Summer with the Dolloffs – Family and Friends, 1938

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday
Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, Part 080
Album 2023.02.05.
By Don Taylor

A series of black-and-white snapshots from a family album of Jeanette Johnson that depicts members of the Dolloff family along with friends and relatives during the summer of 1938. The photographs show both recreational beach outings and casual domestic scenes. The backs of many of the prints are stamped “Sep 16 1938”, indicating development at that time. The clothing, swimsuits, and automobiles further confirm a late 1930s date.

Individuals Identified

Five people at the beach - four in 1930s swiming suits.
Mr. Newall, Mr. & Mrs. Dolloff, Jeanette (Johnson), Mike Gordon

From handwritten annotations and contextual clues, the following people appear across the photographs:

  • Mr. Harold Dolloff – adult male, photographed in casual clothes and in swimwear.
  • Mrs. Eva Dolloff – adult female, seen in dark swimsuit and in other family groupings.
  • Ken Dolloff – young man, appears in swim trunks, often barefoot, sometimes identified directly (e.g., with Mrs. Harmon).
  • Jeanette Johnson – young woman, photographed in a two-tone halter-style swimsuit.
  • Mike Gordon – man in swimwear (named in one beach photo).
  • Mr. Newall – older man in suspenders, not in swimwear, present in a group beach photo.
  • Mrs. Harmon – woman in a floral dress, identified in one cottage photograph with Ken Dolloff.

Photograph Summaries

Harold & Eva-Dolloff with Jeanette Johnson using bow & arrow – Sep 1938.
  1. Archery Scene (Domestic Setting)
    1. Mr. & Mrs. Dolloff with a young woman (the album compiler, “I”) in a yard beside a clapboard house. One woman aims a bow and arrow while the others look on.
    1. Date stamped: September 16, 1938.
  2. Group at the Beach
    1. Five individuals posed on rocks: Mr. Nuwall, Mr. & Mrs. Dolloff, Jeanette, and Mike Gordon.
    1. Early automobiles and fencing visible in the background.
    1. Swimwear styles and cars date securely to late 1930s.
  3. Jeanette Johnson & Young Man (likely Ken Dolloff)
    1. Posed barefoot in swimwear beside an automobile.
    1. Large house visible in distance across the road.
  4. Ken Dolloff & Mrs. Harmon
    1. Ken in swim trunks, Mrs. Harmon in floral dress and sturdy shoes.
    1. Outdoor woodland/cottage setting with rustic shingled building in background.
  5. Jeanette Johnson & Eva Dolloff
    1. Jeanette in two-tone halter swimsuit, Eva Dolloff in dark one-piece swimsuit.
    1. Standing closely, arms around each other, next to an automobile.

Fashion & Dating Analysis

Photo of two young adults in swim suits circa 1938.
Jeanette Johnson & Ken Dolloff – 1938
  • Women’s swimsuits – one-piece tank styles, halter necklines, and belted or tied waists are all consistent with 1936–1939 trends.
  • Men’s swim trunks – high-waisted with belts, typical of the late 1930s.
  • Automobiles – rounded fenders and design details visible in multiple photos place the cars firmly in the mid-to-late 1930s.
  • Clothing (non-swim) – Mrs. Harmon’s puffed-sleeve, calf-length floral dress also aligns with late 1930s women’s daywear.

Together, these details corroborate the 1938 development date.

Genealogical Value

Photo of a young man in a 1930s swim suit and a woman standing by a cabin/camp.
Ken (Dolloff) & Mrs. Harmon – 1938 (photo enhanced for clarity)
  • The photographs document the Dolloff family and their circle of friends in summer recreational settings (beach, cottage, archery practice).
  • They provide visual confirmation of relationships, especially between Harold and Eva Dolloff, their son Ken Dolloff, and Jeanette Johnson.
  • The presence of labeled companions (Mr. Newall, Mike Gordon, Mrs. Harmon) helps place the Dolloffs within a wider social network in 1938.
  • These images add context to family history, illustrating leisure activities and fashions of the period.

Conclusion

Photo of two women in 1930s swim suits
Jeanette Johnson & Eva Dolloff – 1938.

The Dolloff photographs form a coherent group of late-1930s family images, centered on Mr. & Mrs. Eva Dolloff, their son Ken Dolloff, and close associates including Jeanette Johnson. With identifications written directly on album pages and corroborated by clothing and automobile evidence, they represent well-dated and reliable visual documentation of the family in 1938.

If you can positively identify the individuals in these photographs or if they are previously unseen images of your family members, I would love to hear from you. Just use the comment feature below. Feel free to incorporate these photographs into your genealogical research, citing “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

This article was prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, to support research and drafting.

Posted in Family Photo Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faces of the Past: Scarborough High School Memories from the Linwood Dyer Collection (1936–1938)

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday
Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, Part 079
Album 2023.02.05.
By Don Taylor

As part of my ongoing work with the Linwood Dyer Collection, I look at photos from his collection. Looking at a well-worn burgundy album, most the photos in the album are “staged snapshots.” Some of the photos originally in the album are now elsewhere, the photos that remain are nicely identified. The Scarborough Historical Society maintains the original photographs in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.

The Centers – Jeanette Johnson, Letitia Leary, Harriet Snow.

The black-and-white photograph shows three young women standing close together in front of a brick school building. They are wearing matching outfits: dark jackets, light blouses, and shorts, with socks and shoes. The handwritten caption above the photo reads “The Centers” and below the photo are the names: Jeanette Johnson, Letitia Leary, Harriet Snow. The photo is mounted on a black album page with visible ink and water stains.

Jeanette Johnson, Letitia “Tisha,” Anzonette Leary, and Harriett “Hattie” Alice Snow were all members of the girls basketball team and, apparently, played center for the team. They all graduated from Scarborough High School in 1938.

Boy’s Basketball Team – 1936-1937.

This sepia-toned photograph shows the Scarborough High School Boys’ Basketball Team from the 1936–1937 season. The group is posed indoors against a brick wall.

  • Front row (seated): Seven players wear sleeveless basketball uniforms with “SCARBORO” printed in bold letters across the chest and individual numbers on the front. The player in the center holds a basketball marked S.H.S. 36–37.
  • Back row (standing): Seven individuals—the coach, reserve players, and manager.
  • Captioning: Written in cursive at the top of the album page is “Boy’s Basketball Team,” and beneath the photo is “1936–1937.”

The 1937 Four Corners (Yearbook) has this same photo with names and school class included; it reads:

BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM

Standing: Coach Hallett, Hersey ’39, Pence ’37. K night’33, G. Rawson ’39, Southworth ’38, Paulsen, Manager.

Sitting: Harmon ’38, Mitchell ’39. Dolloff ’40, Newcomb ’37, Scamman ’39, D. Rawson ’37, Clark ‘39.

Maynard Meserve – ex 1938

This sepia-toned studio portrait depicts a young man, identified in the handwritten caption below as Maynard Meserve, Ex – 1938. He is posed facing slightly to his left, with his head turned toward the camera. His hair is neatly combed back, and he wears a checked suit jacket, a white dress shirt, and a patterned tie. The photograph is mounted on a black album page with black photo corners, giving it a formal and preserved presentation typical of the 1930s. The “Ex–1938” notation suggests he may have been a member of the Scarborough High School Class of 1938 who left before graduation.

Maynard “Maynie” Morse Meserve, born December 11, 1921, appears in the 1938 Four Corners yearbook. However, he does not appear in the Commencement Program for SHS 1938, confirming he likely left high school before graduation.

John Verrill – 1938

This sepia-toned studio portrait features a young man identified by the handwritten caption as John Verrill – 1938. He is posed facing slightly to his left, with his head turned toward the camera. His hair is neatly styled and combed back. He wears a dark suit jacket with a notched lapel, a light-colored dress shirt, and a striped tie, all of which are paired with a vest, giving him a polished and formal appearance. The photograph is mounted on a black album page using black photo corners.

John “Johnny” Alden Verrill, born June 12, 1920, appears in the 1938 Four Corners yearbook.

Percy Knight –1938

This photo was badly faded; I enhanced the image for this post.

This sepia-toned studio portrait features a young man identified elsewhere as Percy Knight ’38. He is posed facing slightly to his left, with his head turned toward the camera, offering a faint, confident smile. His hair is neatly combed back in a sleek 1930s style. He wears a three-piece suit, consisting of a notched-lapel jacket, a buttoned vest, a white dress shirt, and a diagonally striped tie.

Percy “Doc” Leonard Knight, born June 10, 1921, appears in the 1938 Four Corners yearbook.

Connection Invitation

If these photographs represent previously unseen images of your family members, we would love to hear from you. Just use the comment feature below. Feel free to incorporate these photographs into your genealogical research, citing “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

Portions of this article were prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, to support research and drafting.

Posted in Linwood Dyer Collection, Maine High Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nancy Strain (1802-1844)

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Don Taylor

Roberts-Barnes-Lister-Strain Line
By Don Taylor

Roberts/Barnes – Ancestor #45

Nancy Strain was probably born in Pennsylvania, possibly during her family’s relocation from South Carolina to Ohio. She married William Lister of Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1822 and possibly had five children with him before her untimely death at the age of 42.

Nancy Strain is in my Roberts-Barnes Ancestry Public Tree[i], and has a Family Search profile: KZVD-GJR.

List of Grandparents

  • Grandmother: 5. Essie Pansy Barnes (1903-1982)
  • 1st Great-grandmother: 11.  Marada Mae Lister (1867-1932)
  • 2nd Great-grandfather: 22. Nimrod Lister (c. 1826-c. 1890)
  • 3rd Great-grandmother: 45. Nancy Strain (c. 1802-1844)
  • 4th Great-grandfather: 90. Samuel Strain (1762-1845)

Birth – 22 April 1802 (probably in Pennsylvania).

Find-a-Grave suggests that Nancy was born on 22 April 1802.[ii] Her son’s, William Marcus Lister, death certificate indicates that Nancy was born in New Jersey.[iii] However, the 1880 US Census for her son, Nimrod Lister indicates his mother (Nancy) was born in Pennsylvania.

The 1880 US Census was 40 years closer to the event, so I prefer Pennsylvania for Nancy’s birthplace.

Marriage – Probably June 1822.

License #600 for William Lister & Nancy Strain marriage was issued on 17th of June [1822].  I have been unsuccessful finding an exact wedding date.

Children of William and Nancy (Strain) Lister

NameBornMarriedDied
James Alfred1 Oct 1822Mary Jane Southward7 Mar 1869
Nimrodc. 1824Malinda Evans7 Apr 1888
Sarahc. 1831Aaron Dean?
William Marcus2 Aug 1832Elizabeth Krohn8 Jul 1921
James M.c. 1840 ?

Adulthood

1830 – US Census – William appears in the census living in Walnut, Pickaway County, Ohio. I presume Nancy is the 20–29-year-old female in the household (She was 28).

Death/Burial – November 1844.

Nancy died on 23 November 1844, presumably in Pickaway County, Ohio. She was buried at the New Holland Cemetery, New Holland, Ohio. She was 42 years, 7 months, and 1 day old at the time of her death.[iv]

Events by Location

  • Pennsylvania – Birth, 1802
  • Ohio, Highland County – Marriage, 1822
  • Ohio, Pickaway County – Death, 1844
  • Ohio, Pickaway County, New Holland – Burial, 1844
  • Ohio, Pickaway County, Walnut Township– 1830 Census

Conflicts

Birth locations for both Nancy and William are inconsistent between sources.

Actions / Follow-up

  1. Continue working on finding William and Nancy in the 1840 Census.
  2. Research BMD & other records for the children.

Endnotes:

[i] Ancestry Public Trees – This number changes. It is the number of trees on the day I was writing this sketch.
[ii] Find-a-Grave – Inscription on marker says “Nancy, wife of William Lister died Nov. 23, 1844 – age 42 ys, 7m, 1d., suggesting a birthdate of 22 April 1802. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38330722/nancy-lister
[iii] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011 (Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indiana State Board of Health), Ancestry.Com, William Marcus Lister – Died 8 July 1921. Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1921; Roll: 10.
[iv] See Endnote [ii] – Find-a-Grave above.

Posted in Ancestor Sketch, Roberts-Barnes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Breathing New Life into Old Blurry Photos with AI

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Don Taylor

Tuesday’s Tips
By Don Taylor

Sometimes I’m genuinely astonished by what new technology can accomplish. Recently, a friend asked if I could help clean up a couple of old, blurry images that had been cropped from a much larger family photograph.

In the past, I might have reached for Photoshop Elements or another traditional photo editor. This time, however, I decided to see what ChatGPT’s image enhancement tools could do—and the results left me speechless.

For the first image, I simply asked it to “improve/enhance the photo.” Within moments, the transformation was remarkable:

Before
After

The second photo was restored by my friend. On his first attempt, ChatGPT removed the woman’s glasses. So, he asked it to restore them—and it did, beautifully:

For the first image, I simply asked it to “improve/enhance the photo.” Within moments, the transformation was remarkable:

Before
After

The clarity and detail it recovered from such poor-quality originals was nothing short of amazing. I’m convinced—whenever I come across an old, blurry photo from now on, this will be my first stop.

Posted in Technology, Research Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Case of Mistaken Identity? Mrs. Montran (or Montrose?) in Vicksburg, 1901.

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Don Taylor

Montran Monday
By Don Taylor

As part of my ongoing Montran Monday series, I search historical newspapers for any mention of individuals bearing the Montran surname. Each brief reference is another clue in the larger puzzle of my maternal grandmother’s elusive father. This week’s find appeared in the Kalamazoo Gazette, dated 31 July 1901, on page 2.

Newspaper Clipping:

VICKSBURG
Vicksburg, July 30.—Mrs. Montran and son and Miss Elsie Penfield are the guests of relatives in Three Rivers and Colon….

What I Learned:

  • Vicksburg is a small village in Kalamazoo County, approximately 15 miles south of Kalamazoo.
  • Three Rivers is a city in neighboring St. Joseph County, 16 miles south of Vicksburg.
  • Colon, also in St. Joseph County, lies about 21 miles southeast of Vicksburg and 17 miles east of Three Rivers.

Curious about this “Mrs. Montran,” I searched the 1900 U.S. Census for Kalamazoo County and surrounding areas but found no Montrans residing there during the 1900–1910 time frame. However, the 1900 Census does list an Elsie P. Penfield, born May 1884 in Michigan, living in Schoolcraft with her parents, John B. and Ceba D. Penfield. At the time, Elsie was 16 years old.

I also explored various family trees on Ancestry that included Elsie, hoping to identify a link to someone with the Montran surname—but without success. Based on those trees and the absence of corroborating records, I suspect that the newspaper may have contained a typographical error, and that the surname “Montran” might actually have been “Montrose.”

A Reminder:

Not every newspaper clipping leads directly to a genealogical breakthrough. However, even missteps can refine our understanding and guide future research paths. If “Mrs. Montran” was indeed someone else entirely, this find still helps narrow the focus of where not to look.

Posted in Genealogy Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment