Ethel Wight Collection – Part 106
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 typically contain the name of the person 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.
Marlowe Stevenson Perkins, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Marlowe Perkins – Mrs. Dr Gilman – Ocean Ave #520 – DSCN4582P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- A search for Marlow Perkins in Portland, Maine, resulted in finding a 1937 Deering High School (Portland, ME) yearbook with a photo showing the same young man about two years older than this 1935 photo.
- The 1930 US Census found nine-year-old Marlow S Perkins living in Wells, Maine, with his parents, Grover S and Easelyn Perkins.
I am confident that this photo is of Marlow Stevenson Perkins about 1935 when he was about 15 years old.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Marlowe Stevenson “Perk” Perkins. Family Search has profile GV4R-QGG for Marlow Stevenson Perkins. I have uploaded two photos of Marlow to his Family Search Memories.
(Probably) Louise Millicent Perry, Nurse, circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Louise Perry, Childrens Hospital #540.”
What I discovered about this individual.
- 1934, 1935, and 1936 Portland city directories list no nurses with the surname of Perry, Parrody, or anything similar.
- However, the 1931 Burlington, Vermont, city directory lists a Louise M Perry as nurse at Mary Fletcher Hospital.
- And the 1940 Census lists Louise M Perry as a 28-year-old, Vermont-born, registered nurse at the Nurses Home of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut. It indicates that she was in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935.
I believe this is probably Louise Millicent Perry, born on 10 Jan 1912. In 1930 and 1931, the 18-year-old worked at the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. About 1934, she was in Portland, Maine, where this photo was taken. In 1935 she was in Brooklyn; before 1940 she had removed to Hartford, Connecticut.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Louise Millicent Perry. Because I am not 100% confident this photo is of Louise Millicent Perry (later Ball), I have only posted this photo to Dead Fred.
This is definitely not Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912) per the daughter of Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912).
Rosalind Pert, Nurse, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Rosalind Pert – Me Gen Hospital #265.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Rosalind Pert as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
Further research suggested that this Rosalind Mable Pert was born on 24 March 1916 in Sedgwick, Maine. She attended Sedgwick High School in the class of 1933. Hopefully, someone has a 1933 Sedgwick High School Yearbook to confirm.
Ancestry has 17 public trees that refer to Rosalind Mable Pert (later Mumford). Family Search has profile LVVC-PHJ for Rosalind Mable Pert (1916-2005). I uploaded a photo of Rosalind to her Family Search Memories.
John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Jerry Peters, 30 Whitney St. #410 – DSCN4603P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Annabel M, Jerome J, Katherine M (widow of George), and Philip Peters all living at 30 Whitney.
- The 1920 US Census lists eight-year-old Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine Peters living at 13 Canton. Other children in the household include Annabelle and Phillip.
I am confident this is a photo of John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, born 9 July 1911 in Portland, Maine, when he was about 23 years old.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to John Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine (Birmingham) Peters. Family Search has profile L5FF-6B6 for John Jerome Peters. I have uploaded one photo of Jerry to his Family Search Memories. Sadly, the original negative is damaged somewhat.
Paul Peters, circa 1934 (age 1).
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Chas. Peters, 90 Ocean Ave #380 – DSCN4597P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles L and Clara V Peters living at 90 Ocean ave.
- The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Clara living at 14 Sawyer. They have three children, Paul (age 6), Annette (age 3), and Virginia (age 1).
- Paul Joseph Peters was born to Charles L and Clara Virginia (Tanguay) Peters on 16 November 1933 in Portland, Maine.
I am confident that this photo is of Paul in 1934 when he was about a year old. Sadly, the original negative is slightly out of focus.
Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Paul Joseph Peters (1933-2016). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Paul. I uploaded a photo of Paul photo to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
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 and Dead Fred have a higher image quality than the images 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.
Discover more from Don Taylor Genealogy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
