Ethel Wight Collection – Part 85

McDonald, McKague, McLaughlin, McLean, & (possibly) McKinney

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

For Photo Friday, I try to identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]this week. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily 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.

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Kathleen McDonald, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Kathleen McDonald, 26 Union St #258.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Kathleen V McDonald as a clerk at 93 Kennebec and residing at 26 Union.
• The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Kathleen V McDonald married Daniel J Carr, Jr.
• Kathleen Veronica McDonald was born on 2 June 1904 and married Daniel Joseph Carr on 2 June 1934.

This photo is of Kathleen McDonald about 1934 before she married Joseph Carr.

Kathleen Veronica McDonald is found in 11 Ancestry public trees. I added her photo to Dead Fred.

Lillian McLaughlin, Nursing Student, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Lillian McLaughlin, ME Gen Hospital #697.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Lillian McLaughlin, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
• The 1938 Portland City Directory that would list Lillian McLaughlin (page 517) is missing from the image at Ancestry.
• The 1940 US Census lists:
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 20-year-old Nurse Maid living in Bronx, New York. In 1935, she lived in the Bronx also.
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 23-year-old stenographer living in Queens, New York. In 1935, she lived in Queens also.
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 29-year-old accounting clerk living in Paterson, New Jersey.
  • None of these appear to be the correct Lillian McLaughlin. The 20-year-old would only be 16 when this photo was taken, and she seems older than 16.

I added her photo to Dead Fred and an additional image to my Flickr photostream. 

Unknown Child (possibly McKinney), circa 1943.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Richard McKinney, Saco? Feb 1943.”

This photo is different from most photos in the Ethel Wight collection because it appears to have been a request for reproduced photos brought in about 1943. I think this child was probably born about 1940 to 1942. It is likely either his name was Richard, or his father’s name was Richard.

What I did to try to identify this child.

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  Unknown Child (possibly McKinney), circa 1943.

  The 1950 US Census lists six individuals with the surname McKinney born between 1940 and 1942.

  • Eight-year-old Gene McKinney is the son of Freda J. McKinney, living in Pittsfield, Maine
  • Seven-year-old Tyrone McKinney is the son of Freda J. McKinney, who is living in Pittsfield, Maine.
  • Eight-year-old Gordon McKinney is a boarder living with Benjamin & Marie Griggs, living in Freedom, Maine.
  • Eight-year-old John F McKinney is the son of James & Frances McKinney, living in Durham, Maine.
  • Donna McKinney is the seven-year-old daughter of Jeremiah & Elizabeth McKinney, living in Fort Fairfield, Maine.
  • Rose McKinney is the nine-year-old daughter of Valentine & Marguerite McKinney, living in Brunswick, Maine.
• I believe this photo is of a male, so I’m eliminating Donna and Rose. Also, their father is not Richard. John’s father isn’t named Richard either. That leaves only Gene, Tyrone, and Gordon.
  • Gene and Tyrone’s parents were Carrol and Freda Jane (Green) McKinney.
  • I can’t find any information regarding Gordon McKinney.

I can’t determine this child’s name or his parents’ names. 

Ronald McKague, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Alfred McKague, 21 Linden St Woodfords, #778.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

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  Ronald McKague, circa 1935.

  The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Alfred N (and Evelyn R) McKague living at 21 Linden.

• The 1940 US Census lists the household of Alfred N McKague, living at 21 Linden. With them are their six children. Based upon the ID (#778), this photo was taken about 1935. Assuming the child is less than two years old, it is likely Ronald W. McKague.
• Ronald Wayne McKague was born on 9 December 1934 in Portland, Maine.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Ronald Wayne McKague (1934-2018). Family Search does not have a profile for Ronald, so I have added his photo to Dead Fred.

McLean Child, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. H. S. McLean, 113 Franklin St #1022.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry S. and Helen B. living at 104 Franklin.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Harry is Harry Shirley McLean (1887-1050) and Helen is Helen Bernedette Hassett (1894-1973)

I am unsuccessful in finding any children for Harry and Helen.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Harry S McLean. Without the first name of this child, I only uploaded it here.

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Conclusion

• • I identified two photos sufficiently enough to post the image to Dead Fred.
  • There were two photos I didn’t identify the individuals.

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 Dead Fred and Flickr have a higher image quality than those linked here (unless not uploaded elsewhere).

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

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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.