Photo Friday: Ramsdell, Ramsell, Rankin, & Reed

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 123
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.

---

Doris Rankin, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Doris Rankin, 414 Stevens Ave #1082.” It appears to be a woman in her 40’s, taken about 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 US Census enumerated Doris Rankin, age 43, living with her parents, Noah E and Emma F Rankin, at 414 Stevens Ave.

This photo appears to be of Doris Rankin, born in April 1896 to Noah e and Emma (Flint) Rankin when she was about 40.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Doris Rankin. Family Search has profile KC1Z-PJQ for Doris Rankin. I have uploaded two photos of Doris Rankin to her Family Search Memories.

---

Lillian Ramsell (later Green), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Lillian Ramsell, Me. Gen. Hospital #315.” This 1934 photo appears to be of a woman in her twenties in a nurse’s uniform.

Why I believe this to be the individual/

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Lillian Ramsell, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital.
• The Maine Marriage Index indicates that Lillian C Ramsell of Waterboro, Maine, married Wilton Green, Jr., on 8 February 1936.
• Maine Birth Records indicate that Lillian Clara Ramsell was born in Waterboro, Maine, on 27 October 1915 to George and Lena (Haley) Ramsell.

I am sure this is a photo of Lillian Clara Ramsell (later Green) about 1934 when she was at nursing school in Portland.

Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Lillian Clara Ramsell. Family Search has profile LJPZ-L45 for Lillian Clara Ramsell. I have uploaded a photo of Lillian to her Family Search Memories.

---

Edith Rankin (née Ingalls), circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. L. R. Rankin, 71 Concord St #579.” This 1935 photograph appears to be of a woman in her 40’s.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Edith G Rankin living at 71 Concord.
• The 1933 Portland City Directory lists Lester R and Edith G Rankin living at 274 Park, Apt. 2.
• Ancestry Public Trees suggest this is Edith Gertrude Rankin (née Ingallis), born on 28 Jun 1894, who married Lester Regent Rankin on 17 Nov 1927.

I am sure this photo is of Edith Gertrude Rankin (née Ingallis) circa 1935 when she was about 41 years old

Ancestry has 32 public trees that refer to Edith Gertrude Ingallis. Many of those trees indicate her surname is Ingalls. Family Search has profile LKTW-6KR for Edith Gertrude Ingalls (later Rankin). I have uploaded a photo of Edith to her Family Search Memories.

---

Earl Reed, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Earl Reed, 3 Colonial Rd #421.” The photo appears to be of a teenager and may be a school photograph.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Earle A and Dorothy M Reed living at 3 Colonial Rd.
• The 1940 US Census lists Earl & Dorothy living in Augusta with their 22-year-old son, Earl.
• Maine Birth Records indicate Earl D Reed was born on 10 Sep 1917 in Lewiston, Maine, to Earle A and Dorothy (Cox) Reed.

I am sure this photo is of Earl Duncan Reed, son of Earl & Dorothy (Cox) Reed.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Earl Duncan Reed. Family Search has profile GSV9-MSZ for Earl Duncan Reed. I have uploaded a photo of Earl to his Family Search Memories.

---

Alvin L. Ramsdell, Jr., circa 1934 (Age 3)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Alvin L Ramsdell, 419 Woodfords St #188.” The photo appears to be of a child about three years old. (Sadly, the original image is slightly out of focus.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Alvin L and Edith C Ramsdell living at 419 Woodford.
• The 1950 US Census lists Alvin L and Edith C Ramsdell living in Boston, Mass. Living with them is their 16-year-old son, Alvin L Ramsdell.

As Ancestry public trees suggest, I believe this is a photo of Alvin Lawrence Ramsdell, Jr., born on 24 Nov 1931 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

Ancestry has four public trees that refer to Alvin Ramsdell. Family Search has profile GHHT-WW1 for Alvin L Ramsdell, Jr.

Confirmed to be Alvin L Ramsdell, Jr. by one of his children.

---

Conclusion

• I identified all five individuals. All have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.

I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. 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 higher quality than those 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.