Bailey, Barteau, Browning, Corthell, & (possibly Landers)

Linwood Dyer Collection (Part 071)
By Don Taylor

This set of photos, from the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, contains 18 photographs, all taken at Adams Studio located at 515A Congress Street in Portland. The pictures bear an imprint reading “Portland High School – ’18.” Most feature handwritten notes identifying the individual, and many confirm 1918 as the graduation year.

I initially searched for 1918 yearbooks but was unsuccessful in locating copies. However, The Portland Evening Express, dated June 24, 1918, lists the names of all 230 seniors who received diplomas from Portland High School that year. With this comprehensive graduation list, I can positively identify most of the students.

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Graduates Featured:

Florence Gertrude Barteau, PHS Class of 1918.

• Photo Type: Graduation portrait (3″ x 7″)
• Studio: Adams Studio, 515 A Congress Street, Portland, ME
• Class: Portland High School – ’18.
• Inscription: “Yours in Room S, Florence Barteau”
• Research Note: I confirmed Florence Gertrude Barteau is listed as a 1918 graduate.[i]

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Gladys Louise Corthell, PHS Class of 1918.

• Photo Type: Graduation portrait (3″ x 7″)
• Studio: Adams Studio, 515 A Congress Street, Portland, ME
• Class: Portland High School – ’18.
• Inscription: “‘Are not school days after all the dear old days, Gladys Corthell.”
• Research Note: I confirmed Gladys Louise Corthell received a diploma from PHS in 1918.[ii]

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Irene Isabel Bailey, PHS Class of 1918.

• Photo Type: Graduation portrait (3″ x 7″)
  Studio: Adams Studio, 515 A Congress Street, Portland, ME
• Class: Portland High School – ’18.
• Inscription: “‘What have I done! Irene Bailey, PHS ’18.”
• Research Note: I confirmed Irene Isabel Bailey l received a diploma from PHS in 1918.[iii] 

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Olevia Josephine Browning, PHS Class of 1918.

• Photo Type: Graduation portrait (3″ x 7″)
• Studio: Adams Studio, 515 A Congress Street, Portland, ME
• Class: Portland High School – ’18.
• Inscription: “Yours in the class of ’18, Olivia J Browning.
• Research Note: I confirmed Olevia Josephine Browning received a diploma from PHS in 1918.[v]

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“Bobbykins” (Possibly Robert Landers), PHS Class of 1918.

• Photo Type: Graduation portrait (3″ x 7″)
• Studio: Adams Studio, 515 A Congress Street, Portland, ME
• Class: Portland High School – ’18.
• Inscription: “Dear Lady, I assure you I am in ecstasy, Bobbykins.
• Research Note: I assume “Bobbykins” is a diminutive form of Robert. The graduation list includes two Roberts in the PHS Class of 1918[vi]. They were:
  • Carl Robert Turner
  • Robert Edmund Landers

I suspect this is probably Robert Landers; however, I am not certain. If you have photos of either, I would love to compare them.

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Conclusion

This project is about more than photographs—it’s about restoring connections across generations. These portraits capture moments of pride and promise, and for many families, they may be the only formal photo of a loved one at that pivotal time.

If you recognize someone in these images or they are part of your family history, I welcome your contact and confirmation of the identification. I’d be happy to share the personal inscriptions found inside the folders—words written by the people themselves more than 100 years ago.

These portraits are available for personal genealogical use. Please credit – Photo courtesy Scarborough Historical Society, Scarborough, Maine.

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 ENDNOTES

[i] Evening Express (Portland, Maine) · Mon, Jun 24, 1918 · Page 1, continued on page 6 – “Record Class Last to Graduate from Old P. H. S. Building.”
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Ibid.
[vi] Ibid.