Category: Ethel Wight Studio

Photo from the Ethel Wight Studio used for Photo Friday.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 51

Analysis of five more photo packages from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection includes Earl & Erna Granville (née Tillotson), circa 1934; Frederick Griffin, circa 1936 (age 2); Joan & James Grant, circa 1935 (ages 2 & 3); and Beatrice Greene (née Benson), circa 1936.

Grant, Granville, Greene, Griffin, (née Benson, née Tillotson)

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.

Earl & Erna Granville (née Tillotson), circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Granville, 3 Tolman Place, Portland #123.”

Why I believe this photo to be of these individuals.

  • Earl & Erna Granville (née Tillotson), circa 1934

    The 1933 and 1934 Portland City Directories only list one family with the surname Granville, Harvey and Alice, who lived at Cornish.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Earle and Erna T Granville living at 532 Washington Ave, and the 1937 Directory lists Earl W. and Erna T residing at 256 State.
  • The 1940 Census lists Earl as 37 years old (born 1902-3 in Canada). Erna was 41, born in Vermont.
  • New Hampshire Marriage records indicate that Earle W. Granville and Erna T. Holden married on 5 April 1933. It was Erna’s second wedding. They were married in Portsmouth. Earl was 30, and Erna was 36. They both lived in Portland at the time.

Based upon the photo ID number (#123), the photo was probably taken about 1934, when Earle was about 31, and Erna was about 37.

Family Search identifies Earl Wilmot Granville as ID KZYF-4JX and Erna Gadriella Tillotson as ID LZGX-5K8. I am sure this photo is of them taken about 1934. Earle W Granville is found in seven Ancestry trees at Ancestry.Com. Erna Gadriella (Tillotson) (Holden) Granville is found in 29 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded this photo of them to their Family Search Memories.

Unidentified Child

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. A. C. Gray, 44 Clinton St. Portland #892.”

How I looked for this individual.

  • Unidentified Child – possibly related to Aubrey C. and Iver Isabel Gray

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Aubrey C and Iva I Gray living at 44 Clinton.

  • The 1940 Portland City Directory lists Aubrey and Iva residing at Scarboro.
  • Aubrey C. Gray married Iver Isabelle Perkins on 12 October 1920. Aubrey was 26, and Iver was 22 years old.
  • I have been unable to find Aubrey and Iva in the 1940 Census, and I have been able to find any record that Aubrey and Iva ever had children. Twelve Ancestry Trees mention Iver (Perkins) Gray, but none of them suggest she had children.

Unidentified Child, possibly related to Aubrey C. and Iver Isabel Gray.

Frederick Griffin, circa 1936 (age 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Carl Griffin, 81 Leland St., Portland #498.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Frederick Griffin, c. 1936 (age 2)

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Carl H and Leila Griffin living at 81 Leland.

  • New Hampshire Marriage records indicate that Carl H Griffin married Leila Woodbury on 13 September 1933. Leila was the daughter of Walter and Bernice (Brimmer) Woodbury. Carl’s parents were Frank and Rose (Bennett) Griffin.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Carl living with his parents, Frank & Rose, in South Portland. His status is single. The 1940 Census lists Leila Griffin residing with her parents, Walter and Bernice Woodbury, and her six-year-old son, Frederick P. Leila’s status is divorced.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Frederick P Griffin, the son of Carl and Leila (Woodbury) Griffin. However, Frederick Paul Griffin is found in three trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have added his photo to Dead Fred.

Joan & James Grant, circa 1935 (ages 2 & 3)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Helen Grant, 67 Danforth St, Portland #438.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • Joan & James Grant, circa 1935 (ages 2 & 3)

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Andrew J and Helen J Grant living at 67 Danforth.

  • The 1940 Census lists Helen and Andrew Grant living with Helen’s parents, Patrick and Mary Geary. With them are their three children, James, Joan, and 4-year-old William.
  • Based upon the photo ID number (#438), the photo was probably taken about 1935 when James was three and Joan was 2.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for either child. James does not appear to be in any Ancestry Trees; however, Joan Helen Grant is found in 12 Ancestry trees.

I have added his/her photo to Dead Fred.

Beatrice Greene (née Benson) circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Ralph Greene, 137 Neal St., Portland #585.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Beatrice Greene (née Benson), circa 1936
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Ralph E Greene and his wife Beatrice E Greene living at 137 Neal Street.
  • The 1940 US Census reports Ralph E Green and his 47-year-old wife, Beatrice B, living on Neal Street.
  • Based upon the photo ID number (#585), this photo was taken about 1936 when Beatrice was about 44 years old.

Family Search identifies Beatrice Earle Benson as ID MCXB-CC2. I am sure this is her about 1936. Beatrice B. Benson is found in 22 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Beatrice to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Beatrice by a great-grandchild of Beatrice. 

Conclusion

  • I fully identified two individuals and was able to post their photos to Family Search I also identified three additional individuals who do not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded images of them to Dead Fred.
  • I failed to identify one individual at all.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 50

Gordon, Graffam, Graham, Grant, Grove. (née Dyer & née Jenkins)

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.

Helen Graffam, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Helen Graffam, 62 State St., Portland #937.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Helen Graffam, circa 1937

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Helen D. Graffam as a student nurse at 62 State, residing at 52 State.

  • The photo of Helen Dickerson Graffam in the 1933 South Portland High School yearbook is clearly the same young woman.
  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Helen D. Graffam living at 80 Highland av, South Portland. At the same address are Walter I. Graffam, his wife Lindora Graffam, and Irving H Graffam.
  • The 1930 US Census shows 17-year-old Helen Graffam living with her parents, Irving and Dora Graffam, at 80 Highland Ave.

Thus, this is a photo of Helen Dickinson Graffam, born on 28 March 1913 in South Portland to Walter Irving and Grace Lindora (Brown) Graffam.

Family Search identifies Helen Dickinson Graffam, born 28 March 1913, as ID GSYH-Q28. Helen Dickinson Graffam appears in 7 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Helen to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos of her to my Flickr photostream. 

Error, this is the daughter of Irving and Dora Graffam, not the daughter of Walter and Grace Graffam. I will look at this individual’s identification sometime in the future. 

Harry Grove

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Harry Grove, Portland.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Harry Grove

    A search for Harry Grove in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, 1930 to 1940 failed to yield any results.

  • Expanding the search outside of Maine yielded Harry Grove, who lived in Québec, Canada, in 1940.
  • Further expanding the search to all US in 1930 yielded over 100 Harry Grove’s in the United States. Many of them fit the likely age of this Harry Grove’s.
  • Likewise, there are over 100 Harry Grove’s in the 1940 Census, but none of them appear to have been in Maine during 1935.

I was unable to separate this Harry Grove from others in the United States and Canada. As such, I have added his photo to Dead Fred.

Gladys I. (Dyer) Graham, circa 1936.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Gladys Graham, 335 Cumberland Ave, Portland #701.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Gladys Graham (née Dyer) – 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Malcolm and Gladys Graham living at 295 Cumberland Ave., Apt 4.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory Available on Ancestry is missing page 388, which is the page Malcolm and Gladys Graham should be listed.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Malcolm and Gladys living in Old Town, Penobscot County, Maine. Malcolm is 30, and Gladys is 28.
  • Based upon the photo ID number (#701), the photo was probably taken about 1936, when Gladys would have been about 25 years old.

The woman in the photo appears to be in her mid-20s to me. I believe this is Gladys I Dyer, daughter of Charles William and Lillian (Mudgett) Dyer.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Gladys Dyer. However, Gladys I Dyer is found in 10 Ancestry trees

I have uploaded one photo of Gladys I. (Dyer) Graham to Dead Fred. 

William Harlan Grant, circa 1936 (Age 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Clarence G. Grant, 210 High St., Portland #1077.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • William Harlan Grant, circa 1936 (Age 2)

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Clarence G and his wife Wilhelmina S, Grant, living at 210 High Street.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Clarence G and Wilhelmine Grant living at 170 Park Avenue. With them is their five-year-old son, William H. Grant.
  • William H. Grant was born on 28 December 1934 to Clarence and Wilhelmina (Stewart) Grant.

This is undoubtedly a photo of William Harlan Grant about 1936 when his about two years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for William Harlan Grant, born 28 December 1934; however, he appears in 10 Ancestry trees. His parents and two siblings appear in Family Search so that a profile can be made for him on Family Search by a family member.

I have uploaded a copy of this photo of William Harlan Grant to Dead Fred. 

Susan Gordan (Née Jenkins), 1946

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Susan Gordan, 48 Boston Street, Somerville, 43 Mass – 1946.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Susan Gordan (Née Jenkins), 1946

    The 1940 US Census lists Susan Gordon, a 72-year-old widow living at 48 Boston Street in Somerville, Massachusetts. She is living there with her sister, Jennie Turnbull, and her niece, Virginia Turnbull.

  • Susan F (Jenkins) Gordon of Somerville died in Somerville, 3 March 1948. She was the widow of Frank W. Gordon. 1948.
  • Susie Jenkins was born about 1868 in Nova Scotia. Her parents were Thomas and Christina Jenkins. She married Frank on 2 August 1892 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Family Search identifies Susan (Jenkins) Gordon as ID LZNM-CKV. I was unable to find Susan or her parents in any Ancestry family trees.

I have uploaded this photo of Susan (Jenkins) Gordon to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified four individuals and was able to post two of their images to Family Search Two individuals did not have Family Search profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred.
  • Other than his name, I failed to identify one individual; consequently, I only posted his photo here and to Dead Fred.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 49

Googins (5), (nee Barker)

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.

Jessie Ellen Googins, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Jessia Googins Wescott St., Portland #469.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Jessie Ellen Googins, circa 1936

    The 1937 Portland City directory lists Jessie E Googins, an operator at 188 Middle, residing at 18 Wescott. Also living at 18 Wescott is Phoebe A Googins, the widow of Howard T Googins.

  • Maine Birth records include Jessie Ellen Googins, born 3 August 1915, the daughter of Howard T and Phebe A (Barker) Googins.

This photo is of Jessie about 1936 when she was about 21 years old.

Family Search identifies Jessie Ellen Googins as ID: KH44-SFS. Jessie Ellen Googins is found in 11 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded this photo of Jessie to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of Jessie to my Flickr photostream. 

Confirmed to be Jessie by a two family members.

Jessie Ellen Googins, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Jessia Googins, 18 Wescott St, Portland #240.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Jessie Ellen Googins, circa 1935

    This photo is clearly the same person as above (#469), just a little earlier (based on the photo ID numbers), probably 1935.

  • This is a photo of Jessie about 1935 when she was about 20 years old.

Family Search identifies Jessie Ellen Googins as ID: KH44-SFS. Jessie Ellen Googins is found in 11 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded this photo of Jessie to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of Jessie to my Flickr photostream.

Confirmed to be Jessie by two family members. 

Muriel Estelle Googins, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Muriel Googins, 18 Wescott St, Portland #899.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Muriel Estelle Googins, circa 1937

    This photo is of another of the Googins daughters. It has the same surname, same address, just a bit younger individual. The 1930 Census confirms Muriel E. Googins as the 10-year-old daughter of Howard S and Phebe A Googins (see above).

  • Maine birth records identify Muriel Estelle Googins, born 12 March 1920 to Howard T and Phebe (Barker) Googins.

This is a photo of Muriel about 1937 when she was about 17 years old.

Family Search identifies Muriel Estelle Googins as ID: GWYB-432. Nine Ancestry trees include Muriel Estelle Googins.

I have uploaded two photos of Muriel to her Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Muriel by her daughter.

Donald Freeman Googins, circa 1936 (Age 3)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. F. J. Googins, 527 Brighton Ave, Portland #336.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Donald Freeman Googins, circa 1936 (Age 3)

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Freeman J and Carola F Googins living at 527 Brighton Ave.

  • The 1940 Census lists Freeman and Carola Googins living in Westbrook with their six-year-old son, Donald F. Googins. Also in the household are two daughters, Gloria & Glenna, both five years old.
  • Donald Freeman Googins was born 16 April 1933 to Freeman Jesse and Carola (Hobson) Googins.

I am sure this is Donald about 1935 when he was about 2.

Family Search identifies Donald F Googins as ID: LTH2-J13; he is also found in 8 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded one photo of Donald to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of Donald to my Flickr photostream.

Phoebe Adelaide Googins (née Barker), circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Howard Googins, 18 Westcott St, Portland #114.”

Phoebe Adelaide Googins (née Barker), circa 1934

After reviewing three other packets of the Googins family of 18 Wescott street, I am confident this is Phebe Adelaide (Barker) Googins (See above). Her husband, Howard Tyler Googins, died on 25 September 1934.

This is a photo of Phoebe Adelaide (Barker) Googins about 1934, when she was about 41 years old, probably shortly after her husband died.

Family Search identifies Phoebe A Barker as ID: G98D-K9Z; Additionally,

Phoebe Adelaide Barker appears in 38  Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Phoebe to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Phoebe by a family member. 

 Conclusion

The Googins family of 18 Wescott was happy with the photos taken at the Ethel Wight studio in Portland, Maine, as three of the four family members had their photos taken there.

I was able to identify the photos in all five photo packages and post their pictures to Family Search Memories. Additionally, I had four additional images of the family members that I could post to my Flickr Photostream.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

(For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, 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.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 48

Goodall (2), Goodier, Goodridge, & Goodwin

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.

Bettina Nichol Goodier, 1943 (WAC)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Betina Goodier – Copy – 1943.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Bettina Nichol Goodier, 1943 (WAC)

    US World War II Army Enlistment Records indicate that Bettina N Goodier of York, Maine enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps. She was 5’ 8” tall, 154 pounds. Bettina was born in 1920.

  • The US Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 indicates Bettina was born 15 March 1920, enlisted on 4 August 1943, was discharged 18 March 1946, and died 23 May 2002.
  • Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922 indicates Bettina Nichol Goodier was born 15 March in Saco, York County, Maine, to Harry and Caroline S. Goodier.

This photo is of Bettina in 1943, after she enlisted in the Army as an Aviation Cadet.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Bettina Nichol Goodier. Also, there do not appear to be any Ancestry Family Trees that refer to Bettina. However, five family trees at Ancestry refer to her parents, Harry and Caroline S. (Nicol) Goodier.

I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

Dora May Goodall, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Dora Goodall, St. Barnabas Hospital #575.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Dora May Goodall, circa 1937

    The 1934 Portland City Directory indicates that Dora Goodall was a student nurse at 231 Woodford and resided at 20 Norwood. 231 Woodford is the address for St. Barnabas Hospital.

  • The 1940 Census indicates the 26-year-old Dora Goodall is a lodger at 165 Clinton Street, Portland. She was a registered nurse.
  • The 1930 Census indicates the 16-year-old Dora M. Goodall living with her brother, Henry M. Goodall, and his wife Gladys, in Gardiner, Kennebec County, Maine.
  • The 1920 Census indicates 6-year-old Dora M Goodall living with her parents (and brother Henry) in Litchfield, Kennebec County. Her parents are James R. and Violet M. Goodall.

This is a photo of Dora M. Goodall about 1937, probably when she graduated from nursing school.

Family Search identifies Dora May Goodall, born 10 September 1913 in Oakfield, Aroostook County, Maine, to James and Violet M. (Wright) Goodall as ID L1GF-N2B. Dora Mae Goodall is found in 13 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Dora to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Dora by two cousins of Dora.

Margaret Alice Goodwin, circa 1937 (Nurse)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss M Goodwin, Me. Gen. Hospital, Portland #694.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Margaret Alice Goodwin, circa 1937 (Nurse)

    The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Margaret Goodwin as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

  • The 1940 Census lists Margaret Goodwin as a 24-year-old nurse at 22 Arsenal.
  • The 1930 Census lists Margaret A. Goodwin as the 14-year-old daughter of Daniel and Mary Goodwin, living in Eliot, York County, Maine.
  • Ancestry Trees indicates Margaret Alice Goodwin was born on 11 November 1915.

This photo is of Margaret about 1937 when she attended nursing school

Family Search identifies Margaret Alice Goodwin, born 11 November 1915, as ID KHSP-6S1. Margaret Alice GOODWIN is also found in 24 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Margaret to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Margaret Goodwin who married Joseph K. Lyman by a grandchild of Margaret.

Ralph Wallace Goodridge, circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. R.W. Goodridge, 1 Shepley St, Portland #57.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Ralph Wallace Goodridge, circa 1934

    The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Robert Goodridge living at 1 Shepley. It also lists Mrs. Lanva L. Goodridge residing at the same address.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Leuva Goodridge at 1 Shepley, but Robert is not listed.
  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists neither Leuva nor Robert Goodridge.
  • I have been unsuccessful in finding Robert in any other records. A review of various family trees indicates that Leuva had a son, Ralph Wallace Goodridge, born in 1898.

As such, I believe this photo is likely of Ralph Wallace Goodridge, born 8 August 1898 in Gorham, Coos County, New Hampshire, and the 1938 Portland City Directory is in error. This photo was taken about 1934 (based on be number 57), and the man in the picture appears to be in his mid-30s. So, I believe this to be a photo of Ralph just before he married Doris Amelia Kinney in September 1934.

Family Search identifies Ralph Wallace Goodridge, son of Leuva Louise (Plympton) Goodridge, as ID LHLT-JXC. Ralph Wallace Goodridge is found in 23 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Ralph to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos of Ralph to my Flickr photostream. 

Constance May Goodall, circa 1936 (age 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Geo. W. Goodall, 47 Bradley St, Portland #834.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Constance May Goodall, circa 1936 (age 2)

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists George W and his wife Dorothy B, Goodall, living at 47 Bradley.

  • The 1940 Census lists George and Dorothy Goodall living with their two children, Constance M and George W., Jr. Constance was five, and George Jr. was seven months old.
  • Constance May Goodall was born 7 October 1934 to George and Dorothy (Butterworth) Goodall in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

Based upon the photo ID Number (834), the photo was taken about 1936 or 1937, so it must be Constance about two or three years of age.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Constance Goodall, nor do her parents. However, Constance Mae Goodall is found in 4 Ancestry trees

I have added her photo to Dead Fred. 

Conclusion

I identified all five individuals. Three of them had profiles on Family Search, so I uploaded their photos to Family Search Memories. Two individuals did not have profiles on Family Search, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred. One person had four shots, so I posted two additional images of that person to my Flickr Photostream.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 47

Gilman (nee Miller), Gogan, Gokey, Golder, & Goldman

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.

Anna Goldman, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Anna Goldman, 88 Vesper At, Portland #761.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Anna Goldman, circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Anna Goldman as a teacher at 116 Pearl, residing at 88 Vesper.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory indicates that Anna moved to New York City.
  • The 1931 Portland High School Yearbook, The Totem, includes a photo of Anna Goldman. It appears to be the same person as in this photo.
  • The 1930 US Census indicates Anna Goldman, the daughter of Aaron and Rose Goldman, living at 93 Federal in Portland. Anna was 16 years old and born in Russia.

I believe this to be a photo of Anna about 1936 before she moved to New York.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Anna or her parents. Although identified by her married name, Anna Levine appears in three Ancestry Family Trees.

I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

Virginia Gokey, circa 1937 [??]

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Virginia Gokey, St. Barnabus Hospital, #568.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Virginia Gokey, circa 1937

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Virginia Gokey, a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital) residing at 20 Norwood.

  • Virginia Garnette Gokey was born 23 January 1915, daughter of Garnet Murray. and Bernice Katherine (Mills) Gokey.

This photo appears to be of Virginia Gokey about 1937 when she graduated from nursing school.

Family Search identifies Virginia Garnette Gokey, born 23 January 1915, as ID LKDC-5KY. Virginia is also found in 13 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded a photo of Virginia to her Family Search Memories.

Another researcher confirmed the facts are correct, however, after checking with a few other people, the photo does not appear to be of Virginia. 

Virginia Golder, circa 1937

This negative envelope says, “Miss Virginia Golder, ME Gen Hospital #561.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Virginia Golder, circa 1937

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Virginia Golder, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

  • The 1939 Portland City Directory lists Virginia Golder as a nurse at 812 Congress.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Virginia P. Sanburn, a registered nurse at Bath Memorial Hospital, living with her mother, Mary C. Golder. It mentions that in 1935, she lived in Portland.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Virginia Golder, born about 1916, as the daughter of Scott M. and Mary C. Golder, living in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine.
  • Virginia Pauline Golder was born 20 June 1915 in Bath, Maine, the 4th child of Scott and Mary (Miller) Golder.

This is a photo of Virginia about 1937 when she graduated from Nursing School at Maine General Hospital.

Family Search identifies Virginia P. Golder, born 20 June 1915, as ID L4H8-DD8.

There are 38 trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Virginia Pauline Golder.

I have uploaded two photos of Virginia to her Family Search Memories.

Merrill Gogan, circa 1936 (Age 4)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Geo Gogan, 457 Cumberland Ave, Portland #988.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Merrill Gogan, circa 1936 (Age 4)

    The 1937 and 1938 Portland City Directories list George (and Leora) Gogan as living at 45 or 60 Huntress Ave, South Portland.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory on Ancestry is missing page 378, which should contain Gogan.
  • The 1940 US Census lists George and Leora Gogan living at 7 Burnwell in South Portland. With them is their 8-year-old son, Merrill, who was born in Vermont. Thirty-year-old Leora was born in Maine, and 40-year-old George was born in New Hampshire.

This photo was taken about 1936 when Merrill was about four years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Merrill Gogan, nor do Ancestry Trees. However, eleven trees on Ancestry refer to Merrill’s father, George Gogan.

I have uploaded a photo of Merrill Gogan to Dead Fred. 

Maude Gilman, nee Miller, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Henry Gilman, 499 Ocean Ave, Portland #545.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Maude Gilman, nee Miller, circa 1936

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Henry Gilman, a dentist, living with his wife, Maude M., at 499 Ocean Ave.

  • The 1940 Census lists Henry Gilman and his 68-year-old wife, Maud, at 499 Ocean.
  • The 1910 Census indicates Henry and Maude had been married for three years.
  • This information leads to Maude Hellen Miller, born 28 August 1871 and who married Henry Gilman on 20 June 1906.

This photo set is of Maude about 1936 when she was about 65 years old.

Family Search identifies Maude H. Miller, born 28 August 1871 and married Henry Gilman in Portland in 1906, as ID M4X3-3Z9. There are four trees at Ancestry include Maude Helen Miller.

I have uploaded two photos of Maude to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos to my Flickr photostream.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified all five individuals. Three had Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search Two did not appear to have Family Search Profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred. There were four photos in the photo set of one individual; consequently, I posted those two additional photos to my Flickr Photostream.

For all posts regarding the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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.