Photo Friday – Wolcott, Wood, & Woodbury

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 103

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.

George H. Wolcott, circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Geo. H. Wolcott, I P Co, Kansas City, MO #67.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  George H. Wolcott, circa 1934

  The 1922 Kansas City City Directory lists George H Wolcott, a traveling salesman at Irving-Pitt Co.

• The 1930 US Census lists George H Wolcott, a 47-year-old salesman in Seattle, Washington. He was born about 1883 in New York, his father was born in Massachusetts, and his mother was born in Maine.
• In 1914, George Howard Wolcott applied for a passport. George was born in Olean, New York, on 20 January 1883. He made his residence in Kansas City, MO. He requested his passport to be sent to him c/o Irving Pitt Mfg. Co. His passport was returned and then redirected to #54 Franklin St., New York City.
• The Massachusetts Masonic Membership Cards lists George Howard Wolcott, a salesman living in Roxbury. He was born in Olean, New York, on 15 Jan 1883. He died on 15 Jan 1967.

This photo is of George Howard Wolcott, born 15 Jan 1883 in Olean, New York, and who died 15 Jan 1967.

I have not found George in any Ancestry trees, nor does he appear in any Family Search profiles. Because I feel confident about George’s birth and death dates, I created a Family Search Profile for him– GNXS-67P and uploaded two photos of him to his Family Search Memories.

Miss Frances M. Woodbury, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Miss Frances M. Woodbury, 11 Higgins St #629.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Frances M. Woodbury, circa 1935

  The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Frances M Woodbury living at 11 Higgins. She is a music teacher.

• The 1940 US Census lists Frances M Woodbury, the 27-year-old daughter of James and Lillian Woodbury, living at 11 Higgins, St. Frances and her parents were all born in Maine.

This photo is of Frances M Woodbury, born 31 May 1912 in South Portland to James Franklin and Lillian May (Harmon) Woodbury.

Ancestry has 25 public trees that refer to Frances. Family Search has profile G79S-RXP for Frances Marion Woodbury (1912-1971. I uploaded a photo of Frances to her Family Search Memories.

Frank Roy Wood, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. L. Wood, 113 Franklin St #991.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Frank Roy Wood, circa 1935

  This photo (ID #991) was taken about 1935/1936.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Frank L (wife Mae) Wood as a janitor working and living at 113 Franklin St.
• The 1940 Census lists Frank L, his wife May, and his son Frank (age 6), Wood living at 133 Washington Ave.
• Frank Roy Wood was born on 26 Feb 1934 to Frank L and May (Powers) Wood.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Frank Roy Wood. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Frank Roy Wood, although his father, Frank L Wood, born 1 March 1901, is profile LL4Y-1Q5. I uploaded a photo of Frank Roy to Dead Fred

Unknown Children
(Probably the children of Mrs. May Wood)

Envelope Identification.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. May Wood, 81 Morning St #61.”

What I found regarding this photo package.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory list no one living at 81 Morning Street.
• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Jennie Goldstein as living at 81 Morning St.
• The 1936 Portland City Directory available on Ancestry is missing page 1086; however, MyHeritage has the page and it shows Mrs. Jennie Goldstein still at that address.
• The 1940 US Census lists two May Woods in Maine.
  • May Wood, Wife of Frank L Wood and mother of son Frank (see above).
  • Mae B Wood is a 68-year-old widow. She has no children in her household.
• There are 11 other Wood women who have M as a middle initial and live in Cumberland County, Maine.
  1. Florence M Wood, the 50-year-old wife of Sherman W Wood. There are no children in the household.
  2. Elene M Wood is a single 17-year-old.
  3. Hilda M Wood is a divorced 23-year-old daughter of Eva C Scott. There are no children in the household.
  4. Florence M Wood is the 30-year-old wife of Frank C Wood. They have three daughters, Lorraine (10), Ruth (9), and Audrey (6).
  5. Erd M Hoyt is the 27-year-old wife of Russell D Hoyt. There are no children in the household.
  6. Grace M Wood is the 44-year-old wife of Raymond J Wood. There are no daughters in the household.
  7. Alice M Wood, the 18-year-old wife of Lester H Wood. There are no children in the household.
  8. Alice M Wood, the 63-year-old wife of Harry Wood. There are no children in the household.
  9. Julia M Wood, the 57-year-old wife of Alfred C Wood. There are no children in the household.
  10. Frances M Wood is a three-year-old living in South Portland.
  11. Gertrude M Wood, a single 17-year-old.
• Only Florence M Wood, the 30-year-old wife of Frank C Wood, is a potential candidate.
• Ancestry Family trees suggest that Florence M Wood is Florence Madeline (Reddy) Wood.

Probably May Wood’s Children

Because I cannot connect either May Wood to 81 Morning Street and because Florence M Wood’s middle name was Madeline and not Mae/May, I cannot identify the children in this photo. (Although I suspect they are Lorraine and Ruth Wood, circa 1934.) I have not identified the children in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s image here.

Unknown Children
(Probably the children of Mrs. William Wood.)

Envelope writing

This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine. The negative envelope says, “Mrs. Wm Wood, 84 High St #985.”

What I found regarding this photo package.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Donald L Anderson, Mrs. Dora C Palmer, and George Van Vakias living at 84 High Street.
• The 1936 Portland City Directory lists George A Street, William O Ward, and George Van Vakias living at 84 High Street.
• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists two William Woods.
  • William H jr (Louise B) is a salesman living at 150 Park Av, Apt 9
  • William S is an attendant at 140 Free, residing at 785 Congress.
• 

  Probably Mrs. William Wood’s children.

  The 1940 US Census lists William H Wood, Jr, married to Louise Wood. They have three daughters, Annabelle (12), Dian (11), and Helen (1), and they live at 56 Ocean in Portland. The photo is of two boys, so it can’t be this William Wood.

Because I cannot connect either family with the Wood surname to 84 High Street and cannot identify a William Wood family with two sons the right age, I have not identified the children in this photo. I only include the picture of them here.

Conclusion

• I fully identified two of the individuals have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
• I identified one individual that did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted his/her image to Dead Fred.
• I was unable to identify four of the individuals and only have their photo here.

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.