Ethel Wight Collection – Part 88

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

Cora Martin, Nurse, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Cora Martin, St. Barnabus Hospital #522.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Cora Martin, Nurse, circa 1935.

  The 1940 US Census lists 35-year-old Cora E Martin, a Trained Nurse, living with her parents, Wilbur L and Mame W Martin at 94 Cottage Street, Westbrook.

• The 1938 Westbrook City Directory lists Cora E Martin employed in Portland, and residing at 94 Cottage.
• Cora married Charles M Austin, of Bethel, ME, on 21 September 1940.

This is a photo of Cora taken about 1935 when Cora was about 30 years old.

Alternate Individuals.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Cora Martin, daughter of Wilbur and Mimie (Clemons) Martin. Family Search has profile GQ8R-1B7 for Cora Martin. I  have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories. 

Memorial, 121383629 for Cora Martin Austin on Find-a-Grave includes a high school photo.

Eva Martin, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Eva Martin, 84 Clark St #420.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Eva Martin, circa 1935.

  The 1930 US Census lists Maine-born, 14-year-old, Eva B Martin, the daughter of Charles W and Dora M Martin living at 84 Clark Street, Portland.

• Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Eva Beverly Martin, born 10 December 1915.

This photo is of Eva Martin, about 1935 when she was about 20 years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Eva Martin, born on 10 December 1915. Family Search has profile LK1Y-8QZ for Eva. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Ida Martelle, Nursing Student, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Ida Martelle, 195 Holm Ave, #249.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Ida Martelle, Nursing Student, circa 1934.

  The 1930 US Census lists 16-year-old Ida Martella living with her parents Peter P and Rosie Martella at 195 Holm Ave. Ida was born in Colorado.

• Ancestry family trees suggest that this is Ida Martelle, born 1 April 1914 in Pueblo, Colorado. She is the daughter of Pietro Paul “Peter” and Rosina (Petrill) Martelle.

I believe this photo is of Ida Martelle, circa 1934, while she was a nursing student.

Ida Martelle is found in 25 Ancestry public trees. Family Search has profile G9V3-C4V for Ida Martel, daughter of Peter and Rosina (Petrille) Martella. I uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Millicent Martin, Nursing Student, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Millicent Martin, ME Gen Hospital #324.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Millicent Martin, Nursing Student, circa 1934.

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Millicent Martin as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

• The 1940 US Census lists Millicent Martin, a 25-year-old registered nurse at the Maine General Hospital.
• The 1930 US Census lists Millicent M. Martin, as the 15-year-old daughter of Carrol R and Charlotte B Martin, living in Caratunk, Maine.

Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Millicent Mae “Millie” Martin, born 13 November 1914 in West Forks, Maine. Family Search has profile LKWX-QHC for Millicent. I  uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Millicent Martin, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Millicent Martin, ME. Gen. Hospital #1052.”

• 

  Millicent Martin, circa 1936.

  This is the same woman as above about two years later with the same name, and same location as in 1934.

Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Millicent Mae “Millie” Martin, born 13 November 1914 in West Forks, Maine. Family Search has profile for LKWX-QHC. I uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

I fully identified all four individuals in five different photo packages. All of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.

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 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.