Ethel Wight Collection – Part 30

Chadbourne (2), Cheney, Chipman, & Chisholm

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein accurately.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Virginia Lillian Cheney (1917-1990) circa 1936.

Virginia Lillian Cheney (1917-1990) circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Virginia Cheney, 12 Winter St., Portland, #1084.”

Why I believe this to be the individual:

• • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Virginia Cheney residing at 12 Winter.
  • The 1936 Portland High School Yearbook shows the same photo for Virginia Lillian Cheney.
  • Maine Vital Records, 1908-1922, identifies Virginia Lillian Cheney, born 9 Feb 1917 in Westbrook, as the daughter of Virgil and Martha (Davis) Cheney.

Family Search identifies Virginia Lillian Cheney, daughter of Virgil and Martha Cheney, as ID LT1H-Q4F. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. I uploaded two additional photos of Virginia to my Flickr photostream. Virigina Lillian Cheney is found in 14 Ancestry public trees.

Dr. Fred J. Chipman (1871-1958) c. 1935

Dr. Fred J. Chipman (1871-1958) c. 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Fred J Chipman, 70 Ashmont St., Portland #130.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Fred J. Chipman as a dentist at 536a Congress, room 31, whose home address was 70 Ashmont.
• The 1930 US Census enumerated the 59-year-old Fred J Chipman living with his wife, Addie, daughter, Gladys, and son Fred.

Family Search identifies Dr. Fred J. Chipman as ID LZ2M-VPZ. I am pretty sure this is Dr. Chipman about 1935, when he was about 64 years old. I have uploaded two photos of him to his Family Search profile. I uploaded a third photo to my Flickr photostream. Fred Jackson Chipman found in 45 Ancestry public trees.

Note: A relative and a former patient have both confirmed that the photo appears to be Dr. Fred Chipman. (via Ancestry Messages)

Addie Mae (Cram) Chipman (1884-1961), circa 1935.

Addie Mae (Cram) Chipman (1884-1961), circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Fred J Chipman, 70 Ashmont St., Portland, #124.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Addie M. as the wife of Fred J. Chipman. Their home was 70 Ashmont.
• The 1930 US Census enumerated the 46-year-old Addie M. Chipman living with her husband, Fred J. Chipman, and their children, Gladys and Fred.

Family Search identifies Addie Mae Cram as ID LYKQ-KBW. I am quite sure this is her about 1935 when she was about 50 years old. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. I uploaded a third photo to my Flickr photostream. 26 Ancestry public trees reference Addie Mae Cram  

Paul, Mahlon, and Philip Chadbourne, circa 1935.

Paul, Mahlon, and Philip Chadbourne, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Harry Chadborn, 27 Mabel St., Portland #163.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Harry F. (and Clara F.) Chadbourne, a clerk at RMS Union Station, living at 27 Mabel.
• The 1940 Census identifies Harry and Clara still living at 27 Mabel Street. With them are their three sons, Paul E. Chadbourne (age 16), Mahlon F. Chadbourne (age 13), and Philip F. Chadbourne (age 8).
• Based upon the photo package number (#163), these photos were likely taken about 1935, when the children were 4, 9, and 12-years-old.

Family Search identifies Paul E. Chadbourne, son of Harry Francis and Clara Susan (Ford) Chadbourne, as ID G7BK-B9S. I am quite sure this is Paul about 1935. I have uploaded two photos of him to his Family Search profile. I have also uploaded one additional photo to my Flickr photostream. Nine Ancestry public trees refer to Paul E. Chadbourne.

Mahlon F. Chadbourne does not appear to have a Family Search profile; however, Mahlon Chadbourne is found in 8 Ancestry public trees.

Philip F. Chadbourne does not appear to have a Family Search profile; however, Philip F. Chadbourne is found in 5 Ancestry public trees.

Dolores Chisholm, circa 1937 (About eight years old)

Dolores Chisholm, circa 1937 (About eight years old)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Lyman Chisholm, 29 Florence St., Portland #841.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Lyman A Chisholm, an electrician employed at 199 Kennebeck and his wife Margarite, living at 29 Florence.
• The 1940 US Census list Lyman and Marjorie living on Dow with their 11-year-old daughter Dolores F. Chisholm.

Dolores F. Chisholm does not appear to have a profile on Family Search; however, Layman Austin Chisholm and Marjorie Louise Specht are KV24-TTD and 2MPQ-135, respectively. Lyman Chisholm appears in 35 Ancestry Public Trees. I have added two photos of her to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

I had five photo packages to review:

• Four were successful identifications that posted to Family Search
• One package was partially identified; I posted those photos to Dead Fred.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera, and computer software.