Category: Ethel Wight Studio

MacWilliam, Maddocks, McMannis, & McNeill

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

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 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.

Eula S. MacWilliam, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Eula McWilliam, 492 St. John St, #168.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 Portland City Directory list Eula S MacWilliam, a mail, living at 492 St. John. Also living at 492 St John are John F, Edna A, and Norman D. MacWilliam.
• Eula MacWilliam, daughter of John Franklin and Edna Amy (Ellis) MacWilliam, was born on 28 April 1913 in New Hampshire.

This photo is of Eula in 1934 when she was about 21.

Eula S. MacWilliam is found in 18 Ancestry public trees. Family Search has profile GM5H-NWS for Eula Sarah Mcwilliam. I  have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Edna MacWilliam (Née Ellis), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. McWilliam, 492 St John St #176.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 Portland City Directory lists John F and Edna A MacWilliam living at 492 St. John.
• The 1940 US Census lists John and Edna Macwilliams living at 492 St. John Street. Edna was 46 years old.

This photo is of Edna Amy MacWilliam (née Ellis) in 1934 when she was about 40.

Edna Amy Ellis is found in 24 Ancestry public trees. Family Search has a profile for Edna Amy Ellis. I have uploaded two photos of Edna to profile ID LH89-TMB’s Family Search Memories. 

Theda Maddocks, Student Nurse, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Theda Maddocks, ME Gen Hospital #915.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Theda Maddocks as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal and residing at the same place.
• The 1934 Wilton Academy yearbook shows Theda Mae Maddocks. The photo of her there suggests this photo is of her a couple of years older.
• A review of Ancestry Public Trees suggests that this is Theda M Maddocks, daughter of Harry Anderson and Etta (Springer) Maddocks, born 21 Jul 1917.
• She married Herbert Alonzo Marble on 11 July 1937.

I’m sure this is a photo of Theda Mae Maddocks about 1936.

Ancestry has 17 public trees that refer to Theda M Maddocks. Family Search has profile GD6G-HX8 for Theda M Maddocks. I uploaded s photos of Theda to her Family Search Memories.

Evelyn McMannis, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Ethel McMannis, 14 Alder St, #1002.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1936 Portland City Directory lists J. Everett, and his wife Ethel G., McMannis living at 14 Alder.
• The 1940 US Census lists Joseph E and Ethel G McMannis living at 12-14 Alder, in Portland, Maine. Living with them is their eight-year-old daughter, Evelyn R McMannis.

I am confident this is Evelyn Regis McMannis, daughter of Joseph Everett and Ethel G (Millett) McMannis, born on 27 February 1932, about 1936, when she was about four years old.

Ancestry has four public trees that refer to Evelyn Regis McMannis. Family Search has profile GSKN-MQF for Evelyn Regis McMannis. I have uploaded a photo of Evelyn to her Family Search Memories.

Kathleen Marie McNeill, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. H McNeill, 21 Summer St (Mary McNeill) #690.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Herbert A and Delia A, McNeill living at 21 Summer.
• The 1940 US Census lists Herbert McNeal living at 21 Summer with his two sons and two daughters,15-year-old Kathleen and 11-year-old Mary.
• When this photo was taken, about 1935, Kathleen would have been about ten and Mary about six. The girl in the picture appears to be much older than six, so I believe this is likely Kathleen, although the envelope says “Mary McNeill” give me some doubt. Kathleen’s Christian name is Marie, so I believe this is a photo of Kathleen Marie McNeill about 1935 when she was about ten years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Kathleen Marie McNeill. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for her. Because of that, I have uploaded a photo of Miss McNeill to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

• • I identified all five of them. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
  • One individual did not have a Family Search profile, so I posted her image to Dead Fred.

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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images 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.

McDonald, McKague, McLaughlin, McLean, & (possibly) McKinney

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

For Photo Friday, I try to identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]this week. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily 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.

Kathleen McDonald, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Kathleen McDonald, 26 Union St #258.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Kathleen V McDonald as a clerk at 93 Kennebec and residing at 26 Union.
• The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Kathleen V McDonald married Daniel J Carr, Jr.
• Kathleen Veronica McDonald was born on 2 June 1904 and married Daniel Joseph Carr on 2 June 1934.

This photo is of Kathleen McDonald about 1934 before she married Joseph Carr.

Kathleen Veronica McDonald is found in 11 Ancestry public trees. I added her photo to Dead Fred.

Lillian McLaughlin, Nursing Student, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Lillian McLaughlin, ME Gen Hospital #697.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Lillian McLaughlin, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
• The 1938 Portland City Directory that would list Lillian McLaughlin (page 517) is missing from the image at Ancestry.
• The 1940 US Census lists:
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 20-year-old Nurse Maid living in Bronx, New York. In 1935, she lived in the Bronx also.
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 23-year-old stenographer living in Queens, New York. In 1935, she lived in Queens also.
  • Lillian McLaughlin is a 29-year-old accounting clerk living in Paterson, New Jersey.
  • None of these appear to be the correct Lillian McLaughlin. The 20-year-old would only be 16 when this photo was taken, and she seems older than 16.

I added her photo to Dead Fred and an additional image to my Flickr photostream. 

Unknown Child (possibly McKinney), circa 1943.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Richard McKinney, Saco? Feb 1943.”

This photo is different from most photos in the Ethel Wight collection because it appears to have been a request for reproduced photos brought in about 1943. I think this child was probably born about 1940 to 1942. It is likely either his name was Richard, or his father’s name was Richard.

What I did to try to identify this child.

• 

  The 1950 US Census lists six individuals with the surname McKinney born between 1940 and 1942.

  • Eight-year-old Gene McKinney is the son of Freda J. McKinney, living in Pittsfield, Maine
  • Seven-year-old Tyrone McKinney is the son of Freda J. McKinney, who is living in Pittsfield, Maine.
  • Eight-year-old Gordon McKinney is a boarder living with Benjamin & Marie Griggs, living in Freedom, Maine.
  • Eight-year-old John F McKinney is the son of James & Frances McKinney, living in Durham, Maine.
  • Donna McKinney is the seven-year-old daughter of Jeremiah & Elizabeth McKinney, living in Fort Fairfield, Maine.
  • Rose McKinney is the nine-year-old daughter of Valentine & Marguerite McKinney, living in Brunswick, Maine.
• I believe this photo is of a male, so I’m eliminating Donna and Rose. Also, their father is not Richard. John’s father isn’t named Richard either. That leaves only Gene, Tyrone, and Gordon.
  • Gene and Tyrone’s parents were Carrol and Freda Jane (Green) McKinney.
  • I can’t find any information regarding Gordon McKinney.

I can’t determine this child’s name or his parents’ names. 

Ronald McKague, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Alfred McKague, 21 Linden St Woodfords, #778.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Alfred N (and Evelyn R) McKague living at 21 Linden.

• The 1940 US Census lists the household of Alfred N McKague, living at 21 Linden. With them are their six children. Based upon the ID (#778), this photo was taken about 1935. Assuming the child is less than two years old, it is likely Ronald W. McKague.
• Ronald Wayne McKague was born on 9 December 1934 in Portland, Maine.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Ronald Wayne McKague (1934-2018). Family Search does not have a profile for Ronald, so I have added his photo to Dead Fred.

McLean Child, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. H. S. McLean, 113 Franklin St #1022.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry S. and Helen B. living at 104 Franklin.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Harry is Harry Shirley McLean (1887-1050) and Helen is Helen Bernedette Hassett (1894-1973)

I am unsuccessful in finding any children for Harry and Helen.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Harry S McLean. Without the first name of this child, I only uploaded it here.

Conclusion

• • I identified two photos sufficiently enough to post the image to Dead Fred.
  • There were two photos I didn’t identify the individuals.

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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Dead Fred and Flickr have a higher image quality than those linked here (unless not uploaded elsewhere).

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.

McCormick, McCrae, McDonald, & née McLean)

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
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 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.

Frank C. McDonald, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Frank C. McDonald, 48 Gilman St #360.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Frank C (Ora M) McDonald living at 48 Gilman. There are also two other Frank McDonalds and a Francis J McDonald listed.
• The 1940 Census lists Frank C. McDonald living at 48 Gilman. He is 48 years old and was born in Canada.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Frank Charles McDonald, born 29 July 1891 in Canada. He married Ora Madelene Drew on 9 October 1920.

Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Frank Charles McDonald. Family Search has profile LLSP-NLV for Frank Charles McDonald. I  have uploaded this photo of him to his Family Search Memories.

Dorothy R. McCrae, Circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Dorothy McCrea, 42 Beckett St #541.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 & 1935 Portland City Directories list Dorothy R McCrea as a clerk at 486 Congress residing at 42 Beckett.
• The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy R McCrea living at 115 Cumberland but still working at 486 Congress. The 1938 Directory lists her still residing at 115 Cumberland.
• The 1940 US Census lists Dorothy R. McCrea living at 115 Cumberland. She was the 32-year-old sister of Ethel M DeMott. Dorothy was born in New Hampshire and lived in Portland (same place) in 1935.

Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Dorothy R McCrea, born 20 February 1908 in Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire. Family Search has profile GCTL-G87 for Dorothy R McCrea. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Christine McDonald (née McLean), circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Christine McDonald, 233 High St. #829.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Christine McDonald as a maid at 2 Crescent but residing at 233 High.
• The 1940 US Census lists Christine McDonald as a 65-year-old lodger at 231 High Street. She was born in Canada, divorced, and worked as a maid.
• Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Christine McLean, born 18 March 1875 in Canada. She divorced James McDonald in 1921 and lived in Portland, Cumberland County, in 1935 and 1940.

Ancestry has 11 public trees that refer to Christine McLean. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Christina McLean, born in 1875 in Canada and who married James McDonald, so I added her photo to Dead Fred.

Unknown Girl, probably related to Thomas and Laura (née Egan) McDonald, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “ Mrs. J. McDonald, 10 Bradford St #1065.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1940 US Census lists the 56-year-old widow Laura McDonald living at 8 Bradford with her son, Thomas McDonald, and a 6-year-old lodger, Edward Nicholson. Thomas was 26 years old and born in Maine.
• The 1930 Census lists the 62-year-old Thomas J McDonald and his 42-year-old wife, Laura, living with four children, Marian A (18), T. Edward (17), James P (16), and George F(14). They lived at 105 Bracket Street.
• A review of Ancestry Family Trees suggests this photo relates to Thomas J McDonald (1868-1934) and his wife Laura J (Egan) McDonald. Laura was born about 1888. If this child is about five years old in 1935, Laura would have been 47 years old.
• I see where James Robert was born on 12 March 1914 and George F was born on 9 May 1915, but I’m not finding any other children for Thomas and Laura.

I suspect this little girl is a granddaughter, niece, or another relative of Thomas and Laura McDonald. Sadly, I am unable to identify her. Hopefully, a family relative will be able to identify her.  Thomas J McDonald is found in 23 public trees on Ancestry.

This is the only photo I have of her.

William J McCormick, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. John F McCormick, 187 A Oxford St. #1069.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory lists John F (Lillian M) McCormick living at 53 Mayo. Residing at 55 Mayo is John J (Mabel E) McCormick. There are no other John McCormick’s listed.
• The 1936 Portland City Directory does not list John F McCormick. Additionally, the directory is missing pages 1201, 1202, and 1203 which should detail who lives at 187 Oxford Street.
• The 1937 Portland City directory lists 187a Oxford as being vacant. It does show John F (Lillian M) McCormick living at 17 Washington Ave.
• The 1940 US Census lists John F McCormick living with his wife, Lillian, a son, two daughters, and a sister-in-law at 107 Washington Ave. His son, William J., is four years old and born in Maine.
• Further research found that William J McCormick was born on 5 September 1935 in Cumberland County, Maine.

William John McCormick is found in 13 Ancestry Public Trees. On Family Search, he is ID G82B-B3F. I uploaded his photo to his Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

• I fully identified four of the five Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
• I identified one individual that did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted his/her image to Dead Fred.
• I failed to identify one child but probably identified individuals with Ancestry trees related to the child. (grandparents, aunt/uncle). I only uploaded her photo here

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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search & Dead Fred typically have higher image quality than those linked here. (Unknown child excepted.)

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.