Ethel Wight Collection – Part 46

Gibb(3), Gilman, McGann, & Quirk

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.

Dr. Henry Gilman, circa 1936.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Dr. Henry Gilman, 499 Ocean Ave, Portland #570.”

Dr. Henry Gilman, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Henry (wife Maude M) Gilman as a dentist at 192 State whose home was at 499 Ocean.
• Henry’s World War I draft registration card indicates he was born 10 August 1873 and lived at 499 Ocean in 1918.
• This photo, taken about 1936, is of Dr. Henry Gilman when he was about 63 years old.

Family Search identifies Henry Gilman as ID 9MJR-ZXW. He appears in 16 trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have uploaded two photos of Henry to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos of him to my Flickr photostream.

Dorothy M. McGann, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Dorothy McGann, 412 Ocean Ave, Portland #487.”

Dorothy M. McGann, circa 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy M McGann as a maid at 22 Arsenal and residing at 412 Ocean Ave.
• The 1930 US Census enumerated Dorothy M McGann as the 17-year-old daughter of James and Mina D. McGann.
• This photo is of Dorothy about 1936 when she was about 23 years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Dorothy M. McGann, born 22 October 1912 in Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine. However, there seem to be four public trees at Ancestry, which refer to Dorothy M. Mcgann, the daughter of James Henry and Almina D. McGann.

I have added two photos of her to Dead Fred.

Mae Louise Quirk, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mae Quirk, St. Barnabas, Portland #297.”

Mae Louise Quirk, circa 1936

• Why I believe this to be the individual.
• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Mae Quirk, a student nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood. The directory also indicates that St. Barnabas Hospital is located at 231 Woodford.
• The 1935 and the Ancestry copy of the 1936 Portland City Directory do not mention Mae Quirk. However, the 1937 Directory indicates that Mae L. Quirk, nurse, married Raymond T. Abbott.
• There was a Raymond T. Abbott, the 14-year-old son of Arthur W and Mary J Abbott living in Portland during the 1920 Census. He was born on 7 May 1905. Raymond appears in Family Search as id L1DC-PGQ. However, no spouse is listed for him. Raymond’s World War II Army Enlistment Record indicates he was a widower without dependants.
• Mae Louise Quirk Abbott, born in 1915, died 5 April 1940 at 25 years of age.
• I am sure this photo is of Mae Louise Quirk about 1936 before she married Raymond Abbott.

Sadly, Mae Louise Quirk does not have a Family Search Profile. I have been unsuccessful in finding Mae’s parents in any records. There are two trees on Ancestry that refer to Mae; however, both indicate her husband’s parents as her parents.

I have uploaded two photos of Mae to her memorial at Find-a-Grave. I also uploaded one additional photo of Mae to my Flickr photostream.

Alexander Stoddart Gibb, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Alexander Gibb, 168 Neal St, Apt 8, Portland #535.”

Alexander Stoddart Gibb, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Alexander S. Gibb Proprietor at 739a Congress living with his wife, Evelyn G., at 168 Neal, Apt 8.
• The 41-year-old Alexander and his wife, Evelyn, appear in the 1940 Census still on Neal street. Other researchers suggest his surname might be Gibbs and Gibby as notes regarding his name on Ancestry.
• According to his Naturalization Record, Alexander Stoddart Gibb was born on 12 January 1898 in Scotland. He married Evelyn Grace Coffin on 22 June 1929 in Milford, NH. His two children were Richard Howard, born 156 Feb 1931, and Elain Audry, born 12 November 1933; both were born in Portland, ME.

Family Search identifies Alexander Gibb, born 12 January 1898 in Scotland, as ID G3SB-5R8. I am quite sure this is Alexander about 1936. There are seven trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Alexander Stoddart Simpson Gibb.

I have uploaded two photos of Alexander to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of him to my Flickr photostream.

Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb, circa 1936 (ages 5 & 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Alexander Gibb, 168 Neal St, Portland #509.”

Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb, circa 1936 (ages 5 & 2)

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Alexander S. Gibb living with his wife, Evelyn G., at 168 Neal, Apt 8.
• According to his Naturalization Record, Alexander Stoddart Gibb was born on 12 January 1898 in Scotland. He married Evelyn Grace Coffin on 22 June 1929 in Milford, NH. His two children were Richard Howard, born 16 February 1931, and Elain Audry, born 12 November 1933; both were born in Portland, ME.
• This photo, taken about 1936, is of Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb when they were about 5 and 2 years old, respectively.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for either child, and there are no Ancestry trees that refer to either child. However, their father, Alexander Stoddard Gibb, appears in seven trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have uploaded a photo of Richard and Elain to Dead Fred. I also uploaded two additional photos of them to my Flickr photostream. 

Conclusion

• • I identified all of the individuals in this set.
  • I uploaded two of their photo sets to their Family Search
  • Four of the individuals did not have Family Search Profiles. I uploaded three of them to Dead Fred. Furthermore, I uploaded one to Find a Grave.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

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.