Photo Friday – Bishop, Robinson, Rogers, Roper, Ross, & Strout

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 127
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.

Alice Rogers, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Alice Rogers, 501 Congress St #237.”

Alice Rogers, circa 1934

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Moustakis Bros. confr (confectioner) at 501 Congress St. It lists an Alice Rogers as a waitress at 139 High and residing at 769 Congress.
• Neither the 1933 nor 1935 Portland City Directories list Alice Rogers.
• The 1940 US Census lists Alice M Rogers, a 24-year-old nurse living at 511 Cumberland. In 1935 she was living in Rochester, New Hampshire.
• Alice Martha Rogers was born on 4 March 1916 in Fryeburg, Maine, to Elwyn and Edna (Cressey) Rogers.

I believe this photo is likely Alice Martha Rogers (1916-1970); however, I am not 100% confident. As such, I’ll post a photo to Dead Fred and three more pictures to my Flickr Photostream. Ancestry has 13 public trees that refer to Alice Martha Rogers.

 Flora Robinson, Feb. 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Flora Robinson, 5 Weymouth St #277- Feb 2, 1935.”

Flora Robinson, Feb. 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1933 Portland City Directory lists Flora M Robinson, a clerk at 518 Congress, residing at 5 Weymouth.
• The 1930 US Census lists Flora M Robinson living at 5 Weymouth with her parents, Charles and Emily Robinson. Flora was 18 years old and was born in Maine.

I am confident this is a photo of Flora about 1935 when Flora was about 23 years old.

Ancestry has 24 public trees that refer to Flora May Robinson (1911-1988). Family Search has profile LR1F-1D2 for Flora Mae Robinson. I have uploaded two photos of Flora to her Family Search Memories.

Myra Ross, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Myra Ross, 2 Mechanic St. #183.”

Myra Ross, circa 1934.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Myra L Ross, residing at 2 Mechanic Pl. Also at 2 Mechanic Place are Emery S. and his wife Beatrice, Ross.
• The 1930 US Census lists Emery S Ross, his wife Beatrice, and 16-year-old daughter Myra living at 64 Oak Street, Ellsworth, Maine.

I am sure this is Myra Louise Ross (1913-1945) about 1934 when she was about 21 years old.

Ancestry has 26 public trees that refer to Myra Louise Ross. Family Search has profile K451-K28 for Myra Louise Ross (1913-1945). I have uploaded two photos of Myra to her Family Search Memories.

Joan Adelle Ross, Nov 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Chas Ross, 8 Weymouth St, #883.”

Joan Adelle Ross, Nov 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Charles E & Mildred J) Ross living at 8 Weymouth, Apt 4.
• The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Mildred, and their 5-year-old daughter, Joan A Ross, living at 25 Deane Street.

I am sure this is Joan Adelle Ross, daughter of Charles Edward and Mildred Jeanette (Cousins) Ross. Joan married Weston Arynold Shaw on 26 January 1952 in Rochester, New Hampshire.

I have not found Joan in Ancestry trees; however, her father, Charles E Ross, is found in two public Ancestry trees. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Joan either. So, I uploaded a photo of Joan to Dead Fred.

Cora Bishop (née Strout) & Beatrice Roper (née Bishop), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. W. A. Roper, 259 So. Main St, Torrington, Conn – mother & daughter #386.”

Cora Bishop (née Strout) & Beatrice Roper (née Bishop), circa 1934.

Why do I believe this to be these individuals?

• The 1935 Torrington City Directory lists Warren A & Beatrice Roper living at 259 S Main.
• The 1930 US Census lists Warren and his 35-year-old wife Beatrice at 255 Main. Beatrice was born in Maine.
• Beatrice Evelyn Bishop married Warren A Roper on 23 June 1915 in Portland, Maine. Beatrice’s parents were William L Bishop and Cora J Strout.

Looking at other photos of Cora (Strout) Bishop on Ancestry, I’m sure this photo is of mother and daughter Cora (Strout) Bishop and Beatrice (Bishop) Roper, about 1934.

Ancestry has 39 public trees that refer to Cora Jane (Strout) Bishop (1862-1941) and 13 public trees that refer to Beatrice Evelyn (Bishop) Roper (1893-1981).

Family Search has profile M6SH-2J3 for Cora Jane Strout (1866-1953) and profile LB6G-DHY for Beatrice E Bishop (1893-1981). I have uploaded two photos of Cora and Beatrice to their Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one more picture of them to my Flickr photostream.

Confirmed to be Cora (Stout) Bishop and Beatrice (Bishop) Roper by a 2nd great-granddaughter (and great-grandniece). 

Conclusion

I identified six individuals this week. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two did not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos 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.