Ethel Wight Collection – Part 129
Photo Friday
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.
Elizabeth R Galusha, circa 1935.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss E. R. Galusha, Westbrook Junior Collage, Hersey Hall #615.”
Elizabeth R Galusha, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- A Portland Evening Express article dated June 6, 1935 (page six) ran an article about a Y. W. C. A. program held on the Westbrook Junior College campus that included a “Spirit of Spring: dance presented by Miss Elizabeth Galusha. A photo of Elizabeth in the paper appears to be of the same woman with long hair. Elizabeth was also connected with the Emerson-Mason School of the Dance. The Emerson-Mason School of the Dance was located at 73 Oak Street in Portland. The Ethel Wight studio was at 548½ Congress, only 194 feet away (per Google Maps).
- The Bangor Daily News reported that James P Tanguay and Miss Elizabeth R Galusha of Philadelphia filed marriage intentions on July 2, Ancestry Public Trees indicate that they married on July 7, 1935.
- Finally, photos of Elizabeth R Galusha appear to be photos of the same young woman.
I am confident this is a photo of Elizabeth R Galusha taken in 1935, when she was about 19 years old and probably just before her marriage to James Tanguay.
Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Elizabeth R Galusha (1916-1989). Family Search has profile GJZQ-3DZ for Elizabeth R Galusha, who married James Tanguay. I uploaded two photos of Elizabeth to her Family Search Memories.
Confirmed to be Elizabeth Galusha by a great-granddaughter.
Richard Scott Ryder, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harry Ryder, 16 Elmwood St ℅ Mr. L. Way #484.”
Richard Scott Ryder, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Leslie S (and Julianna W) Way living at 16 Elmwood.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry C (and Alice S) Ryder living at 48 Allen Ave.
- Ancestry Family Trees suggest This couple is Harry Clifford and Alice E (Way) Ryder. Alice has a brother, Leslie Scott Way. Finally, Alice and Harry had a son, Richard Scott Ryder born 12 Aug 1932.
I am sure this photo is of Richard Scott Ryder, about 1935, when he was about three years old. Unfortunately, the photo image isn’t great, but I understand that having a 3-year-old stay still for a photograph can be difficult.
Ancestry has 19 public trees that refer to Richard Scott Ryder. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Richard. I uploaded a photo of Richard photo to Dead Fred.
Confirmed to be Richard Scott Ryder by a close family member.
Carleen Sawyer & Marguerite Sawyer (née Weymouth), circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stanley Sawyer, 39 Congress St. #434.”
Carleen Sawyer, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be these individuals.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Stanley D (and Marguerite) Sawyer living at 39 Congress.
- The 1940 US Census lists D. Stanley & W. Marguerite Sawyer living at 76 Morning Street. They have a six-year-old daughter, Carleen.
- Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Carlene Una Sawyer, daughter of Stanley D and Marguerite (Weymouth) Sawyer. Carlene was born 2 Jan 1934 in Portland, Maine.
A second photo shows mother and daughter. Although the child is out of focus, the photo of Marguerite is acceptable.
Carleen Sawyer & Marguerite Sawyer (née Weymouth), circa 1935.
Ancestry has five public trees that refer to Carleen Una Sawyer (1934-1995). Marguerite Sawyer (née Waymouth) appears in two Ancestry public trees. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Carleen, however, Marguerite has Family Search profile L6YF-HYP. I uploaded a photo of Marguerite and the baby to Marguerite’s Family Search Memories and uploaded a photo of Carleen to Dead Fred.
Anne Salamone, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stella Salamone, 284 A Bracket St – Anna #709.”
Anne Salamone, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Angelo J & Stella F Salamone living at 284a Bracket.
- A 1983 Obituary for Angelo J Salamone indicated he was survived by his wife, Stella (Ingerowski) Salamone, a son Ralph, and two daughters Anne Andrews of Scarborough and Caroline Flaherty of Kennebunk.
- Ancestry Family Trees suggest the father is Angelo John Salamone (1910-1982) and the mother is Stella Frances (Ingerowski) Salamone. Their daughter Anne Lois Salamone was born 23 November 1930 in Portland, Maine, and married Mark Richard Andrews in 1951.
I am confident this is Anne Lois Salamone about 1935 when she was about five years old.
Ancestry has five public trees that refer to Anne Lois Salamone (later Andrews). Family Search has profile G37W-KN6 for Anne. I uploaded a photo of Anne to her Family Search Memories.
Confirmed to be Anne by a grandniece.
Ralph Salamone, circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stella Salamone, 284 A Bracket St – Anna #708.”
Ralph Salamone, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Angelo J & Stella F Salamone living at 284a Bracket.
- A 1983 Obituary for Angelo J Salamone indicated he was survived by his wife, Stella (Ingerowski) Salamone, a son Ralph, and two daughters Anne Andrews of Scarborough and Caroline Flaherty of Kennebunk.
- Ancestry Family Trees suggest the father is Angelo John Salamone (1910-1982) and the mother is Stella Frances (Ingerowski) Salamone. Their son, Ralph A Salamone was born 22 December 1931 in Portland, Maine.
I am confident this is a photo of Ralph A. Salamone about 1935 when he was about four years old.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Ralph A Salamone. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Ralph, so I uploaded his photos to Dead Fred.
Confirmed to be Ralph by a granddaughter.
Conclusion
- I identified six individuals from five photo envelopes. Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. The other three did not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Dead Fred.
I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. 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 may have higher quality than those 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.
