Ethel Wight Collection – Part 53

Gwarjanski, Hagen, Hagerman, Haley, & Hall

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.

Catherine Hagen, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Catherine Hagen, 47 Fallbrook St. #229.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Catherine I Hagen living at 47 Fall brook. Also at that address are George H (Minnie A) Hagen and Marion C Hagen.
• The 1940 Census places Catherine living with her parents, George H and Mamie A Hagen, at 47 Fallbrook Street, Portland.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggests Catherine I Hagen, the daughter of George H and Mary A (Minnie) McDonald Hagen, was born on 10 September 1904.
• This is a photo of Catherine from about 1935 when she was about 30 years old.

Family Search identifies Catherine Hagen, daughter of George H and Mary Agnes (McDonald) Hagen, as ID GMFG-CPM. Five trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Catherine Hagen.

I have uploaded two photos of Catherine to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of her to my Flickr photostream. 

Eleanor Gwarjanski, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Eleanor Gwarjanski, 8 Trowbridge Place, #1091.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 Census lists Eleanor Gwarjanski living with her mother, Florence A. Gwarjanski, at 8 Trow Bridge. Eleanor was 21 years old.
• This same photo was used in the 1936 Portland High School Yearbook. The picture is definitely of Eleanor Florence Gwarjanski in 1936.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Eleanor Florence Gwarjanski; however, she is found in six trees at Ancestry.Com

Besides this photo, I added one additional photo of Eleanor to Dead Fred. I also uploaded two more photos of her to my Flickr photostream.

Elizabeth Anne Hagerman, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Elizabeth Hagerman, 98 Grant St, #964.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Gordon L and Gladys E Hagerman living at 98 Grant.
• The 1940 US Census lists Gordon L and Gladys Hagerman living with their 19-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Hagerman.
• The 1938 Portland High School yearbook includes a photo of Elizabeth Anne Hagerman. This photo appears to be the same woman a year or two younger.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Elizabeth Hagerman; however, thirteen trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Elizabeth.

You can download this photo here. I have uploaded another picture of Elizabeth to Dead Fred. Finally, I uploaded a third photo of her to my Flickr photostream.

Pearl Winifred Hall, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Pearl Hall, 21 Chestnut St #470.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City directory lists Edward A and Margaret M Hall living at 21 Chestnut.
• The 1930 Census lists Edward and Margaret Hall living at 52 Wilmot Street. With them is their 12-year-old daughter, Pearl.
• Ancestry Trees indicates Pearl Winifred Hall, daughter of Edward A and Margaret (Duncan) Hall, was born 21 October 1917 in Massachusetts.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Pearl Winnifred Hall; however, six Ancestry trees mention her.

I have this photo, plus I uploaded a different one to Dead Fred; finally, I uploaded a third photo of Pearl to my Flickr photostream. 

Alfred Haley, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Alfred Haley, 706 WashingtonAve #393.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry L Haley as a grocer at 706 Washington Ave and residing at 704 Washington. His wife is Susan L Haley.
• The 1940 US Census lists Alfred W. Haley, living with his mother, Susan L Haley, at 4 Kendall Street. Alfred is 21 years old.
• Based upon the photo’s ID Number (#393), the picture was likely taken in 1935, when Alfred was about 16 years old.

Family Search identifies Alfred Henry Haley, the son of Harry L and Susan L (Murray) Haley, born on 25 May 1918 as ID LY1S-34H. Nine Ancestry trees refer to Alfred Henry Haley.

I have uploaded two photos of Alfred to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded a third photo of Alfred to my Flickr photostream.

 Conclusion

• I fully identified all five individuals. Two of them had Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search Three of them did not have Family Search profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred.
• All five had more than two photo images in their packages, so I uploaded them to my Flickr photostream.

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.