Donna Darling & Boys at Forsyth Theatre, Atlanta, GA, November 8-10, 1923.
Donna in the News 100 Years Ago by Don Taylor
“Donna in the News” reports 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.
This week from the Atlanta Journal (Atlanta, GA) dated 8 November 1923, I learned that Donna played at the Forsyth Theatre from November 8th to the 10th, 1923.
Atlanta Journal, Nov 8, 1923, Page 16.
At the Forsyth
(4th paragraph of the article.)
“Then there is pretty Donna Darling with her company of entertainers in a song and dance revue, and….”
Because of these newly available online articles and advertisements, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career.
New information added to her career list:
November 8-10, 1923 – Atlanta, GA – Forsyth Theatre – “Donna Darling & Boys.”
Endnotes
My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.
Social Posting: 100 years ago, my grandmother, “Donna Darling,” was in the news for being at the Forsyth Theatre in Atlanta, GA. #Genealogy #Vaudeville #InTheNews “Donna Darling & Boys.”
For Photo Friday, I identified the people in three photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to analyze the images and reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in this collection.
Clifford M. Shores – Oakland, Cal. – Christmas 1919.
The photo identifying information includes Clifford Shores – Oakland, Cal. Dec 25, 1919.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Clifford Shores of Oakland, CA
The 1920 US Census lists 16-year-old Clifford M Shores living in Oakland, California, with his parents Frank W & Cora H Shores. Clifford was born in Michigan, his father was born in Illinois, and his mother was born in Canada.
The 1924 University of California at Berkeley yearbook for 1924 shows a photo of Clifford M Shores. It appears to be the same young man a few years later.
The California Death Index, 1940-1997 lists Clifford M. Shores, born on 1 June 1904 in Michigan and died on 12 Jan 1970 in Los Angeles.
I am sure this photo is of Clifford M Shores (1904-1970), taken in 1919 when he was about 15 years old.
I have uploaded his photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection Tree on Ancestry. I also uploaded his picture to his Family Search profile LXZD-C7Z.
Arthur Sewall, circa 1899.
Arthur Sewall, circa 1899.
The photo identifying information includes ARTHUR SEWALL.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Wikipedia has a webpage regarding Arthur Sewall (25 Nov 1835 – 5 Sep 1900). This photo is later in life than the one on Wikipedia, but it is clearly the same man.
The photo identifying information includes Miss Etta Libby, Portland, Maine.
Why it appears to be this individual.
Etta Libby, circa 1899.
The 1900 US Census lists nine people named Etta Libby living in Maine. They are:
Etta Libby – wife of Augustine B Libby, residing in Aroostook County.
Etta M Libby – A 20-year-old housemaid (servant) in the household of Arthur Moulton living In Portland. (born July 1879)
Etta A Libby – the 17-year-old daughter of Samuel and Sarah E Libby, living in Scarborough. (born May 1883)
Etta M Libby – a 21-year-old housemaid of Horatio and Sarah Tobey living in Machiasport. (born Sep 1873)
Etta M Libby – the 2-year-old daughter of Delmont and Gertrude Libby of Aroostook County.
Etta A (or H) Libby, the wife of Hollis L. Libby.
Etta S Libby, the 47-year-old wife of Butler Libby.
Etta W Libbey, the 5-year-old daughter of George and Rebecca Libbey.
The wives, children, and the 47-year-old can be excluded from consideration. That leaves three potential candidates to be the Etta Libby in this photo. One Etta lived in Machiasport, about 200 miles from Portland. I am also discounting her as a candidate.
That leaves two potential candidates that may be in this photo:
Etta M Libby – A 20-year-old housemaid (servant) in the household of Arthur Moulton living In Portland (born July 1879).
Etta A Libby – the 17-year-old daughter of Samuel and Sarah E Libby, living in Scarborough (born May 1883).
1879 Etta – Different researchers indicate that the older Etta’s middle initial is M, and others suggest it is L. All appear to agree that her parents were Roscoe Green and Nellie M. (Small) Libby. She was born on 6 Jul 1879. The 1880 Census for Scarborough indicates that Roscoe and Nellie had one daughter, Emma E, who was 11/12 years old. That fits with Etta, who was born in July, so I’m sure this is her family unit. (By the way, Etta is a shortened form of Emmeretta.)
1883 Etta – This Etta’s middle name is Adele. She was born on 31 May 1883 to Samuel J and Sarah E (Sweetman) Libby. Etta A. Libby married Velorus T. Shaw on 16 Sep 1901 in Scarboro.
Consequently, this photo appears to be of Emmeretta “Etta” Libby (1879-1972). Besides my tree, I uploaded this photo to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I identified three individuals. Two have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
Although I identified one individual, I am not 100% certain, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.
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 Family Search & Dead Fred have higher quality than those linked here.
As I wind down with the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i], it becomes tougher each week. This week, for Photo Friday, I examine five more envelopes from the collection.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Probably Louise Swensen, circa 1943.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Swensen – 1943 – (2 prints of Louise).” The photos show a young girl, 2-3 years old, by a fireplace.
Probably Louise Swensen, circa 1943
What I learned about this photo package.
My search of Ancestry for a Louise Swensen (or Swenson) failed to find any potential candidates born between 1939 and 1943 and who lived in Cumberland County.
Unidentified Man (circa 1930s)
This negative envelope says, “[Nothing].” The envelope had some information written on it which was completely stricken out. As such, there is nothing I can use to identify this man.
Bloomville & Harriett Strout Camp (home), circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Strout Camp, Miss Gurneys Camp #105.” The negatives consist of three images. One photo shows a nice camp with a sign, MAPLE ST, nailed to a tree by the door. The second photo shows a couple standing in front of a simpler camp. The third photo include a beautiful Maine lake shoreline. There is a building at the edge of the photo with a sign, but I can’t read the sign at all.
What I learned about this photo image.
House “on Maple Street” apparently owned by the Strouts.
There was a Bloomvil [sic] (and Harriett) Strout who lived at 12 Maple av, Westbrook in 1930. A Google map photo of the current house suggests that it is the same house as was photographed in 1934.
Bloomville H and Harriet “Hattie” E (Verrill) Stout lived in Westbrook from1920 until 1955.
I am quite sure this photo is of Bloomville & Harriet’s house about 1934.
Camp with an older couple (probably Gurney” in front.
If the first camp was the Strout camp, then I presume the second camp is the Gurney camp. There are quite a few Gerney’s in Cumberland County. Because the Strouts were in Westbrook, I decided to look at Gerneys in Westbrook. There were two Gurneys in the Westbrook City Directory for 1938.
Cleveland (Dorothy) lived at 86 Lamb.
James, lived at 29 Seavey.
A Google Maps View of those addresses do not provide any likely homes matching the photos. As such I don’t believe I will be able to determine which Gurneys owned the camp in the second photo.
Unknown (Boys) Camp
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Carr – 1945.” The package consists of 13 35mm b&w negatives of activities at a summer camp for boys. Most of the negatives show boys involved in various activities, including archery, baseball, canoeing, exercising, and hiking.
A summer camp with a tall flagpole.
What I learned about this photo package.
My first assumption is that Mr. Carr was from Portland, as he brought his 35mm negatives to Ethel Wight’s Studio to have prints made.
Looking at the 1945 Portland City Directory, there are dozens of Mr. Carrs listed. Many worked at NESCo (New England Shipbuilding Company). Many others were in military service. But, I’m not seeing any Mr. Car whose occupation is something like camp owner or camp counselor.
Having not identified the camp nor any of the individuals in the photos, I am posting two photos of the camp and two photos of the camp staff here. If you can identify the camp or any of the staff, I’d love to hear from you.
Mr. Ford’s photo of Men building a clubhouse.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Fords Negatives.” The package includes three photos, one of boys playing volleyball, one of several men and a boy building a fort or clubhouse of some sort, and one night photo of several men and boys backlit by a large brush fire.
What I learned about this photo package.
The 1940 Portland City Directory includes only two men with the Ford surname.
David Ford (Frances) – Ocean House rd, Cape Elizabeth.
Edward J Ford (Doris B) – A labeler at 45 Water living at 16 Dalton.
David is likely Isaac David Ford (1882-1971) who married Frances Maynard in 1903 and lived in Cape Elizabeth during the 1930 Census.
Edward is likely Edward Joseph Ford (1906-1990) who married Doris Beth Stewart in1933 and lived in Portland from 1935 and 1940.
Having not identified the camp nor any of the individuals in the photos, I am only posting one of the men building some sort of fort or clubhouse.
Conclusion
There were only two individuals in these photo sets. Neither were positively identified, but one was probably identified.
There were photos of two camps/houses. I believe I identified the owners and location of one of them.
There are photo packages of two boy’s summer camps. I didn’t identify either of them.
I’d love to hear your reaction if you can identify andy of the people or places in these photos.
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.
This week, for Photo Friday, I examine and research five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes usually contain the name of the person who paid for the photos; however, as I get closer to the end of this project, not all of the envelope packages contain any information regarding the image. As such, my expectations are low, but I’ll try to find out what I can about the images.[ii] Ultimately, I aim to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
This negative envelope says, “Choir in Greek Church #350” (c. 1934-1935)
What I learned about this photo package.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists the Holy Trinity Hellenic Orthodox Church, 141 Pleasant, with Rev. Paraskevas Theofrastou. It appears to be the only Greek church in the Portland Directory, where Ethel Wight was a photographer.
I hope that someone from today’s Holy Trinity Church can confirm the Reverend and the apparent choir director portrayed in the photo. Their Office email is htrinityportland@gmail.com.
Although I only posted one photo of the choir here, I have three additional photos available. Please get in touch with me though the contact form below if you are interested in them.
Two unknown girls, probably circa 1935.
This negative envelope had no information regarding it being torn and missing.
The photo includes two young girls, one from 4 to 10 and the other probably from 10 to 14. There is no identifying information.
If you can identify these young girls, I’d love to hear from you.
Besides this photo, I have five additional photos of them. Please contact me though the contact form below if you are interested in them.
Unknown man, Portland, ME, circa 1935.
This negative envelope also is torn and had no information.
What I learned about this photo package.
This photo appears to be of a young man, possibly late teens or 20s. There is no ID on the envelope because the titling area is torn off.
If you are able to identify this man, I’d love to hear from you.
Besides this photo, I have three additional photos of him. Please contact me though the contact form below if you are interested in them.
Cape Cod style house, 1947.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Bills friends at Litchfield, Covered Bridges, Oct 1947.”
What I learned about this photo
Sadly, this photo doesn’t appear to match the envelope. The envelope only contained a single photo of a Cape Cod style house. I don’t see anything about this house that would identify where it is located.
Fresh Snow on the Trees, circa 1943.
This final negative envelope says, “Snow & Church Mar 1943.”
What I learned about this photo package.
There is insufficient detail about the church in the background to identify it.
It is a nice photo a fresh snow on the trees, but is unidentifiable.
Conclusion
I identified none of the thirty individuals in these photos.
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.
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.
Ethel Wight Collection – Part 151 Photo Friday By Don Taylor
This week, for Photo Friday, I identified 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 the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, I aim to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Esther Emily West, circa 1936.
Two packages from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine, relate to this individual.
The first envelope says “Miss West, Wells ME, R.F.D. No Berwick #764.”
The second envelope says, “Mr. Oliver G West, RDF Wells – No Berwick RFD – Jan 5, 1938.”
The two packages are of the same young woman in her late teens. The first appears to have been taken about 1936; the second appears to be a 1938 photo reproduction of photos taken in 1936. I have selected the best of the pictures to present here.
Esther Emily West, circa 1936.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1940 US Census lists Oliver West of Wells, Maine, living with his wife, Ida, daughter, Esther, and son, George. Esther is a 21-year-old teacher at a grammar school.
In the 1930 US Census, Esther is 11 years old, and no other daughters are listed.
I am confident these photos are of Esther taken in 1936 when she was about 17.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Esther Emily West, the daughter of Oliver and Ida (Murray) West. Family Search has profile L1QD-GC6 for Esther Emily West (1919-___). I uploaded this photo to her Family Search profile.
Almena/Almenda Pauline Wormell, née Pinkham, circa 1935.
This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Robert Wormell, Falmouth Foreside, #446.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Almena/Almenda Pauline Wormell, née Pinkham, circa 1935.
The 1934, 1935, and 1936 Portland City Directories list Robert L. and Maud A. Wormell living at 52 Walton. Robert is a cattle director (livestock dealer).
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Robert N and A Pauline Wormall living at 324 Preble, South Portland.
The 1934 Bangor City Directory lists Robert N and Pauline A. Wormall living at 157 Center in Bangor.
The 1930 US Census indicates that Robert and Maude lived in Portland. Maude was 47.
The 1930 US Census indicates that Robert N Wormall was a Massachusetts-born, 23-year-old single man.
Maine Marriage Index indicates that Robert N and Almena Pinkham married on 22 Sep 1933. They both lived in Steuben, Maine. New Brunswick Marriage records show that Robert Nelson Wormell and Almena Pauline Pinkham married on 22 Sep 1933 in Saint Stephen, New Brunswick. They both lived in Steuben, Maine. Almena was 27 years old and had been born in Steuben. Almena’s parents were Milford and Ida Pinkham.
This photo was taken about 1935. In 1935, Maude would have been about 53 years old; Pauline would have been about 29 years old. The woman in the photo appears to be in her late 20s, not early 50s, so I am pretty sure this photo is of Almena Pauline Wormell (née Pinkham).
Ancestry has 24 public trees that refer to Almena Pauline (Pinkham) Wormell (1906-1984). Family Search has profile LB4W-128 for Almenda P Pinkham, wife of Robert Nelson Wormell.
This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.
This negative envelope says, “James Hart Head Stone – Eaton Oct – 1948.”
Why I believe this to be the headstone of James Hart (1808-1858).
Headstone – James Hart (1808-1858).
A Find-a-Grave Memorial[iii] for James Hart shows his headstone at the George Hart Cemetery, Eaton Center, Carroll County, New Hampshire. He was born in January 1808 and died on 11 March 1858. This photo was reproduced from a photo taken before October 1948, showing the marker much less overgrown. The marker for James’ wife, Susan (Littlefield) Hart, can be seen to the right of James’ marker.
I uploaded this photo of James Hart’s marker to Find-a-Grave.
(Probably) Herbert and Helena (Morris) Hodsdon and (Possibly) Minnie Curtis.
This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Helena Hodsdon – was very good friend of Ethel Wight (fellow artist).”
Photo (probably) of Herbert and Helena (Morris) Hodsdon & (possibly) including Minnie Curtis.
Why I believe this to be these individuals.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Helena C Hodsdon, artist at 548½ Congress, Rm 11, residing at 217 Stevens Ave. The directory also lists Herbert S Hodsdon as living at 217 Stevens.
The 1930 US Census lists Herbert and Helena Hodsdon living at 491 Brighton Ave. Helena is 39 years old and a photographic retoucher. Herbert is a 36-year-old Assistant Manager at a life insurance company. The household also includes their daughter, Helena, and an aunt of Herbert’s, Minnie Curtis. Minnie is 54 years old.
Helena Curtis Morris’s mother was Susan Mary Curtis (1860-1899).
I am fairly sure that this photo includes Helena and her husband Herbert. I suspect the woman on the right is Minnie Curtis. However, I have been unsuccessful in determining the exact relationship. Because this photo is a copy, I can’t determine the date, but I believe it is likely from the 1930s.
Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Helena Curtis (Morris) Hodsdon (1891-1965).
Ancestry has 33 public trees that refer to Herbert Stanley Hodsdon (1894-1989).
Family Search has profile 9H99-GZT for Helena Curtis Morris.
Family Search has profile K6HV-CBP for Herbert Stanley Hodsdon.
Because I am not 100% convinced this photo shows Helena and Herbert, I have only uploaded the photo here. If you can confirm the identity of any of the people in this photo, please let me know.
Conclusion
I identified all two individuals that have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two I possibly identified, but not sufficiently to upload to Family Search, so they are only presented here. One headstone marker was uploaded to Find-a-Grave.
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 Family Search and Find-a-Grave have a higher quality than those linked to 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.
[iii]Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134069786/james-hart: accessed 15 October 2023), memorial page for James Hart (Jan 1808–11 Mar 1858), Find a Grave Memorial ID 134069786, citing George Hart Cemetery, Eaton Center, Carroll County, New Hampshire, USA; Maintained by Charles Baker (contributor 47201082).
