Child, Hewitt, Lowe, Sturdivant, & Wilson

Photo Friday – 2025.02.22
Portland, Maine
By Don Taylor

Introduction

This treasured artifact from the Linwood D. Dyer Photo Collection contains 32 pages of historical photographs, primarily cabinet cards, plus one loose photograph. Not all pages include photos, and not all images have identifying information. Remarkably well-preserved, the album offers a glimpse into Portland, Maine, during the 1890s.

These images capture individuals and moments from late 19th-century Portland society. The collection’s significance extends beyond its historical value—it represents an opportunity to connect these photographs with descendants who may have never seen these visual records of their ancestors.

My mission is to facilitate these meaningful reunions, sharing these images with families where they can help modern generations discover their visual heritage.

All of the photos in this group were taken at “ye Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress Street, Portland, ME.” The studio operated at this address from 1892 to 1910, giving us a helpful timeframe for dating these images.

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The Graduates

Marion Chipman Sturdivant, 1893

Title/Subject: Marion C Sturdivant | Class of ’93 | July 27, 1874
Costume: Her dress features moderately puffed sleeves with a high collar and a decorative cravat with a broach.
Additional Details: Her hair is short and waved at the top.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very Good
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)
Dating Elements: Dress (1890-1895), Cravat & brooch (1890s)

Biographical Information:
Marion Chipman Sturdivant was born on July 27, 1874, in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, and passed away on May 5, 1943. She is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

Family Members:

• Father: Albert Greeley Sturdivant (1844–1921)
• Mother: Elize H Chipman (1847–1919)
• Sister: Mabel M Sturdivant (1871–1945)
• Brother: Frederick Wilmot Sturdivant (1866-1927)
• Husband: Charles Dwight Moses (1871-1938)
• Child: Kenneth Sturdevant Moses (1902-1902)

Research Note: I’ve added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

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Martha Keene Wilson, 1893

Title/Subject: Marti Keene Wilson
Costume: High neckline with a small, ruffled collar, puffed sleeves (leg-of-mutton style), and softly waved hair with small bangs.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)
Dating Elements: Bodice (early 1890s), Sleeves (circa 1892-1893), Hairstyle (early 1890s)

Biographical Information:
Ancestry family trees suggest Martha was born on August 17, 1875, to Rev. Gowen C and Martha Burr (Chamberlain) Wilson. The 1900 Census shows Rev. Wilson living at 142 Concord Street, Portland, ME. Martha and her sister, Anne Burr Wilson, appear in the same census as schoolteachers residing in Portland.

Family Members:

• Father: Gowen C Wilson (1833-1905)
• Mother: Martha Burr Chamberlain (1833-1926)
• Brother: Charles Frederick Wilson (1864-___)
• Sister: Mary Chamberlain (May) Wilson (1867-1949)
• Sister: Anne Burr Wilson (1868-1959)
• Sister: Emma Darling Wilson (1872-1964)

Research Note: I’ve added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

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Probably Myra Nelson, Deering HS, 1893

Title/Subject: In pencil in the album, it reads, “Myra Nelson”
Costume: Puffed sleeves at the shoulders, bodice with floral elements, and hair pulled back with a ribbon.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very good – preserved in photo album
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)
Dating Elements: Dress style typical of 1893-1897

Research Note: I have not found any additional information regarding Myra. I uploaded this photo to my Flickr Photostream.

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Etta Mae Lowe, 1893

Title/Subject: Etta Mae Lowe – Oct. 30, 1875 – ’93
Costume: High-necked dress with a white ruffled collar, dark lace shawl, and hair in a soft updo with short bangs.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very good – preserved in photo album
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)
Dating Elements: Style typical of 1890-1893

Biographical Information:
Etta Mae Lowe (1874–1953) was born October 30, 1874, in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, and died November 4, 1953, in the same city. She married Lucien Samuel Dinsmore on June 22, 1904, in Portland and was a lifelong resident of Portland and South Portland. She is buried at Brooklawn Memorial Park, Portland.

Family Members:

• Parents: Benjamin W. Lowe (1847–1892) and Catherine N. Dimmick Lowe (1853–1931)
• Children: Wallace Samuel, Rodney Lucien, Catherine Mabelle, Allen Herbert, and Kenneth Lowe Dinsmore

Research Note: This photo matches a photo of Etta Mae Lowe Dinsmore on WikiTree. I’ve added it to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

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Alice June Child, 1893

Title/Subject: “Alice June Child – Class of ’93”
Costume: The image is too light to determine the clothing details.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Faded
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)

Biographical Information:
Alice June Child (1874–1949) was born June 4, 1874, in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, and died May 16, 1949, in the same city. She was a lifelong resident of Portland and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

Family Members:

• Parents: Albert William Child (1840-1913) and Emeline D Dunn (1844-1931)

Research Note: I’ve added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

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Unidentified Male Graduate, Probably Deering HS, 1893

Title/Subject: None provided
Clothing: Dark woolen suit jacket with a detachable high stand-up collar (fashionable between 1880 and 1910).

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very good – protected in photo album
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)

Research Note: I have not identified the individual in this photo; I’ve uploaded it to my Flickr Photostream.

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Joseph William Hewitt, 1893

Title/Subject: J W Hewitt’ 93 | Aug 23, 1875
Clothing: High collar, cravat, and glasses typical of the 1885–1895.

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very good – protected in photo album
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)

Biographical Information:
Joseph William Hewitt was born in Leeds, England, on August 23, 1875. He attended Bowdoin College, graduating in 1897, and married Sophia Evelyn Clark on June 24, 1903. Joseph died at home on July 8, 1938, in Middletown, Connecticut.

Research Note: I’ve added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

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Unidentified Female Graduate, Probably Deering HS, 1893

Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼”
Condition: Very good – protected in photo album
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910)
Dating Elements: Based on the clothing, eyeglasses, hairstyle, and photographic style, this photograph was almost certainly taken between 1892 and 1896. The other photos in the album are of students of Deering High School (Portland, Maine), class of 1893.

Research Note: I have not identified this individual; the photo has been uploaded to my Flickr Photostream.

Conclusion

I was able to identify five of the individuals in these eight photos. I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family. It’s significant when someone discovers a photograph of an ancestor they’ve never seen before. Also, if you can identify any of the unidentified photos, I’d like to hear from you.

Please feel free to incorporate these photographs into your genealogical research, citing “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

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Source Information:
Scarborough Historical Society
P.O. Box 156, Scarborough, ME, 04070
207-883-9997
ScarboroughHistoricalSociety.org
Accession Number: 2025.02.22
Album: Willis Skillin Graduation, Linwood Dyer Photo Collection