“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 Tulsa Tribune(Tulsa, OK) dated 10 Sep 1925, I learned that “Dona Darling & Girls” played in Tulsa after Oklahoma City.
Ad – Tulsa Daily World, Sep 10, 1925, via Newspapers.com
I reviewed the Tulsa Tribune for articles about Donna but found nothing except for advertisements. Donna’s show began on September 10th and played for three days.
Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career: September 10-12, 1925 – Tulsa, OK – Orpheum Theatre – Donna Darling & Girls in “Songs and Steps.”
Endnotes
My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.
Ethel Wight Collection – Part 146 Photo Friday By Don Taylor
With the review of Miss Helen Zenila, I will have completed the initial photo packages from the Ethel Wight Studio. I now will review “errant” photo packages and many reproduction packs. There are still about 53 photo-negative envelopes (244 items) to review, so I should complete this project in about ten weeks (about Thanksgiving).
This week, I identified the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes often contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. Because of that, I try 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 Zemla, 26 Chenery St., circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Helen Zemla, 26 Cheney St. #180.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Helen Zemla, circa 1934.
The 1930 US Census lists Helen Zemla, the 30-year-old daughter of Caroline Zemla, living at 26 Chenery in Portland.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Helen L. Zemla as a bookkeeper at 327 Forest Ave, residing at 26 Chenery. Anna C. Zemlia, the widow of Richard J., also lives at 26 Chenery, as does Richard M.
This photo of Helen L. Zemla was taken about 1934. She was born on 26 April 1899 in Portland, Maine, and is the daughter of Richard and Anna Caroline (Johnson) Zemla.
Ancestry has 12 public trees that refer to Helen L Zemla; Family Search has profile G76M-ZBC for her.
Ann Hasseltine (later Judson), photo of a painting.
This negative envelope says, “Ann Hasseltine – 1943 – Notify Miss Helen Duffill, 51 Stratford Road, Melrose, Mass.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Ann Hasseltine (Photo from a painting of).
The website VanceChristie.com has this exact same photo (although flipped horizontally) of Ann Hasseltine Judson.
Wikipedia has an article about Ann. She was born on 22 December 1789 in Bradford, Massachusetts. Her father was John Hasseltine. She married Adoniram Judson in 1812. She and her husbane were the first Baptist missionaries in Burma (now Myanmar). Ann died on 24 October 1826 in Burma.
This is a photo of an early 19th-century painting of Ann Hassletine.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Viggo Bronnum, 14 University – Salmonhurst, Victoria County, New Brunswick #749.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Phyllis Ann Bronumm, circa 1935 (age 7).
The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that William N. Evans lived at 14 University in 1935, and the 1936 directory shows that Milton S. Libby lived there in 1936. So, the connection does not appear to be with 14 University Street.
Canadian Voter Lists indicate that Mr. & Mrs. Viggo Bronnum lived in Salmonhurst, RR 1, in 1957.
Find a Grave indicates that Viggo Christian Bronnum was born on 16 Aug 1898 in Victoria County, New Brunswick. His wife was Ethel Christine (Oquist). They had a daughter, Lena Aleitha Bronnum, born in 1922 and died in 1929 from acute appendicitis.
Family Search indicates that Viggo Bronnum had two daughters. Tena Leitha (1922-1929) and Phyllis Anne Bronnum (1928-2007).
This photo was taken about 1935. Tena/Lena had passed, but Phyllis Ann was about seven, so I believe this photo is of her.
Confirmed to be Phyllis Ann Bronnum by a grand-niece. I have also learned that Mrs. Libby was the sister of Viggo from a first cousin, once removed.
Vivian Lydia Cole (née Ewens), circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. J. P. Cole, Island Pond, Vt #436.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Vivian Lydia Cole (née Ewens), circa 1934.
Wikipedia tells me that Island Pond, Vermont, is in the center of the town of Brighton.
The 1940 US Census enumerated Jape Coley [Cole] as a 48-year-old living with his wife, Vivian L. Coley [Cole].
Vermont Marriage records indicate Vivian Lydia Ewens married Jabz Perly Cole on 16 September 1925 in Brighton, Essex County, Vermont. Her parents were George and Maud (Peavey) Ewens. Vivian was born about 1902.
I am quite sure this photo is of Vivian, taken about 1934 when she was about 32
Rev. Victor Scalise, Rev. Alexander Henderson, & Walter E. Clement, all of Lowell, Mass.
This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.
This negative envelope says, “Rev Victor Scalise, Rev. Alexander Henderson, Walter E Clement, Calvery New Fellowship of Lowell, Mass.”
Why I believe this to be these individuals.
Victor Scalise
Rev. Victor Scalise, Rev. Alexander Henderson, & Walter E. Clement.
World War II Draft Cards include Victor Frank Scalise, a Calvary Baptist Church pastor. Victor was born on 19 Feb 1897 in Italy.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Fictor Frank Scalise, born 19 Feb 1897 in Marcellinara, Italy.
Confirmed to be Victor (on the left) by a grandchild.
Alexander Henderson
The 1934 Lowell Massachusetts City Directory lists Alexander Henderson and his wife Betsey, living at 39 Dover. He was a pastor at Calvary Baptist church.
The 1930 US Census lists Alexander Henderson and his wife Betsy, living at 39 Dover. Alexander is 39 years old and was born in Scotland.
Walter E Clement
The 1940 US Census lists Walter E. Clement and his wife Hazel, living at 2 Harding Street in Lowell, MA. Walter is 50 years old.
Ancestry Trees suggests this is Walter Everett Clement, born 26 June 1889 in Lowell, MA.
I am sure this photo is of Victor, Alexander, and Walter. Because this photo appears to be a reproduction and not one taken at the Ethel Wight Study, I cannot be sure of the date. Also, the picture does not include the order of the three men. Hopefully, family members will help with the order of the men and possibly the date.
Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Victor Frank Scalise. Ancestry has 28 public trees that refer to Walter Everett Clement. Ancestry has 53 public trees that refer to Alexander Henderson.
Because I haven’t determined which person is which in the photos, I have only uploaded one photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded three additional photos of the three to my Flickr Photostream (Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3).
Conclusion
I identified all seven individuals. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. I could name the three individuals in one photo but could not determine which man was which, so I uploaded a photo of them to Dead Fred and three more to my Flickr Photostream.
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, and Flickr have higher quality than those 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.
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 of the individual portrayed in the image. 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.
Mary Young, Student Nurse at Maine Eye & Ear Infirmary, 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Young – ME. Eye & Ear Infirmary #235.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Mary Young – ME. Eye & Ear Infirmary- #235.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Mary G. Young as a Student Nurse at 79 Bramhall (Maine Eye and Eary Infirmary), residing at 804 Congress.
The 1932 Portland High School Yearbook shows Mary Gwendolyn Young. The photo appears to be of the same young woman.
The 1930 US Census lists Mary G. Young, the 16-year-old daughter of Harley and Bertha Young. Mary, her parents, and her siblings were all born in Canada.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mary G. Young as an Instructor at 79 Bramhall.
New Hampshire Marriage Records indicate that Mary Gwendolyn Young was the 23-year-old bride of Alton E. Moody. Mary was a Nurse, R.N., and the daughter of Harley F. and Bertha J. (Davis) Young.
I am confident this 1934 photo is of Mary Gwendolyn Young, who was born on 11 January 1914 in Port Elgin, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada, and who married Alton Elwood Moody on 27 March 1937 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Mary Gwendolyn Young. Family Search has profile LT7L-NNX for Mary. I uploaded a photo of “Gwen” to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr PhotoStream (Photo 1, Photo 2).
Mary Gwendolyn Young, Nurse, 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Young Me. Eye & Ear Infirmary #949.”
Mary Gwendolyn Young, Nurse, 1935.
It is always great when someone liked their photos one year and returned to Ethel Wight Studio. In this case, the photo package 949 indicates it was taken about a year later than #235, as reviewed above.
I am confident this 1935 photo is of Mary Gwendolyn Young, who was born on 11 January 1914 in Port Elgin, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada, and who married Alton Elwood Moody on 27 March 1937 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Nita Young, 120 Free St. – Y.W.C.A #481.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Nita Young residing at 120 Free.
The 1935 Portland City directory lists Nita Young as a bookkeeper at 95 Parris and residing at 57 Deering.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Nita Young as a bookkeeper at 95 Parris and residing at 306 Brackett.
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Nita J. Young as a clerk at CCP&L, 443 Congress, residing at 306 Brackett.
The 1940 Portland City Directory lists Nita J. Young as a clerk at 449 Congress, residing at 306 Brackett. 449 Congress is the address for Cumberland County Power and Light Co.
The 1940 US Census lists 27-year-old Jane N Young as a Stenographer at the Electric Power Company. She lived in the “same place” in 1935 and was born in Maine.
I am confident this 1934 photo is of Nita Young, daughter of Henry and Maude Young, born in Mars Hill, Maine, on 20 February 1912, when she was about 21.
Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Anita Jane Young. Family Search has profile LKPM-C1P for Anita J. Young, daughter of Henry E. and Maud (Drost) Young. I uploaded this photo of Nita to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr PhotoStream (Photo 1, Photo 2).
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Augustus S. and Catherine L. Young living at 1638 Forest Ave.
The 1940 US Census enumerated Augustus and Katherine Young owning their home at 1638 Forest Ave. Living with them are 18-year-old Nathan, 12-year-old Patricia, and 73-year-old mother-in-law Katherine Meservey.
I am confident this 1934 photo is of Patricia Louise Young, daughter of Augustus L. and Katherine (Messerey) Young, born 15 January 1928, when she was about six.
Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Patricia Louise Young. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Patricia Louise, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded a second photo of Patricia to my Flickr Photostream.
Vera York, Portland, Maine, circa 1935/1936.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Vera York, State St Hospital #956.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Vera York, 1935 or 1936.
The 1939 and 1940 Portland City Directories list Vera L. York as a nurse living at 304 Spring.
The 1940 US Census lists Vera York as a registered nurse in private duty lodging at 304 Spring. She is 25 years old, born in Maine, and lived in the “same place” in 1935.
I am sure this is a photo of Vera York taken about 1935 when she was about 21 years old. Vera was born in Wells, Maine, to Carl and Maud (Hardison) York on 10 August 1914.
Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Vera York; Family Search has profile GFZ4-1T7 for her. I uploaded this photo of Vera to her Family Search Memories. Based upon the photo package number, #956, it appears to be from a few months after the earlier 1935 photo I wrote about last week. It is from probably late 1935 or possibly early 1936.
Conclusion
I identified all five individuals. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One did not have a Family Search profile, 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, and Flickr 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.
Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Often, a census provides the basis for many new questions. Such is the case concerning Thomas Raidt and the 1855 Wisconsin Census.
I was looking for Frank H. Raidt in the early censuses. He is the son of my son’s 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Raidt (1817-1891). Frank was born on 25 August 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Parts of Watertown are in Jefferson County, and parts are in Dodge County, so it is possible he and his parents could be found in either county.
The surname “Raidt” has many phonetically similar names, including Radt, Raid, Raith, Rait, Reit, and Raidh. Those variations can make tracing the family complex. I expect that Frank, born about 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin, would be about four years old, and his father, Thomas, would be the head of the household. I believe Frank had four siblings in 1855: Mary (age about 9), Caroline (8), Joseph (6), and Katie (2). I believe that Frank and Katie were born in Wisconsin; I’m not sure where the three older siblings were born.
The census enumerated the Thomas Raits (or Raith) household with five males, four females, and six total who were foreign-born.
· Thomas and Magdalene (Mary) were Born in Germany and France.
· The three other females are probably Mary, Carolina, and Katie.
· Two of the males are probably Joseph and Frank, leaving two unknown males. The two unidentified males and the two oldest children may also be foreign-born, raising the total of foreign-born to six.
I have tentatively ascribed this household to Thomas Raidt. I hope that further research confirming the birth locations of the older children and possibly other individuals in the household will help solidify this family unit, as I have much more research to do on this family.
The 1875 Wisconsin Census is much more straightforward. In it, Tom Raidt lives in Watertown, Jefferson County. His household consists of four males and six females.
It appears his household included:
Males Females
Thomas Magdelena
Joseph Mary
Frank Rosa
Lennis Ida
Anna
Theresa
Frank married Catherine Justin between 1876 and 1879 and relocated to Minnesota about 1882.
Katie and Caroline would have been in their 20s in 1875 and are likely married. Again, further research should confirm this family unit.
Conclusion
I am reasonably sure I’ve found Thomas (and Frank) in the 1875 Wisconsin Census and believe I may have found them in the 1855 Census also. In either case, I need to step back and document the children of Frank and Catherine and the children of Thomas and Magdelene to ensure I’ve encountered the correct family groups.
Endnotes:
[i] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1855 – Jefferson, Watertown, Ward 1, 2nd from bottom – Thomas Reith [Raidt]. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1855; Roll: 1.
[ii] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1875 – Jefferson, Watertown, Seventh Ward – 15th from top – Tom Raidt. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1875; Roll: 2 (Image 36 of 36).
“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 Columbia Missourian (Columbia, MO) dated 25 Aug 1926, I learned that the “ Donna Darling Revue” played in Columbia, MO, in 1926. Also, her husband, Sammy Clark – the Juvenile Comic, played.
Columbia Missourian, 25 Aug 1926, via Newspapers.com.
I reviewed the Columbia Missourian for articles about Donna and Sammy but found nothing except advertisements for their show. They began on August 25th, 1926, and played for two days.
Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career: August 25-26, 1926 – Hall Theater, Columbia, MO – “Donna Darling Revue.”
Endnotes
My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.
“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. 
