Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 014
By Don Taylor
This week, for Photo Friday, I researched the people in five photographs from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to research the images and reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the photo. The originals in this collection are held by the Scarborough Historical Society.
David Keith Baker, c. 1942
The photo identifying information includes:
- Handwritten on the Back is, “David Baker.”
- With the photo were six newspaper clippings related to David Keith Baker.
- Three clippings include photos of David at age 26, 40, and probably in his late 50s.
According to his obituary
- David Keith Baker was a composer, pianist, and music teacher who lived in New York when he died in 1988.
- He was the son of Richard Mason and Theodora Cooper Baker.
- He graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School.
- He served in the Navy during WW II.
- His sister, Sally Baker McAllaster survived him.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to David Keith Baker. Family Search has profile GXW7-5PX for David K Baker, son of Richard Mason & Theodora (Cooper) Baker. I uploaded his photo to his Family Search Memories.
Chadbourne woman, Sanford, Maine, circa 1895.
The photo identifying information includes:
- This cabinet card was taken at the F. C. Philpot Studio, Sanford, Maine.
- Handwritten on the back is “Chadbourne.”
What I learned about this photo.
- The 1900 US Census indicates there were 8 females enumerated in Sanford, York County.
- Flora M Chadbourne, 40, wife of Bernard.
- Mary H Chadbourne, 38, wife of George.
- Ruth M. Chadbourne, 78, Mother of George.
- Georgie Chadbourne, 51, divorced, mother of Nila.
- Nila E Chadbourne, 18, Daughter of Georgie.
- Gertrude Chadbourne, 24, Boarding with Joseph E Dovons.
- Priscilla A Chadbourne, 25, (apparent) wife of Lester.
- Ira A Chadbourne, 2, (apparent) daughter of Lester.
The 1893 Sanford Directory lists Fred C. Philpot as a photographer. He also appears in many Sanford Tribune newspaper articles.
I believe that Ruth was too old to be the woman in this photo and that Ira was too young. However, depending on when this cabinet card was taken (1880-1910), it could be any of the other six women. I searched for photos of the six women by name and a Google Lens search for the photo and did not find a match to this photo.
I have not identified the individual in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only uploaded it to my Flickr Photostream.
Amy Collins, Caribou, ME, circa 1897.
The small photo (image size 2.25” x 2.25”) identifying information includes:
- The photographer was Flag & Plummer, 138 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME.
- Handwritten on the back is, “Amy Collins, Caribou, ME.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1900 US Census lists Amy Collins, age 33, living in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, with her brother William and mother Mary Collins.
- Maine Vital Records indicate that Amy Collins died on 22 Nov 1900 in Caribou.
- Newspaper Search found:
- 1895-09-26 – Aroostook Republican – Amy returned to Maine General Hospital.
- 1896-07-16 – Aroostook Republican – Amy visiting from Portland.
- 1896-07-30 – Aroostook Republican – Amy returned to Maine General Hospital.
- 1897-09-02 – Aroostook Republican –Amy recently graduated from nurse’s training at MGH and returned to Portland.
- 1897-09-09 0 Aroostook Republican – Amy visited friends in Limestone.
- 1898-05-05 – Aroostook Republican – Amy visited Mrs. Geo H. Smith at Presque Isle.
- 1898-05-26 – Aroostook Republican – Amy was the nurse in charge of Mr. Page’s care.
- 1900-11-15 – Aroostook Republican – Amy is very ill with typhoid fever.
Amy Collins of Caribou traveled considerably between Cumberland and Aroostook counties.
I have been unable to find any other Amy Collins in Maine during the late 1800s. As such, I believe this photo is of Amy Collins, born on 23 April 1867 to David and Mary (Hart) Collins.
Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Amy Irene Collins and Family Search has profile LDLD-6SC for her. I am not 100% certain that this photo is of this specific Amy Collins, so I uploaded this to Dead Fred.
Beatrice Cragg, circa 1910 (age 14?)
The photo identifying information includes:
- The photographer is “The Lamson Studio, Portland, Me.”
- Handwritten on the back is “Beatrice Cragg, Portland, Maine.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1910 US Census lists 14-year-old Beatrice B Cragg, daughter of John F & Isabel J Cragg. The household also includes John’s nephew, Louis H Cragg. They are the only two Craggs listed in the City Directories from 1910 to 1925.
- Maine Birth Records indicate that Beatrice Baker Cragg was born on 7 August 1895 in Portland.
Ancestry has no public trees but does have one private tree that refers to Beatrice Baker Cragg. Family Search has profile GFSG-LJ2 for Beatrice. I uploaded this photo of Beatrice to her Family Search Memories.
Three women, Ina, Ginny, & Grace, aboard the “Dalmatia,” 1971.
The photo identifying information includes:
- Printed on the front is ms-Dalmatia.
- Handwritten on the back is, “Ina, Ginny Grace – board ‘Dalmatia.’”
- Also handwritten on the back, “Feb 1971.”
What I learned from researching this photo:
- ShipIndex.org has 44 ship citations for Dalmatia. Most were built in the 1800s and were not in service in 1971.
- The photo looks like three women, Ina, Ginny, & Grace in their 30s.
Without surnames, I am unable to identify any of them.
I only include the individual’s photo here. Please contact me using the comment form below for a higher quality (4060 × 2658) image.
Conclusion
- I identified two individuals and uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
- One photo was probably identified. But not being 100% certain I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.
- One photo is probably one of six different women. I uploaded her photo to my Flickr Photostream.
- Finally, one photo has three unidentified women.
I would 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 have higher quality than those linked here.
