Ethel Wight Collection – Part 65

Ilsley, Iverson, Jackson, (née McCracken) Quattrucci

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.

Geneve Harriett Iverson, circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Geneva Iverson, Me Gen Hospital #669.”

Geneve Harriett Iverson, circa 1937

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Geneva Iverson, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
• The 1934 Portland High School Yearbook lists Geneve Harriette Iverson “Snooie” as a senior whose “College Preference” was the Maine General School of Nursing.
• The 1930 US Census lists Geneve H Iverson as the 14-year-old adoptive daughter of Iver H. and Marie B. Iverson. Geneve was born in Massachusetts. The family lived at 92 Bedford Street.

I am confident this is Geneive Harriet Iverson, born 25 Feb 1916 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, taken about 1937 when she was graduating from nursing school.

Ancestry has 37 public trees that refer to Geneive Harriet Iverson. Family Search has a profile for Geneve Harriett Iverson. So, I have uploaded two photos of her to profile ID: LR9H-WHR Family Search Memories.

Vivian M Jackson, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Vivian Jackson, 556 Forest Ave #996.”

Vivian M Jackson, circa 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Vivian M Jackson, residing at 556 Forest Ave.
  • The 1934 Deering High School yearbook lists Vivian M. Jackson, who was involved with Red Cross in her freshman year.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Vivian M Jackson as a student nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood.
  • Maine Marriage Index, 1892-1996, indicates that Vivian M Jackson married Carleton W Cole on 11 Nov 1937.

I am sure this photo is of Vivian M Jackson about 1936 when she graduated from nursing school and before she married Carleton Cole.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Vivian M. Jackson. Family Search has a profile for Vivian M Jackson, so I uploaded two photos to her profile ID: G7WS-MDK Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Vivian M. Jackson, the daughter of  Mabel L Jackson (shown below), by a 1st cousin 2x removed .

John Quattrucci, of Portland, Maine, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mr. John Inotticci, 48 Middle St #671.”

John Quattrucci, of Portland, Maine, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 Portland City Directory identifies three individuals who lived at 48 Middle St.
  • Merolla Agostino
  • Pasquale and Katherine DeSarno
  • John Quaittrucci
• The 1937 Portland City Directories identifies three people with the Quattrucci surname:
  • Frank & Mary living at 48 Middle
  • Guy & Theresa, living at 18 Middle
  • John was also living at 48 Middle.
• The 1940 US Census lists John Quottuci (Quattrucci), a 23-year-old laborer with the Power Light Co. living with his parents, Frank & Mary Quottucci.

Although there is an inconsistency in the surname between different documents, I feel confident this photo is of John Quattrucci, born 6 March 1917 when he was about 20 years old.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Gennaro Samuel Quattrucci, born 6 March 1917 in Portland, Maine, the son of Francisco and Philomena Mary (Paolino) Quattrucci. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for John (Gennaro) Quattrucci, so I have added his photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded an additional picture of John to my Flickr photostream. 

Phillip York Ilsley, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Phillip Isley, 33 Colonial Rd, #253.”

Phillip York Ilsley, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Phillip Y Ilsley, and his wife Bernice, living at 33 Colonial Road.
  • The 1940 US Census lists 44-year-old Philip Y Ilsley and his wife Bernice, living at 19 Rosemont Ave.

This photo is of Philip York Ilsley, born 3 Nov 1895 in Maine and married to Bernice May Glidden.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Philip York Ilsley. Family Search also has a profile for Phillip York Ilsley, so I uploaded two photos of him to his (KCTJ-X4V) Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Philip Ilsley by a nephew. 

Mabel L Jackson (Née McCracken), circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Mabelle Jackson, 556 Forest Av – #1023.”

Mabel L Jackson (Née McCracken), circa 1937.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1938 Portland City Directory lists William E and his wife Mabelle L Jackson living at 556 Forest Ave.
• The 1940 US Census lists William E and his wife Mabel, living at 29 Revere Street. Mabel was 59 years old and born in Canada.
• Ancestry public Trees indicate that Mabel L McCracken, born 1878 in New Brunswick, Canada, and married William Edward Jackson on 28 Jun 1905 in Portland, Maine.

This photo of Mabel is from about 1937 when she was about 59 years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Mabel McCracken. Family Search has a profile for Mabel, so I  have uploaded two photos of Mabel to her Family Search (ID G771-29B) profile.

Confirmed to be Mabel L Jackson (née McCracken) by a 2nd great-grand daughter.

Conclusion

• I identified all five Four of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
• One individual did not have a Family Search profile and did not appear in any Ancestry trees. I uploaded his photos to Dead Fred and 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.