Laliberte, Libby, Liebman, Linnell, Litrocapes, (Née Anifant, née Bronnum)

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] My goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Alice Liebman, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Alice Liebman, Me Gen Hospital #844.”

Alice Liebman, Nurse, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 and 1937 Portland City Directories list Alice Liebman as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
• The Maine Marriage Index indicates that Alice C. Liebman married Charles Bartlet, Jr. on 30 November 1937.
• The 1940 Census lists Alice C. Bartlett living in Eliot, York County, Maine; however, it indicates she lived in Portland, Cumberland County, in 1935.

I am reasonably confident this photo is of Alice Cole Liebman, born 23 March 1916 in Eliot, York County, Maine, about 1935, when the 19-year-old was attending nursing school in Portland, Maine.

Ancestry has 20 public trees that refer to Alice Cole Liebman.  Family Search has profile MKSZ-GPY for Alice Liebman, born 23 March 1916. I uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories. 

Vanette Laliberte, Nurse, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Miss Vanette La Liberty, ME Eye & Ear Infirmary #275.”

Vanette Laliberte, Nurse, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 U.S. Census lists the New Hampshire-born Vanetta Laliberty as a 28-year-old nurse at the Coos County Institution in Stewartstown, New Hampshire. It also notes she lived in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, in 1935.

I’m confident this photo is of Vanetta Liberty about 1935 when she attended nursing school at the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Vanetta Emma Liberty White. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Vanetta, daughter of Leon and Marie (Paradis) Laliberte So, I have added her photo to Dead Fred. 

Richard Linnell, circa 1935

Richard Linnell, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. C. E. Linnell, 78 Rosemont Ave #447.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles E and Hazel E Linnell residing at 78 Rosemont Ave.
• The 1940 Census lists Charles E Linnel living at 78 Rosemont Ave, Portland, ME. The household consists of Charles, his wife hazel, and two sons, Richard (age 13) and Arthur (age 11).

In 1935 (when this photo was probably taken), Richard would be about eight and Arthur about six. The child in this photo appears to be about 8, so I believe this is Richard. Hopefully, a family member will be able to confirm it to be Richard.

Alternative individuals: This could be Richard’s brother Arthur, but I don’t think so.

Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Richard Linnell.  Family Search has profile for LY9Q-XXQ. I have uploaded a photo of him to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one more picture of Richard Linnell to my Flickr photostream.

Helen Litrocapes (née Anifant), circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Char. Litrocapes, 15 Cedar St #637.”

Helen Litrocapes (née Anifant), circa 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles and Helen Litrocapes living at 15 Cedar.
• Maine Marriage index indicates that Charles Litrocapes married Helen Anifant on 3 June 1934.
• Helen was born on 27 January 1915 and would be about 20 years old when this photo was taken about 1935.

Ancestry has five public trees that refer to Helen Anifant, wife of Charles Litrocapes. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Helen, so I uploaded a photo of her to Dead Fred. I also uploaded a second photo of her to my Flickr photostream. 

Milton & Tena Libby (née Bronnum), circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Milton Libby, 16 Grant St #499.”

Milton & Tena Libby (née Bronnum), circa 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Milton S Libby and his wife, Tena L, living at 16 Grand. Milton S. is the only Milton Libby appearing in the 1935 Directory.
• The 1940 US Census lists (38-year-old) Milton Libby, his wife Tena L, and his 10-year-old son, Milton L, living at 14 University.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Milton’s wife, Tena, is Tena Louise Bronnum.

I am confident this is a photo of Tena Louise Libby (née Bronnum) and her son Milton about 1935 when Milton was about five years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Tena Bronnum. Family Search has profile G9BK-KN1 for Tena. I uploaded a photo of her and Milton (Jr.?) to her Family Search Memories.

 Conclusion

• I fully identified all five Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
• Two individuals did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.
• I had additional photos for two of the individuals, so I uploaded those photos to my Flickr Photostream.

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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.

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

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.