“Donna in the News” reports my newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.Â
This week, I learned from the Daily Breeze (Taylorsville, Illinois) newspaper dated 2 September 1926 that The Donna Darling Revue played at the Capital Theatre on 3 and 4 September 1926.
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 030 Isabel Dyer Skillin Album By Don Taylor
This week, for Photo Friday, I identified the people in the last four photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection, Isabel Dyer Skillin Album. This album includes pictures of 1899 South Portland, Maine, High School students. I like analyzing the images and trying to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the picture.
Alice Chapman, 1899.
Alice Chapman, 1899.
This photo included a slip of paper with the name “Alice Chapman” written on it.
Also included was a newspaper article indicating that she was the daughter of E. K. Chapman of Boston, who married Franklin H. Wentworth of Boston on Nov. 6 (year not included with clipping).
What I learned while researching this photo:
Family Search has profile L457-99T for Alice Chapman, who was born on 6 January 1881 in Portland, Maine, to Edward Kirk and Ann Louisa (Gould) Chapman. She married Franklin Harcourt Wentworth on 6 November 1912.
I added this photo to her Family Search profile and my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Michael Hines, 1899.
Michael Hines, South Portland, 1899.
This photo included a slip of paper with the name “Michael Hines” written on it.
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 US Census enumerated Michael J Hynes, the 20-year-old son of Michael & Mary Hynes.
Maine, US Birth Records, 1715-1922, recorded Michael Hines, born on 8 August 1879 in Cape Elizabeth to Michael and Mary Hines.
I added this photo to his FamilySearch profile and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Philip Scamman, 1899.
Philip Scamman, South Portland, Maine, 1899.
This photo included a slip of paper with the name “Philip Scamman” written on it.
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 US Census enumerated Phillip H Scammon, the 18-year-old son of Stephen and Ellen Scammon, living on Summer Street in South Portland.
FamilySearch has profile K4LY-CS4 for Philip Henry Scamman, son of Stephen and Ellen Shay (Dyer) Scamman. He was born on 30 April 1882 in Cape Elizabeth.
I added this photo to his FamilySearch profile and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Henry M Kinney, South Portland, c. 1899.
This photo included a slip of paper with the name “Henry M Kinney ala Canfield” written on it.
If you know what the “Ala Canfield” might mean, let me know via the comments below.Kenry M Kinney (South Portland ?) – circa 1899.
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search for Henry (or Harry) Kinney, born 1880-1884, or any event in South Portland in 1899-1901 failed to yield any results.
Likewise, my search for Henry (Harry) Kinney, born between 1880 and 1884, with events in South Portland and Cape Elizabeth, failed to yield any results.
Also, I failed to find anyone with the surname Canfield living in South Portland or Cape Elizabeth in 1900.
As I could not positively identify this individual, I uploaded this photo of Henry M Kinney to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I would 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 Ancestry, Family Search, or Dead Fred have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 029 Isabel Dyer Skillin Album Photo Friday By Don Taylor
These photos are from the Isabel Dyer Skillin photo album, courtesy of the Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood Dyer Genealogical Collection, and include people from the South Portland High School — 1899.
Everett Leslie Richardson, c. 1899.
Everett Richardson, circa 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Everett Richardson.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Everett Lesley Richardson. He was born on 19 May 1881 to Edwin F. & Sarah Elizabeth (Chadbourne) Richardson. He married Mary Ellen O’Neill on 24 December 1912 in Boston and died in Manhattan, NY, on 21 August 1965
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Rachel Saunders.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 Census suggests this may be “Hachael Saunders,” daughter of Joshua and Mary J Saunders.
My search of Ancestry family trees then suggested this is Rachel V Saunders. She was born on 25 December 1881 in New Brunswick, Canada, to Joshua and Mary J. (Brown) Saunders. She married Stephen Winchester Smith on 7 October 1903 and died in Rye, New Hampshire, on 7 January 1959.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Ralph Leighton.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Ralph Wendall Leighton. He was born on 29 December 1881 in Portland, Maine, to Wendall and Hannah “Anna” Annie Maria (Holdsworth) Leighton. He married Edith Maude Stewart in Middletown, CT, on 18 June 1907 and died in South Portland, Maine on 10 September 1941.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Harold Haggett.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Harold Bigelow Haggett. He was born on 8 April 1882 in Baldwin, Maine, to William Bigelow and Mary Elizabeth (Guptill) Haggett. The family appears in the 1900 US Census as living in South Portland, Maine. He married Grace May Kane in South Portland on 25 June 1904 and died in Laconia, NH, on 1 January 1959.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Sadie Goodwin.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Sarah “Sadie” C Goodwin. She was born in April 1883 in Maine to George E and Norrissa A Goodwin. It does not appear she married. It is also unclear when she passed. One researcher suggests she died in 1920, and another suggests she died in 1929.
I would 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 Ancestry and FamilySearch have a higher resolution than those here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Don Taylor Genealogy.”
After being laid off from TRW, I worked for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Defense Contract Management Administration Services (DCAS). After a couple of years, I received the opportunity for a promotion and to return to the US Navy—as a civilian. On November 9, 1982, there was a Commissioning and Assumption of Command Ceremony for the Naval Plant Representative Office (NAVPRO), Minneapolis, and the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Besides the DCAS office, the Naval Sea Systems Command Technical Representatives were incorporated into the new command.
Most of the previous DCAS employees were transitioned to the new NAVPRO. As one of the first new hires of the new command, I was invited to attend the ceremony. I was excited to start. I was changing from a GS-9 Quality Assurance Specialist to a GS-11 Engineering Technician. My new job would be to review waivers, deviations, and ECPs (Engineering Change Proposals) and provide my analysis of the impact. I could approve minor waivers & deviations (those things were not to the requirements; however, they didn’t affect form, fit, function, reliability, or interchangeability).
The new NAVPRO had a new computer system, a Wang 2200. I was given programming access to the system and began using it to develop a database to monitor and manage waivers, deviations, and ECPs. I also started developing other programs that the Engineering staff used. The computer support team was having many difficulties getting programs to work well. Because my programs worked, the Commanding Officer (CO) asked if I’d take a temporary assignment to the computer group and help there. I took a 90-day assignment. At the end of the 90 days, the CO asked if I’d take another 90 days with the computer group. At the end of that TDY (temporary duty), he asked if I’d make the switch from a GS-0802 (Engineering Technician) to a GS-0334 (Computer Specialist). I agreed and made the life-changing career change. Some years later, I was changed to a GS-2210 (Information Technology Management). So, that TDY to help the computer team at NAVPRO Minneapolis, resulted in my working with computers and information technology for the rest of my life.
Donna Darling at Lyceum Theatre, New London, CT, 19-20 August 1921.
Donna in the News 103 Years Ago by Don Taylor
“Donna in the News” reports my newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.Â
This week from The Day (New London, CT) newspaper, dated Aug 18, 1921, I learned that Donna played at the Lyceum Theatre in New London on August 19th & 20th, 1921.
AT LYCEUM THEATRE
Five Big Vaudeville acts will close Week’s Attractions.
When the popular Lyceum theatre returns to its recognized policy of B.F. Keith superlative vaudeville Friday and Saturday, local theatre goers will witness a delightful program of five extraordinary offerings.
…. Donna Montran and Madge Major, captivating maidens will offer an unusually meritorious song cycle….
