Blaney, Bonney, & Booker

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

This week for Photo Friday, I identified 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 important to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the images with family members who may have never seen the photo.

Alberta Isabell Blaney (1913-2007)

This negative envelope says, “Miss Alberta Blaney – St. Barnabus Hospital #298.”

In the 1934 and 1935 Portland City Directories, Alberta Blaney is a student nurse at 231 Woodford and was residing at 20 Norwood.

On 20 September 1936, Alberta I. Blaney of Portland, ME, married James A. Murry of Portland, Maine. However, on 7 May 1938, Alberta Blarney of Portland married Bruce L Wilson of Portland. The 1930 Census shows only one Alberta Blaney in Maine, a 16-year-old living with her parents, John and Edna (Clark) Blaney, in Baileyville, Washington County, Maine. The 1940 Census indicates Alberta living with her husband at 103 Washington Ave. So, I’m convinced this is the correct person.

Family Search identifies Alberta I. Blaney, daughter of John Lindsay and Edna Elizabeth (Clark) Blaney, as ID LRYX-DCY. I am quite sure this is Alberta, about 1935 or 1936. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile.

Bradford Bonney, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Bradford Bonney N. Falmout RFD #5 Woodfords #361.”

During the 1930 Census, 16-year-old Bradford Bonney lived with his parents, Luther C. and Katherine B. Bonney, in Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. By 1936 Bradford appears in the 1936 City Directory residing at 113 Glenwood Avenue. That and the photo number of 361 dates the photo circa 1935.

Family Search identifies Bradford Bonney, son of Luther Isaac and Kathryn Bradford (Bigelow) Bonney, as ID 2S4K-FXC. I am quite sure these photos are from about 1935. I have uploaded two pictures of him to his Family Search profile. Additionally, I have uploaded three more photos of him to my Flickr photostream.

Annie Parks Booker – circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Anna Booker – Eastern Prom #649.”

The 1934 Portland City Directory indicates that Mrs. Anna P Booker was the head of household at 166 E Prom (Eastern Promenade). Residing at the same address was Chester H. Booker. The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Mrs. Anna P Booker made her home at 197 Spring.

The 1930 US Census indicates that Anna P Booker is a 46-years-old married woman with three children, including Chester H, with Dugan’s surname. Maine Marriage Records show Mrs. Annie Dugan married Walter H. Booker in Lewiston, ME, on 28 July 1909. It was Annie’s second marriage; she was a widow. Her father was John Parks, and her mother was Esther McAnaw.

Annie I. Parks, the daughter of John H and Esther (McAnew) Parks and Walter Bowker’s wife, is ID: LC72-8L7. I have uploaded one photo to Family Search.

Annie (Parks) Booker, circa 1937

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Anna Booker – State St, Portland #50_(?)”.

The 1936 & 1937 Portland City Directories indicate that Mrs. Anna P Booker made her home at 197 Spring. The 1938 Directory shows Anna lived at 32 State. That suggests she moved to State between 1937 and 1938 and that the photo dates from 1937.

The 1930 US Census indicates that Anna P Booker is a 46-years-old married woman with three children. Maine Marriage Records show Mrs. Annie Dugan married Walter H. Booker in Lewiston, ME, on 28 July 1909. It was Annie’s second marriage; she was a widow. Her father was John Parks, and her mother was Esther McAnaw.

Annie I. Parks, the daughter of John H and Esther (McAnew) Parks and wife of Walter Bowker, is Family Search ID: LC72-8L7. I have uploaded two photos of Anna to her Family Search profile. Additionally, I have uploaded four more pictures of Annie to my Flickr photostream.

Chester Booker, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, Mr. Chester Booker, Morning St., Portland #586.”

Chester Herman Booker graduated from Portland High School in 1935. These photos appear to be from the same sitting. Chester was born on 19 February 1915 to Walter and Anna (Parks) Booker. He married Marion Fulton on 10 June 1940. Marion died on 7 November 2006. Her obituary indicated that her first husband, Chester Booker, predeceased her.

Family Search did not have a profile for Chester Booker, so I created GH1V-43M and uploaded two photos to his profile. I also uploaded one photo of him to my Flickr Photostream.

Conclusion

I had an excellent week analyzing photos:

• • Five successful identifications, which I posted to Family Search.

Final Note

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.

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.