I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday. The page consists of seven women in bathing suits from 1925.
BATHING BEAUTIES from the
MOTION PICTURE STUDIOS FEATURING DONNA DARLING
Donna had two shows with Bathing Beauties.
In 1920 and 1921, her “California Bathing Girls in a Beach Promenade” appears to have consisted of five girls plus Donna.
In 1924 and 1925, her Moving Picture Bathing Girls traveled the country. This show often had the tag “Motion Picture,” “Hollywood Motion Picture,” or “California Motion Picture.” So, I am confident that these photos came from that show which ran from about September 1924 until July 1925.
Image 1 shows Donna. She was in the center of the page with the others surrounding her.
Probably Clarice Allyn, circa 1925
Image 4 is the only photo of a woman wearing ballet shoes. Clarice Allyn is advertised as a “Petite Toe Dancer” in several articles and advertisements, so I’m pretty sure it is her. While looking for photos of Clarice on the internet, I came across the Purdue Exponent, a publication of Purdue University which indicated that Donna and the show played at the Family Theatre in Lafayette, Indiana, on February 26, 27, and 28. Further searches for Clarice were fruitless.
The 1925 newspapers mention two additional women that may have been in the show. Florence Rielliso (Spectacular Dancing) and Helen Dawn (Hollywood Society Girl).
That leaves five photos still unidentified. They could be photos of any of the following women:
Betty Bryant of Ziegfeld’s “Miss America,” A prize winner.
Helen Dawn – Hollywood Society Girl.
Rose Lasgo – Christie Comedies Acrobatic Dancer
Alyce Louyse – Hawaiian Dancer and Bather from Mars; Christie Comedies.
Mildred O’Brian – Sennett Bather – Palm Beach Bather; In singing and dancing.
Florence Rielliso – Spectacular Dancing.
May Walker – Blue Singer and Beach Flirt.
Bathing Beauty #2
Bathing Beauty #3
Bathing Beauty #5
Bathing Beauty #6
Bathing Beauty #7
The photos from this page were used in a collage showing seven of the nine women appearing in the show in Peoria. So, the date of the pictures is definitely between September 1924 and February 1925. Articles from the show also mention that the show consisted of Donna and eight beauties, but the photo in the clipping only showed Donna and six beauties.
A quick review of Google search results found nothing about the women, certainly no photographs. So, the photo identification mystery continues.
Actions
Follow up and search other records for the eight women with Donna in her Bathing Beauty Show.
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.
John O’Toole, circa 1934 (age 12).
This negative envelope says, “Mr. John O’Toole, 37 Pleasant St #110.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Frank (Helen) as a longshoreman living at 37 Pleasant. Also at that address is Francis O’Toole residing at 37 Pleasant.
The 1940 US Census lists Frank, his wife Ellen, 17-year-old son John, and two other children, including Francis, living at 22 High Street.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is John Joseph O’Toole, born on 10 October 1922 in Portland, Maine, to Frank and Ellen Flaherty (Coyne) O’Toole.
I believe this photo is of John Joseph O’Toole, circa 1934, when he was about 12 years old.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Anna Paige, 1124 Forest Ave #726.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Leslie E and Anna M Paige living at 1111 Forest Ave. Also at that address is Frank E Lane. At 1124 are Napoleon Wentworth and Alonzo Holmes. There is no other “Mrs. Anna Paige” listed in the directory.
New Hampshire Marriage records indicate that 21-year-old Anna M Guilbault married Leslie E Paige in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 2 September 1933. Her parents were Mitchell and Philomena (Marcotte) Guilbault.
I’m sure this is a photo of Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.
Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Anna Marie Guilbeault, the wife of Leslie Everett Paige. Family Search has profile GS7F-3X7 for Anna Marie Guilbault. I have uploaded two photos of Anna to her Family Search Memories.
Yvette Paquette, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Yvette Paquette, circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Yvette K Paquette residing at 72 Waterville. At the same address is Mathew J Paquette, a superintendent at 585 Congress.
The 1930 Census reports Yvette Paquette, the 19-year-old daughter of Matthew J Paquette, living at 72 Waterville.
Based upon FamilySearch, I believe this is Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette, daughter of Mathew J and Mary (Coughlin) Paquette. She was born on 19 February 1911.
Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette. Family Search has profile LRYC-38J for Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Anna Paradis, 35 Woodmont St #138.”
What I have discovered about several Anna Paradis.
Anna Paradis, circa 1934.
The 1934 Portland City Directory does not list an Anna Paradis. At 35 Woodmont lives Philip M Libby. Likewise, the 1935 Portland City Directory does not list an Anna Paradis and has Philip M Libby living at 35 Woodmont St.
The 1940 Census lists an Anna Paradis, the 27-year-old wife of Herbert Paradis, Living in Skowhegan, Maine. Although the age is about right, the Anna in this photograph is identified as “Miss,” so this is probably not the correct Anna Paradis. The 1932 Waterville City Directory list Anna and Herbert as married, living in Waterville.
The 1940 Census lists a 51-year-old Marie Anna Paradis living with her husband Ferdinand in Winslow, Maine.
On 16 January 1933, an Anna Paradis, of Presque Isle, ME, married Cyrille Boutote of Ft. Kent. Because the photo was taken about 1934, this is unlikely the same Anna Paradis. Anna was 25 during the 1940 Census and lived in Fort Kent in both 1935 and 1940.
On 20 October 1936, an Anna Paradis married Louis Coulomb. Anna lived in Ft. Kent and Louis in New Canada, Maine. Twenty-five-year-old Anna and her husband Louis lived in New Canada in 1940, and Anna lived in Fort Kent in 1935.
On 16 February 1937, an Anna Paradis, of Caribou, ME, married Reuben Saunders, also of Caribou. In 1940, Rubin and 25-year-old Anna Saunders lived in Caribou and lived in the same place in 1935.
The 1930 US Census lists Philip M Libby living with his wife, Florence Libby, at 35 Woodmont. Living with him is a servant, Julia Hall, and a nurse, Dorothy Haskell. The 1938 Westbrook City directory indicates that Philip and Florence lived in Westbrook but wintered in Portland.
My speculation
I believe this photo is of Anna Paradis, taken about 1934. I think she was likely either a servant or nurse in the household of Philip M and Florence Libby. Based on this photo package, I cannot determine which of several Anna Paradis women she is.
Although there were five photo-negative packets, there were only four individuals. I believe I’ve identified all four individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
I identified one individual only by name, so I uploaded two photos of her to Dead Fred.
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, Dead Fred, and Flickr 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.
Welch-Harris Project
Welch-Daley Line
By Don Taylor
Julia Anne Daley was born on April 7, 1890, in Biddeford, Maine, the daughter of Mary and Timothy. She married Francis Asbury Welch on June 11, 1917, in Maine. They had three children during their marriage. She died on November 20, 1973, in Saco, Maine, at the age of 83 and was buried in her hometown.
It is unclear if Julia’s middle name was Anne or Anna. Julia’s birth record indicates she was born on 7 April 1890 and her middle name is Anne. However, it is a typewritten “Copy of an Old Record of a Birth.” Alternately, Julia’s Record of Marriage indicates her middle name is Anna. I find either name equally possible.
Additionally, her obituary indicates she was born on 17 April 1890 rather than 7 April. Death records are often incorrect and are very distant from the birth of a person. In either event, she is the oldest daughter of Timothy and Mary (Lyons) Daley living in 1900. Mary had five children, two of whom were living in 1900, so Julia had three siblings who died (or were stillborn) before 1900. I consider Julia’s middle name of Anna and birth date of 17 April 1890 as preferred.
Children of Timothy and Mary (Lyons) Daley (Julia’s Siblings)
Name
Born
Married
Died
Unknown
Bef. 1900
Bef. 1900
Unknown
Bef. 1900
Bef. 1900
Unknown
Bef. 1900
Bef 1900
Julia Anna
1890
Francis A Welch
1973
Mary
1893
Unknown
Unknown
Anora
1902
Joseph F Smith
Unknown
1900 Census
Timothy Daley and his wife Mary are Irish immigrants. They are renting a house at 51 Water St., Biddeford. Timothy is a day laborer and the head of the household. Ten-year-old Julia is attending school, and her six-year-old sister, Mary, hasn’t begun school yet.
1910 Census
The Daley family is renting a home at 17 Clifford. Timothy is still a laborer. Julia is working as a clerk at a fancy goods store. Sister Mary is attending school, but nine-year-old Anora doesn’t appear to be attending school
Marriage
Julia married Francis Asbury Welch on 11 June 1917. Rev. Timothy P Linehan, St. Mary’s Church pastor in Biddeford, performed the ceremony.
Children of Francis and Julia (Daley) Welch
Name
Born
Married
Died
Francis W
1918
Emma Ricci
1977
Robert Anthony
1920
Margaret Hazelton
2007
Margaret Ann
1925
William O’Neill
2019
1920’s – Census & Death of Francis.
During the 1920 Census, the Welch family are living at 17 Clifford. Francis is a baker. Julia and one-year-old Francis are at home.
In 1929, disaster struck with Francis (senior) passing, leaving Julia a widow with three children, 11, 9, and 4 years old.
1930s – Census & Directory
The 1930 Census finds the widow Julia as the head of the household owning a home at 93 May Street, Biddeford. The house is valued at $3,500. She is working as a maid at a hospital. All the children attend school.
The 1936 Biddeford City Directory indicates that Julia is a clerk at 9 Washington and lived at 38 Amherst. Her 18-year-old son, Francis W, works as a Clerk at S L S.
1940 Census
The 1940 Census reports Julia and her family are renting at 38 Amherst. That appears odd—that she’d be renting where she seems to have owned the property during the 1930 Census. Also interesting, it appears that her mother and two sisters live upstairs at 38 Amherst. Julia is working as a clerk at a retail shoe & clothing store. Her sons, Francis and Robert, are living with her and are working as Clerks in the accountant’s office at a machine shop. Daughter Margaret is attending school.
1950 Census
The 1950 Census finds Julia still at 38 Amherst. Upstairs her daughter Nora Smith and grandson Anthony live.
Death/Burial
Julia died on 20 November 1973 at the age of 83. She is buried in the Welch/O’Neill plot at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Biddeford, Maine.
Welch – O’Neill Marker
Julia Welch Marker
[Photos are in the Public Domain.]
Events by Location
Maine, York County – Julia was born, lived, and died in Biddeford and Saco, Maine.
Known Conflicts
Birth 7 or 17 April 1890
Middle name Anne or Anna
Further Actions / Follow-up
Determine if Julia’s sister Mary ever married.
Determine the date Anora married Joseph F Smith.
Determine death dates for sisters Mary & Anora.
Research into Julia’s parents may result in the determination of the three unknown children of her mother born before 1900.
My grandmother was a vaudeville star. I am following her career and learning about her many performances. In October 1919, she joined the cast of the Charles Dillingham production of “Chin-Chin” “Chin-Chin” played in the US and Canada until June 1920. I monitor several newspaper services watching for new venues that the show played at while she was a cast member.
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.
Betty Oldham, circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Betty Oldham, 33 Eastern Prom. #222 – DSCN4472.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Betty Oldham, circa 1934.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists A Elizabeth Oldham, residing at 33 E prom. Also listed is Mrs. Myrtle M Oldham residing at 120 Free.
The 1933 Deering High School yearbook includes a photo of A. Elizabeth Oldham. That appears to be the same young woman as in this photo.
The 1920 US Census lists the six-year-old A Elizabeth Oldham living with her grandparents, Charles and Annie Tribon, and her mother, Maude S Oldham (age 33).
This photo appears to be of Annie Elizabeth Oldham, born 18 December 1913, the daughter of Maude Stubbs (Tribou) and Frank Bertrum Oldham.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Ann Elizabeth “Betty” Oldham, born 18 Dec 1913 in Auburn, Maine. Family Search has profile LTRC-BN1 for Annie Elizabeth Oldham. I uploaded one photo of Betty to her Family Search Memories.
Confirmed to be Betty Oldham by a granddaughter.
Kenneth Nutting, circa 1936.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Kenneth Nutting, 19 Hill St. #1114.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Kenneth Nutting, circa 1936.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Kenneth W Nutting living at 19 Hill with his wife, Helen.
The 1940 US Census lists the 28-year-old Kenneth and Helen living at 55 Westminster Ave.
This photo appears to be of Kenneth Willard Nutting, born 29 Jun 1911, who married Helen F Farmer.
Ancestry has 18 public trees that refer to Kenneth Willard Nutting. Family Search has profile 9VQG-PJK for Kenneth Willard Nutting. I have uploaded two photos of Kenneth to his Family Search Memories.
Virginia Irene Ohl, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Louis Ohl, 195 Falmouth St #283.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Virginia Irene Ohl, circa 1934.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Louis E and his wife Dorothy I Ohl, living at 195 Falmouth.
The 1940 US Census lists 42-year-old Louis Ohl and his wife, Dorothy, living at 195 Falmouth St. with their 10-year-old daughter, Virginia Ohl.
New Hampshire Marriage Records indicate that 20-year-old Virginia Irene Ohl married Harry Gilbert Rollins on 7 May 1950. Her mother is listed as Dorothy E. Whittaker.
I’m sure this photo is of Virginia Irene Ohl about 1934. She is the daughter of Louis and Dorothy (Whittaker) Ohl and later married Harry Gilbert Rollins.
I have not found Virginia Irene Ohl in Ancestry trees, nor have I found her in Family Search. I uploaded a photo of Virginia to Dead Fred.
Stanley Roger Gow, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. W. I. Omar #13 Lennox St #422.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Stanley Roger Gow, circa 1935.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Walter I (Helen R) Omar living at 15 Shepley, Apt 12.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Walter I (Helen R) Omar living at 525 Wash Ave.
The 1936 Bath City Directory lists Walter I (Helen R) Omar living at 32 South in Bath.
The 1940 US Census places Walter and Helen in Jersey City, New Jersey. Living with them is his 11-year-old son, Stanley Gow, and two daughters, Antoinette and Emily Omar. They lived in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
Walter Ivory Omar was born on 7 July 1903 in North Lubec, Maine; Helen Ruth “Nellie” Johnson was born on 2 March 1900 in Bath, Maine. Walter and Helen were married on 2 Jul 1933 in Newmarket, New Hampshire.
Find-a-Grave lists Helen R. Johnson Gow Omar (March 2, 1900-September 19, 1975), the sister of Richard Johnson. That marker established she had the surname Gow
The child in the photo appears to be a young boy, aged 6 to 10, in 1935, which fits his being Stanley.
Stanley R Gow appears in the 1930 Census as the one-year, six-month-old grandson of John M and Nellie M Johnson, living in Bath, Maine.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest Helen married William George Gow, Jr., about 1927 and divorced before 1930 when she married Walter Omar. Stanley R Gow was born on 15 June 1928.
This photo is of Stanley Gow, born on 15 June 1928, in 1935, when he was about seven years old.
I have not found Stanley Roger Gow in Ancestry trees, nor does he appear in Family Search profiles. I uploaded a photo of Stanley photo to Dead Fred.
Helen O’Donnell (née Cook), circa 1936
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Helen O’Donnell, 18 Haven Rd #1010.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Helen O’Donnell (née Cook), circa 1936
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Patrick F and Helen C O’Donnell living at 18 Haven Road, South Portland.
The 1940 Census indicates Helen was 38 years old during the 1940 Census, suggesting her birth was about 1902. Patrick was 45 years old. Both were born in Maine.
Family Search Identifies Patrick F O’Donnell, born 1894 in Portland, Maine, and his wife, Helen (née Cook), born about 1903.
I am sure this is Helen O’Donnell (Née Cook), the wife of Patrick F O’Donnell and daughter of Michael Matthew Cook and Annie Elizabeth Coyne, about 1936 when she was 34 years old.
I have not found Helen Cook in Ancestry trees. However, Family Search has profile L1V3-YFD for Helen Cook, the wife of Patrick F O’Donnell. I have uploaded a photo of Helen to her Family Search Memories.
Conclusion
I identified all five Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
Two individuals did not have Family Search profiles and did not appear in any Ancestry trees, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.
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, Dead Fred, and Flickr 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.
I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday. The page consists of seven women in bathing suits from 1925.
![1925 photo of Donna [Montran] Darling in a bathing suit.](https://i0.wp.com/dontaylorgenealogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Photo-1-7-Bathing-Beauties-DSCN1392-crop-1.jpg)
The photos from this page were used in a collage showing seven of the nine women appearing in the show in Peoria. So, the date of the pictures is definitely between September 1924 and February 1925. Articles from the show also mention that the show consisted of Donna and eight beauties, but the photo in the clipping only showed Donna and six beauties.
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection
