Author Archives: Don Taylor

Portraits and Performing Arts: More High School Graduates from the 1950’s and 60’s.

Gardner, Hanson, Hunter, McLaughlin, & Somma. Linwood Dyer Collection (Part 068)By Don Taylor Continuing with the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection – “High School Graduation Portraits from the 1960s,” this entry highlights five additional portraits. These graduates represent Deering, Falmouth, Gorham, … Continue reading

Posted in Photo Identification, Linwood Dyer Collection, Maine High Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Faces from the 1960s: High School Graduation Photos

Chadbourne, Chapman, Hague, Kilmartin, & Regan. Linwood Dyer Collection (Part 067)By Don Taylor As I neared the end of the Willis Skillin Graduation Album, I found that the remaining images were, unfortunately, unlabeled and don’t appear to be student portraits, … Continue reading

Posted in Photo Identification, Portland History, Linwood Dyer Collection, High School Yearbooks, Maine History, Standish History, 1960s Genealogy, Family Photo Research, Faces from the Past, Educational Archives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Montran Monday – A Watch Lost and Found in Pasadena, 1922

By Don Taylor As part of my ongoing “Montran Monday” series[i], I search historical newspapers for any mention of individuals bearing the Montran surname. Each small discovery helps me piece together the broader story of my maternal grandmother’s elusive father. … Continue reading

Posted in Newspaper Discoveries, Genealogy Research, Montran Family | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Brewer Surname: Origins, Ancestors & Legacy

Discovering Brewer Roots 🧬🍺

From 17th-century Wales to colonial Maryland and colonial Virginia, my wife’s Brewer ancestors left a remarkable legacy. The surname “Brewer” comes from the Old English brēowan — to brew — and today over 160,000 people share this historic name. Her earliest known Brewer, John Brewer (1620–1664), helped lay the foundation for generations that followed. Continue reading

Posted in Surname Saturday, Howell-Hobbs | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uncovering the Faces of Deering High (Part 4):

In this latest post, I explore more remarkable portraits from a 19th-century Deering High School album, featuring students with surnames like Coffin, Johnson, Skillin, and Trufant. Could one of these individuals be your ancestor? Read more and help reconnect these faces with their families. Continue reading

Posted in Linwood Dyer Collection, Willis Skillin Graduation Album, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment