Griffin, Griffith (2), Gross, Guite, (Née Elwell, Darling)
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.
Margaret Louisa Guite, circa 1934
This negative envelope says, “Miss Marguerite Guite, Queens Hospital, Portland #288.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
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Margaret Louisa Guite, circa 1934
Queen’s Hospital was located at 218 State, Portland.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Marguerite L. Guite as a student nurse at 218 State.
- The 1936 Bangor City Directory lists Marguerite L Guite as a nurse in Portland but residing at 175 Grove. Also at 175 Grove is Frank J and Mary F Guite.
- The 1940 US Census lists Marguerite L. Guite, the 26-year-old daughter of Frank J and Mary F Guite.
- This is a photo of Marguerite about 1934 when she graduated from nursing school.
Family Search identifies Marguerite Louise Guite, born 25 February 1914, as ID GHN9-BF1. Four Ancestry trees refer to Margaret Louisa Guite
I have uploaded two photos of Marguerite to her Family Search Memories.
George W. and C. Dorothy (Clapp) Griffin, circa 1937
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. & Mrs. G. W. Griffin, 505A Washington Ave #1036.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
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George W. and C. Dorothy (Clapp) Griffin, circa 1937.
The 1937 Portland city directory lists George @ and Clara D Griffin living at 505a Wash avenue, apt 6.
- The 1940 US Census lists George W. and Clara D Griffin living at 63 Smith Street in South Portland. George was 52 and Clara was 38.
- This is a photo of the couple about 1937.
Family Search identifies George Wesley Griffin, born 7 December 1884, as ID GZZN-4J8 and his wife Clara Dorothy Clapp, as ID LKNZ-54C. Twenty-three Ancestry Trees refer to George Wesley Griffin, born 7 December 1887; thirteen Ancestry Trees refer to D. Clara Clapp, wife of George Wesley Griffin.
I have uploaded two photos of the couple to his and her Family Search Memories.
Violet Gross (Née Elwell), circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, Mrs. Austin Gross 25 Lawn Ave. #191.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
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Violet Gross (Née Elwell), circa 1934.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Austin H Gross and his wife Violet E, living at 25 Lawn Ave.
- The 1930 US Census lists Austin and Violet Gross living at 25 Lawn. Both are 31 years old (born in 1899).
- Based upon the photo number (#191), this is a photo of Violet about 1934.
Family Search identifies Violet Elwell, wife of Austin H. Gross, as ID LT33-Z54.
Twenty-four trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Violet Estella Elwell, wife of Austin Harding Gross.
I have uploaded two photos of Violet to her Family Search Memories.
Bruce Griffith, circa 1936 (age 1).
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. William Griffith, 10 Fessenden St. #712.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
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Bruce Griffith, circa 1936 (age 1)
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists William A and Caroline R Griffith living at 10 Fessenden.
- Ancestry Family Trees Identify William Albert Griffith and Caroline Rawson Darling as a couple with two children.
- The 1940 US Census found William and Carolyn living in Claremont, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, with their two sons, Bruce and Rex. Bruce was five, and Rex was nine months. It also indicates that the family was living in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
- Based upon the photo ID Number (#712), the photo was taken about 1936.
- This is a photo of Bruce Griffith when he was about a year old.
Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Bruce Griffith, son of William and Caroline (Darling) Griffith. Likewise, Bruce doesn’t appear in any Ancestry Family Trees; however, his father is found in 25 trees.
I have added his photo to Dead Fred.
Confirmed to be Bruce by a cousin who had seen this photo before.
Caroline (Darling) Griffith with son, Bruce, circa 1937.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. William Griffith & Baby, 10 Fessenden #1097.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
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Caroline (Darling) Griffith with son, Bruce, circa 1937.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists William A and Caroline R Griffith living at 10 Fessenden.
- Ancestry Family Trees Identify William Albert Griffith and Caroline Rawson Darling as a couple with two children.
- The 1940 US Census found William and Carolyn living in Claremont, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, with their two sons, Bruce and Rex. Bruce was five; Rex was nine months. The census also indicates that the family lived in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
- Based upon the photo ID Number (#1097), the photo was taken about 1937.
- This is a photo of Caroline Rawson (Darling) Griffith with her son Bruce Griffith when he was about two years old.
Family Search identifies Caroline Ranson Darling, wife of William Albert Griffith, as ID LR6W-KFF. Caroline’s son does not appear to have a Family Search profile. Caroline Rawson Darling, born 4 December 1911, is identified in 24 Ancestry Trees.
I have uploaded two photos of Caroline and Bruce to Caroline’s Family Search Memories.
Conclusion
- I fully identified all six individuals; five of them had Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to their Family Search One individual did not have a Family Search profile, so I posted his photo to Dead Fred.
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.