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, I aim to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Geneva Potter, circa 1934
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Geneva Potter, Children’s Hospital #181” (circa 1934).
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1934 and 1935 Portland City Directories list Geneva Potter as a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital) and residing at 20 Norwood.
- The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Geneva Potter as a nurse working and living at 48 Avon.
- The Bangor Daily News, dated 15 Oct 1937, indicated that “Miss Geneva Potter, R. N., a postgraduate student at the Women’t Hospital, New York City, has been a guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Potter.
This photo appears to be of Geneva M Potter, born on 2 Mar 1913 in Woodland, Washington County, Maine.
Geneva M Potter (1913-1992) appears in 21 public trees on Ancestry.Com. She also appears as profile LR6X-1YC on Family Search. I uploaded a photo of Geneva to her Family Search Memories.
Nurse Viola Plummer, circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Miss Viola Plummer, 17 Spring St #616,” and was taken about 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Viola A Plummer as a nurse working and residing at 17 Spruce.
- The 1940 US Census enumerated Viola Plummer, a 29-year-old nurse living in Buffalo, Oklahoma. She had lived in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
I am confident this is Viola Amelia Plummer, born 1 Dec 1910 and who worked as a nurse in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
Viola Amelia Plummer (1910-2007) appears in 10 Ancestry public trees. Family Search has profile LK9L-BFZ for Viola. I uploaded one additional photo of Viola to her Family Search Memories.
Alfred Poulin, Queens Hospital, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Alfred Poulin, Queens Hospital #250,” and was taken about 1934.
What I learned about this individual.
- 1932, 1933, and 1934 Portland City Directories list Alfred Poulin as a student nurse at 218 State (The Queen’s Hospital).
- The 1930 US Census lists a 21-year-old Alfred Poulin, the son of Ella Poulin, living in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, and working as a nurse at a private residence.
This photo appears to be Alfred Joseph Poulin, son of John & Ella Poulin, born on 12 Mar 1909 in Waterville, Maine.
Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Alfred Joseph Poulin. Family Search has profile LDT8-D7Y for Alfred. I have uploaded a photo of Alfred to his Family Search Memories.
Vincent James Porciello, circa 1934 (age 0)
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. James Porciello, 28 May St, #414,” and was taken about 1934.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Gabriel and Pauline Porciello living at 28 May.
- The 1940 US Census lists James Porcielly, the six-year-old son of Gabriel and Pauline Porciello, who live at 14 North Street in Portland, Maine. The household also includes nine-year-old Gabriel, Junior.
I am confident this is a photo of Vincent James Porciello, son of Gabriel and Paola “Pauline” Porciello, born on 2 Feb 1934.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Vincent James Porciello; however, FamilySearch does not appear to have a profile for him. I uploaded a photo of Vincent James to Dead Fred.
Hilda (Hermanie) Poulin (née Audet), circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Velmore Poulin, 38 Vermont St #831,” taken about 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
- The 1940 US Census lists Valmore Poulin and his 36-year-old wife, Hilda, living at 38 Vermont.
- Ancestry Family Trees suggest his wife, Hermence Audet, was born on 11 Mar 1904 in Maria Québec. He and Valmore were married on 31 January 1930 (probably in Portland).
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Hermanie Audet (1904-1981); however, FamilySearch does not appear to have a profile for Hilda/Hermanie/Hermence. So, I uploaded this photo of her to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I fully identified all five individuals. Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. The other two did not appear to have Family Search profiles, so I posted their pictures to Dead Fred.
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.
