Butler, Calder, Camedy(?), Campbell, & Palmer

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in four more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i] but fail in one identification. 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 photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Madge LeVaughn Calder, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Madge Calder, 62 State St., Portland, #491.”

Madge Calder, circa 1935

I wasn’t able to find Miss Madge Calder in any of the Portland City directories. I did find where Madge L. Calder married John R. Andrews on 5 October 1936. According to the marriage index, Madge lived in Augusta, and John lived in Lubec.[iii] Based upon the photo ID number (#491), this photo was likely taken in 1935 or 1936 before she married. Her description described in her naturalization document read: fair complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, 5’5” tall, and 150 pounds. That description fits the photo.

Madge was born on 20 September 1915 in Wilson’s Beach, New Brunswick, and immigrated to the United States on 30 August 1934, entering at Eastport, Maine.[iv] So, she would have been 20 or 21 years old in this picture, which fits.

Alternatives

There was a Genevieve M. Calder born about 1919. Further research found that Genevieve’s middle name was Mildred.

Because the Madge in the photo was identified as a “Miss,” I did not consider any of the “Mrs. Calder’s.”

Madge D. Calder, born 20 September 1915, in Wilson’s Beach, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada, is identified as ID LZT9-KZT on FamilySearch, the daughter of John Alexander and Portia Estella (Brown) Calder. I have uploaded two photos of Madge to her FamilySearch profile and one more photo of Madge to my Flickr Photostream. Madge is also found in 11 Ancestry Family Trees.

Jean Ruth Campbell & David Rae Campbell, III, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. David Campbell, 167 Coyle St., Portland, #942.”

David Rae, III, and Jean Ruth Campbell, circa 1937

The 1940 US Census lists David R. and Ruth Campbell living at 167 Coyle Street. Living with them are their two children, Jean and David R. Campbell III, ages 13 and 8, respectively. Based upon the photo ID number (#942), the photo is likely from 1937, when the children would have been 10 and 5.

Neither Jean Ruth Campbell (1926-1981) nor David Rae Campbell (1932-1953), the children of David Rae Campbell and Ruth (Gatcomb) Campbell, appear to have profiles on Family Search. However, Jean is found in six Ancestry Trees; David is found in five Ancestry Trees.

I have added their photo to Dead Fred.

Laura (Stone) Palmer (1864-1950), circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Freeman Calmer, 558 Brighton Ave, Portland, #773.”

Laura (Stone) Palmer, circa 1937

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Freeman and Laura Palmer living at 558 Brighton Ave. The 1930 Census shows Freeman and his 65-year-old wife, Laura, living on William Street. Based on the photo ID number (#773), I estimate the photo from about 1937 when Laura was about 72 years old.

Family Search identifies Laura Stone, born 18 May 1864, wife of Freeman Palmer as ID K2Q2-V29.   I am sure this is Laura about 1937. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. Three Ancestry Family Trees mention Laura (Stone) Palmer.

Marie and Marjorie Butler, circa 1935 (ages 3 & 4)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. M. E. Butler, 341 Congress St., Portland, #232.”

Marie and Marjorie Butler, circa 1935

The 1940 US Census indicates there was a Milbury E Butler and his wife Nellie G Butler living with their two daughters, Margory and Marie, ages 8 and 7. Based upon the collection ID number (#232), I’d estimate the photo taken about 1935. And the children about three and two, which seems about right. The Census also indicates that the Butlers lived in Portland in 1935.

The 1934 Portland City Directory indicates the “Milbry” and “Nettie” Butler lived at 341 Congress. The 1935 Portland City directory shows Milbury and Nellie Butler lived at 125 Franklin.

I am pretty sure this is Margory and Marie Butler about 1935.

Marjorie Butler was born on 10 December 1931 and Marie on 13 October 1932.

Family Search identifies Marjorie Butler, the daughter of Milbury and Nellie (Merrill) Butler, as ID LYW4-BYY. I have uploaded two images of Majorie to her Family Search profile. 14 Ancestry Trees identify Marjorie Butler.

Marie does not appear to have a Family Search ID. Because the only image containing Marie is blurred/out of focus, I have only uploaded that photo to Marjorie’s profile.  18 Ancestry Trees list Marie Elizabeth Butler.

Confirmed to be Marie and Marjorie by a family member.

Unknown Camedy Child, circa 1936

This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. R. Cy Camedy, 523 Brighton Ave., #375.”

Occasionally, I just can’t figure out who is in a photo. This envelope seems to read Mrs.R. Cy Camedy, 523 Brighton Ave.

I wasn’t sure about the name, so I looked at the address. A review of the various Portland City Directories yielded:

• • • 1932 – Maurice L Asher, including Inga and Esther Asher, lived at 523 Brighton.
    • 1933 – The Ashers were still there.
    • 1934 – Page 942 of the City Directory indicates that 523 Brighton was Vacant.
    • 1935 – Marshman family Eleanor, Helen, John Gertrude, and William, all adults, lived there.
    • 1936 – The Marshman’s were also there in 1936.

Camedy (?) Baby

So from the address, it would appear that either the address is wrong or the Camedy’s must have lived at 523 Brighton for a short time.

Camedy is an unusual name, and a search for any people with the Camedy surname yielded no results on Ancestry. A similar search yielded only one person Daniel Camody. Thinking it might be Canredy or Carnedy, I tried them, again finding nothing in Maine records that made sense.

Conclusion

I had:

• • • Three successful identifications that I posted to Family Search.
    • One identification that I posted to Dead Fred.
    • One undetermined photo.

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.

[iii] “Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1966, 1977-1996,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCNC-N4X : 27 November 2014), John R Andrews and Madge L Calder, 05 Oct 1936; citing Marriage, Maine, United States, State Archives, Augusta.

[iv] “Maine, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1990”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CBP-44RZ : 9 March 2021), Madge or Madve Levaughn Calder Andrews, .