Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 023
By Don Taylor
For Photo Friday, I examined five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week. Sadly, I could only identify three of the 21 people in the pictures. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I like analyzing the images and trying to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the picture. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.
Roland McKeen
The snapshot is of a man sitting holding a shovel. The shadow of the photographer is present, which I have cropped out here. Handwritten on the back is “Roland McKeen.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
- I have researched Roland Arthur McKeen previously. He was born on 15 November 1902 in New Brunswick and died on 20 September 1970 in Portland, Maine.
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and uploaded it to Roland Arthur McKeen’s profile on Family Search.
Catherine Louise Butterfield of Scarborough – SHS Grad & Wedding, 1956
This first photo appears to be professionally created and seems to be a school graduation photo. The photo was loose (without a frame or holder), so no photographer is identified. The back includes a note from Cathy to “Dick,” who was a friend. In another hand, it indicates “Butterfield – McKeen.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
- The Scarborough High School Yearbook, The Four Corners, 1956, Page 13, shows the same photo of Catherine Louise Butterfield.
- Maine, U.S., Marriage Index, 1892-1996 indicates Catherine L Butterfield married John H McKeen on 22 Dec 1956.
There is another photo of Cathy in this collection. This photo has printed “Happy 50th Anniversary John & Cathy ” on the front. On the back, it was printed on “11/29/06,” but the image is clearly a reproduction of the marriage back in December 1956. Cathy is in a wedding gown and is feeding John a piece of wedding cake.
I added both photos to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Five Diners.
This photo is of six people at a restaurant. There is a couple, three other women, and the apparent waiter. Handwritten on the back: “Isabel Knox, Myrtle Stare, Mah & Jim Santorell (or Santoreth).” The style of clothing suggests the photo is from the 1950s or 1960s.
What I learned while researching this photo:
Knox:
- The 1950 US Census lists three people named Isabel Knox. In 1950, they lived in Syracuse, NY; Newtown, CT; and Gardena, CA.
Stare:
- The 1930 US Census lists two Myrtle Stares:
- Myrtle Stare was born circa. 1915, was the daughter of Charles & Nellie Stare and lived in Troy, MI.
- Myrtle Stars [Stare], born c. 1910, was the wife of Barnie Stars and lived in Harrison, TX
Santorell:
- My search for James Santorell found two James Santorells:
- James Vinson Santorell was born 16 Dec 1893 to Michael & Granata Santorell. His wife was Evelyn O’Brien. He died on 16 Oct 1940.
- James Henry Santorell was born on 1 May 1899. He registered for the draft on 15 Feb 1942.
Neither appears to have a wife named May.
My search for May Santorell found a Sophie M Santorella, the widow of James P. Santorella.
I could not identify any of the individuals in this photo sufficiently to identify who is in the image correctly, so I only included the individual’s photo here and in my Flickr Photostream. I’d love to hear from you if you see another name for Murtle or May & Jim.
Thirteen Young Dancers (from Portland?).
Photos like this always sadden me. It is a beautiful photo of 13 young girls in dance costumes. The photographer is Bell, Charles Street, Portland. Sadly, nothing is written on the back – No names, no group identification, no year, just blank. My Google image search had no potential matches, so no identification by me.
I can’t express it enough: if you have photos with no identification, please, please, write on the back of the picture the who, where, & when of the image. You can use a pencil or, better yet, an archival ink pen. Share the information you have about the photo. It will likely be thrown away and lost forever if you don’t.
I only include this photo here and in my Flickr Photostream.
Conclusion
I would 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 Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
