Photo Friday – Nicholson, Nickerson (née Wolfe), & Nielsen.

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 typically contain the name of the person 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.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

 Anne D Nielsen, circa 1936.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss A. D. Nielson, State St Hospital #1037.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Anne D Nielsen, circa 1936.

  No one named A. D. Nielson in the 1935-1938 Portland City directories.

• However, the 1938 Portland City Directory lists Anna D Nielsen, as a telephone operator who resides at 45 Johansen. Also at 45 Johansen are Carl G, Christian, George Jr, Kay D, and Rigmor C Neilsen.
• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Anna Nielsen, as a dental assistant at 565 Congress, Room 204, residing at 45 Johansen.
• Ancestry Family Trees indicate that Anna D Nielsen was born on 2 Dec 1911 in Portland. Her parents are Christian and Laurine Neilson. Her siblings include Kay, Rigmor, Carl, and Christian G (George), Jr.
• Anna Damesholte Nielsen appears in the 1930 Portland High School yearbook. In it, she indicates her college preference is St. Barnabas Hospital, suggesting that she was interested in a medical profession. Additionally, the photo of her in the yearbook appears to be of the same young woman.

I believe this is Anna Damesholte Nielsen about 1936 when she attended school at the State Street hospital and became a dental assistant.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Anna D Nielsen. Family Search has profile GXYN-PYG for Anna D. Nielsen (1911-1980). I have uploaded two photos of Anna to her Family Search Memories.
 

Edith Nickerson, Nurse, circa 1935

 This negative envelope says, “Miss Edith Nickerson, Me Gen Hospital #620.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Edith Nickerson, Nurse, circa 1935

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Edith Nickerson, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

• The 1940 US Census lists Edith Nickerson, a 24-year-old trained nurse in private duty living at 254 Spring St, a boarder with Martin and Annie Campbell. Edith was born in Canada and lived in Portland in 1935.
• Edith Estella Nickerson, of 254 Spring St., a registered nurse, declared her intent to become a US Citizen. Edith was born on 31 Jul 1915 in Gardners Mills, Nova Scotia.

I am sure this is Nurse Edith Nickerson, circa 1935, when she was about 20 years old.

Ancestry has 40 public trees that refer to Edith Estella Nickerson (1915-2003). Family Search has profile LT77-5N6 for Edith Estella Nickerson. I have uploaded two photos of Edith to her Family Search Memories.

Helen Nicholson, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Helen Nicholson, 338 Danforth St #384.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Helen Nicholson, circa 1935.

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Helen F Nicholson, a clerk who resides at 238 Danforth. Also at that address are Charles D and his wife, Nellie P Nicholson.

• The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Philomena Nicholson living with their daughter, 27-year-old Helen, at 238 Danforth St.

I believe this photo is of Helen Nicholson, daughter of Charles and Philomena Nicholson.

Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Helen F. Nicholson, born on 4 Feb 1912 to Charles and Philoman (Perrin) Nicholson. Family Search has profile G811-QST for Helen Frances Nicholson (1912-1978). I have uploaded two photos of Helen to her Family Search Memories. 

Norman Grant and Mary Alice (née Wolf) Nicholson, circa 1935 (wedding photos).

This negative envelope says, “Mr. and Mrs. N G Nicholson, 209 Stevens Ave – Wedding pictures – #1076.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals:

• 

  Norman Grant and Mary Alice (née Wolf) Nicholson, circa 1935 (wedding photos).

  The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Norman G and Mary A Nicholson living at 209 Stevens.

• Massachusetts Marriages indicate that Norman G Nicholson and Mary Alice Wolf married in 1935 in Winthrop, MA.
• The 1940 US Census places Norman and Mary living in Freeport, Maine. Norman was 34, and Mary was 29 years old. Both were born in Massachusetts. Mary lived in Winthrop, MA, in 1935.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest these are Norman Grant Nicholson (1906-1983) and Mary Alice Wolf (1911-1997)

I believe these photos are of Norman and Mary, about 1935 when they married.

Mary Alice (née Wolf) Nicholson, circa 1935.

Norman Grant Nicholson appears in 35 Ancestry Public Trees. Family Search has profile LVKT-G79 for Norman Grant Nicholson (1906-1983).

Mary Alice “Babs” Wolf Nicholson appears in 9 Ancestry Public Trees. Family Search has profile LLMS-KGS for Mary Alice Wolf (1911-1997).

I have uploaded one photo of Norman and Mary to their Family Search Memories.

I uploaded one more photo of Mary alone to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one more photo of Mary and two more of the couple to my Flickr photostream.

Richard Nielsen, circa 1935 (age 7)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harry Nielson, 17 Amhurst St, Woodfords #980.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Richard Nielsen, circa 1935 (age 7)

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry A and Addievilla Nielsen living at 17 Amherst.

• The 1950 US Census lists Harry and Addivilla Nielsen living at 17 Amherst with their 22-year-old son, Richard J. Richard, who was born in Michigan.
• The 1940 US Census lists Harry and Addivilla J Neilsen living at 17 Amherst with their 12-year-old son, Richard. There are no other children in the household.

I am confident this is a photo of Richard Jewett Neilsen, born 22 December 1927 to Harry Albert and Addievilla Dresser (Jewett) Neilson in Flint, Michigan.

Some Ancestry Public Trees suggest Richard Jewett Nielsen was born in Waterville, Maine, to Charles Henry Marcia and Lucy Elmie Jewett; however, I am confident Richard’s parents are Harry and Addievilla. Ancestry has 24 public trees that refer to Richard Jewett Nielsen; however, several of those 24 trees indicate different parents. Family Search has profile G4YL-19Q for Richard Jewitt Nielsen. I uploaded one photo of Richard to his Family Search Memories.

 Conclusion

• I fully identified all five All of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
• The one couple with wedding photos had three additional images, which I uploaded to my Flickr Photostream.

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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

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.