centennial Book 13. The book does not identify the individuals in this photo, but does include a long list of this committee's members. Negative damaged.
