Ethel Wight Collection – Part 111

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday – Paquette (later Raymond), Paradis, & Parker (née Wright).

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 typically contain the name of the person 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.

Pauline Paquette, Nurse, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Pauline Pauquette, ME Eye & Ear Infirmary #236.”

Nurse Pauline Paquette, c. 1934.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Pauline Paquette, a student nurse at 79 Bramhall (Maine Eye & Ear Infirmary) and residing at 804 Congress.
  • Maine Marriages indicate that Pauline Paquette of Portland, ME, married Kenneth Raymond of Rangeley, ME, on 24 December 1937.
  • The 1940 US Census indicates that 26-year-old Massachusetts-born Pauline Raymond was a trained nurse at a public hospital.
  • Ancestry Public Trees suggests this is Pauline Paquette, born on 13 June 1912 in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Ancestry has 13 public trees that refer to Pauline Paquette (later Raymond). Family Search has profile GSM6-B1W for Pauline Paquette. I have uploaded one photo of Pauline to her Family Search Memories.

Marina Paradis, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Marina Paradis, 21 Belmont St, #822.”

What I tried to identify this individual.

Marina Paradis, c. 1935
  • Like my search for Anna Paradis last week (Part 110), I didn’t find Marina Paradis in any of the Portland City Directories. In 1935, Carl K Ross lived at 21 Belmont St. Carl and his wife, Ruth, lived at that address from 1930 to 1940 and beyond. In 1940, they had a servant, Doris Hatch. In 1930, they lived at the same address with a servant, Isabel Carter.

In a second photo package, there is a photo of Misses Anna & Marina Paradis. In it, the address for Anna was given. (See Ethel Wight Collection – Part 110.) I believe that in 1935 Anna was a servant in the household of Philip M Libby.

I believe that Anna and Marina came to Portland in about 1934. They both got jobs as live-in servants less than a mile apart. Sometime before 1940, both left the Portland, Maine, area. I suspect they are sisters. Both appear to be in their late teens or early twenties, suggesting they were born between 1910 and 1920.

My search for a Marina (or Marie) Paradis with a sister named Anna and visa-versa failed to discover either person. As such, I think it will take more research into all of the Paradis family as part of a surname.

According to Ancestry.Com, Paradis as a surname comes from Old French pareis, meaning “Paradise.” Most Paradis families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1920, 22% of the people with the Paradis surname lived in Maine. It is possible their surname became Angelized to Paradise. In any event, It might take a surname study to determine precisely which Paradis women these are.

I uploaded a photo of Marina Paradis to Dead Fred. I also uploaded a second photo of Marina to my Flickr Photostream.

Anna and Marina Paradis, circa 1935.

Anna & Marina Paradis

This negative envelope says, “Misses Anna & Marina Paradis, 35 Woodmont St, #823.”

I have tried to identify Anna and Marina Paradis before without success. (See Ethel Wight Collection – Part 110 and above.

I uploaded a photo of Anna and Marina to Dead Fred. I also uploaded a second photo of them to my Flickr Photostream.

Kenneth Parker, circa 1935, age 3.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Allison G Parker, 45 Sawyer St, Woodfords #791.”

Kenneth Parker, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Allison G (Anne B) Parker as living at 45 Sawyer.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Allison and Anne Parker, still at 45 Sawyer, with their son, Kenneth Parker, age 8.

I believe this is Kenneth Parker, son of Allison George and Anne (Pinkham) Parker.

I have not found Kenneth in Ancestry trees. However, I have found his father, Allison George Parker, in 20  public Ancestry trees. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Kenneth Parker. I uploaded a photo of Kenneth photo to Dead Fred. I uploaded a second photo of Kenneth to my Flickr Photostream.

Lula Parker (née Wright) circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Ms. Lula Parker, 766 Westbrook St, Thorton Heights #1011.”

Lula Parker (née Wright)

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Thorton Heights is a neighborhood in South Portland, Maine.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Lula Parker, a 59-year-old widow living at 766 Westbrook St in South Portland.
  • The 1925 Portland City Directory lists Ellie L and Lula M Parker living at 766 Westbrook, South Portland.
  • Ancestry Public Trees suggest Ellsworth Parker married Lula M Wright on 22 May 1902.

I am sure this is a photo of Lula M Parker (Née Wright), born in October 1882 in Lewiston, Maine, who married Elsworth Parker.

Ancestry has 11 public trees that refer to Lula M Wright (1882-1962). Family Search has profile LKNM-T4W for Lula M Wright (1882-1962). I have uploaded two photos of Lula to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I identified all five individuals. Two of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
  • Three individuals did not have Family Search profiles, but I feel they are named, so I posted their images 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.

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 94

Posted on December 11, 2022 by Don Taylor

Seven Bathing Beauties – 1925

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday. The page consists of seven women in bathing suits from 1925.

BATHING BEAUTIES
from the
MOTION PICTURE STUDIOS
FEATURING DONNA DARLING

Donna had two shows with Bathing Beauties.

  • In 1920 and 1921, her “California Bathing Girls in a Beach Promenade” appears to have consisted of five girls plus Donna.
  • In 1924 and 1925, her Moving Picture Bathing Girls traveled the country. This show often had the tag “Motion Picture,” “Hollywood Motion Picture,” or “California Motion Picture.” So, I am confident that these photos came from that show which ran from about September 1924 until July 1925.

Besides Donna, I know the 1925 show included[i]:

  • Alyce Louyse – Hawaiian Dancer and Bather from Mars.
  • Betty Bryant – of Ziegfeld’s “Miss America”
  • Clarice Allyn – Petite Toe Dancer
  • May Walker – Blue Singer and Beach Flirt
  • Mildred O’Brian – Sennett Bather – Palm Beach Bather
  • Rose Lasgo – Christie Comedies Acrobatic Dancer

I believe these photos are of:

1925 photo of Donna [Montran] Darling in a bathing suit.

Donna [Montran] Darling, circa 1925

Image 1 shows Donna. She was in the center of the page with the others surrounding her.

Photo that is probably Clarice Allyn in a bathing suit circa 1925.

Probably Clarice Allyn, circa 1925

Image 4 is the only photo of a woman wearing ballet shoes. Clarice Allyn is advertised as a “Petite Toe Dancer” in several articles and advertisements, so I’m pretty sure it is her. While looking for photos of Clarice on the internet, I came across the Purdue Exponent, a publication of Purdue University which indicated that Donna and the show played at the Family Theatre in Lafayette, Indiana, on February 26, 27, and 28. Further searches for Clarice were fruitless.

The 1925 newspapers mention two additional women that may have been in the show. Florence Rielliso (Spectacular Dancing) and Helen Dawn (Hollywood Society Girl).

That leaves five photos still unidentified. They could be photos of any of the following women:

  1. Betty Bryant of Ziegfeld’s “Miss America,” A prize winner.
  2. Helen Dawn – Hollywood Society Girl.
  3. Rose Lasgo – Christie Comedies Acrobatic Dancer
  4. Alyce Louyse – Hawaiian Dancer and Bather from Mars; Christie Comedies.
  5. Mildred O’Brian – Sennett Bather – Palm Beach Bather; In singing and dancing.
  6. Florence Rielliso – Spectacular Dancing.
  7. May Walker – Blue Singer and Beach Flirt.

Photo of a Bathing Beauty that was in the Donna Darling Bathing Beauties circa 1925.

Bathing Beauty #2

Photo of a Bathing Beauty that was in the Donna Darling Bathing Beauties circa 1925.

Bathing Beauty #3

Photo of a Bathing Beauty that was in the Donna Darling Bathing Beauties circa 1925.

Bathing Beauty #5

Photo of a Bathing Beauty that was in the Donna Darling Bathing Beauties circa 1925.

Bathing Beauty #6

Photo of a Bathing Beauty that was in the Donna Darling Bathing Beauties circa 1925.

Bathing Beauty #7

  

The photos from this page were used in a collage showing seven of the nine women appearing in the show in Peoria. So, the date of the pictures is definitely between September 1924 and February 1925. Articles from the show also mention that the show consisted of Donna and eight beauties, but the photo in the clipping only showed Donna and six beauties.

A quick review of Google search results found nothing about the women, certainly no photographs. So, the photo identification mystery continues.

Actions

Follow up and search other records for the eight women with Donna in her Bathing Beauty Show.

Sources

[i] Donna Darling Collection – Part 19 – The Bijou Theaters

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 110

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday –O’Toole, Paige (née Guilbault), Paquette, & Paradis.

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 typically contain the name of the person 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.

John O’Toole, circa 1934 (age 12).

This negative envelope says, “Mr. John O’Toole, 37 Pleasant St #110.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Frank (Helen) as a longshoreman living at 37 Pleasant. Also at that address is Francis O’Toole residing at 37 Pleasant.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Frank, his wife Ellen, 17-year-old son John, and two other children, including Francis, living at 22 High Street.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is John Joseph O’Toole, born on 10 October 1922 in Portland, Maine, to Frank and Ellen Flaherty (Coyne) O’Toole.

I believe this photo is of John Joseph O’Toole, circa 1934, when he was about 12 years old.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to John Joseph O’Toole. Family Search has profile LBZN-JX8 for John Joseph O’Toole I. I have uploaded a photo of John to his Family Search Memories. I uploaded a second photo of him to my Flickr PhotoStream.

Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Anna Paige, 1124 Forest Ave #726.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Photo of Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.

    Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Leslie E and Anna M Paige living at 1111 Forest Ave. Also at that address is Frank E Lane. At 1124 are Napoleon Wentworth and Alonzo Holmes. There is no other “Mrs. Anna Paige” listed in the directory.
  • New Hampshire Marriage records indicate that 21-year-old Anna M Guilbault married Leslie E Paige in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 2 September 1933. Her parents were Mitchell and Philomena (Marcotte) Guilbault.

I’m sure this is a photo of Anna Paige (née Guilbault) circa 1935.

Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Anna Marie Guilbeault, the wife of Leslie Everett Paige. Family Search has profile GS7F-3X7 for Anna Marie Guilbault. I have uploaded two photos of Anna to her Family Search Memories.

Yvette Paquette, circa 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Photo of Yvette Paquette, circa 1935.

    Yvette Paquette, circa 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Yvette K Paquette residing at 72 Waterville. At the same address is Mathew J Paquette, a superintendent at 585 Congress.
  • The 1930 Census reports Yvette Paquette, the 19-year-old daughter of Matthew J Paquette, living at 72 Waterville.

Based upon FamilySearch, I believe this is Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette, daughter of Mathew J and Mary (Coughlin) Paquette. She was born on 19 February 1911.

Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette. Family Search has profile LRYC-38J for Catherine Yvette Antoinette Paquette.

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

Anna Paradis, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Anna Paradis, 35 Woodmont St #138.”

What I have discovered about several Anna Paradis.

A photo of Anna Paradis, circa 1934.

Anna Paradis, circa 1934.

The 1934 Portland City Directory does not list an Anna Paradis. At 35 Woodmont lives Philip M Libby. Likewise, the 1935 Portland City Directory does not list an Anna Paradis and has Philip M Libby living at 35 Woodmont St.

The 1940 Census lists an Anna Paradis, the 27-year-old wife of Herbert Paradis, Living in Skowhegan, Maine. Although the age is about right, the Anna in this photograph is identified as “Miss,” so this is probably not the correct Anna Paradis. The 1932 Waterville City Directory list Anna and Herbert as married, living in Waterville.

The 1940 Census lists a 51-year-old Marie Anna Paradis living with her husband Ferdinand in Winslow, Maine.

On 16 January 1933, an Anna Paradis, of Presque Isle, ME, married Cyrille Boutote of Ft. Kent. Because the photo was taken about 1934, this is unlikely the same Anna Paradis. Anna was 25 during the 1940 Census and lived in Fort Kent in both 1935 and 1940.

On 20 October 1936, an Anna Paradis married Louis Coulomb. Anna lived in Ft. Kent and Louis in New Canada, Maine. Twenty-five-year-old Anna and her husband Louis lived in New Canada in 1940, and Anna lived in Fort Kent in 1935.

On 16 February 1937, an Anna Paradis, of Caribou, ME, married Reuben Saunders, also of Caribou. In 1940, Rubin and 25-year-old Anna Saunders lived in Caribou and lived in the same place in 1935.

The 1930 US Census lists Philip M Libby living with his wife, Florence Libby, at 35 Woodmont. Living with him is a servant, Julia Hall, and a nurse, Dorothy Haskell. The 1938 Westbrook City directory indicates that Philip and Florence lived in Westbrook but wintered in Portland.

My speculation

I believe this photo is of Anna Paradis, taken about 1934. I think she was likely either a servant or nurse in the household of Philip M and Florence Libby. Based on this photo package, I cannot determine which of several Anna Paradis women she is.

I uploaded a photo of Anna Paradis to Dead Fred and another picture of her to my Flickr Photostream.

Anna Paradis, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Anna Paradis, 35 Woodmont St #821.”

Photo of Anna Paradis, circa 1935.

Anna Paradis, circa 1935.

What I discovered about Anna Paradis.

  • This photo is clearly of the same Anna Paradis as I researched before and was unable to fully identify about a year later.

I have uploaded Anna’s photo to Dead Fred and a second photo of her to my Flickr PhotoStream.

Conclusion

  • Although there were five photo-negative packets, there were only four individuals. I believe I’ve identified all four individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
  • I identified one individual only by name, so I uploaded two photos of her 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.

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Ancestor Sketch – Julia Anne Daley [Welch]

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Don Taylor

Welch-Harris Project
Welch-Daley Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Julia Anne Daley was born on April 7, 1890, in Biddeford, Maine, the daughter of Mary and Timothy. She married Francis Asbury Welch on June 11, 1917, in Maine. They had three children during their marriage. She died on November 20, 1973, in Saco, Maine, at the age of 83 and was buried in her hometown.

Julia A Daley is found in 11 Ancestry Public Trees and is FamilySearch profile KGCH-PWS

Welch/Harris Ancestor #009

List of Grandparents

  • Grandfather: Robert Anthony Welch
  • 1st Great-grandmother: Julia Anna Daley
  • 2nd Great-grandfather: Thomas Daley

Julia Anna Daley (1890-1973)

Birth

It is unclear if Julia’s middle name was Anne or Anna. Julia’s birth record indicates she was born on 7 April 1890 and her middle name is Anne. However, it is a typewritten “Copy of an Old Record of a Birth.” Alternately, Julia’s Record of Marriage indicates her middle name is Anna. I find either name equally possible.

Additionally, her obituary indicates she was born on 17 April 1890 rather than 7 April. Death records are often incorrect and are very distant from the birth of a person. In either event, she is the oldest daughter of Timothy and Mary (Lyons) Daley living in 1900. Mary had five children, two of whom were living in 1900, so Julia had three siblings who died (or were stillborn) before 1900. I consider Julia’s middle name of Anna and birth date of 17 April 1890 as preferred.

Children of Timothy and Mary (Lyons) Daley (Julia’s Siblings)

Name Born Married Died
Unknown Bef. 1900 Bef. 1900
Unknown Bef. 1900 Bef. 1900
Unknown Bef. 1900 Bef 1900
Julia Anna 1890 Francis A Welch 1973
Mary 1893 Unknown Unknown
Anora 1902 Joseph F Smith Unknown

1900 Census

Timothy Daley and his wife Mary are Irish immigrants. They are renting a house at 51 Water St., Biddeford. Timothy is a day laborer and the head of the household. Ten-year-old Julia is attending school, and her six-year-old sister, Mary, hasn’t begun school yet.

1910 Census

The Daley family is renting a home at 17 Clifford. Timothy is still a laborer. Julia is working as a clerk at a fancy goods store. Sister Mary is attending school, but nine-year-old Anora doesn’t appear to be attending school

Marriage

Julia married Francis Asbury Welch on 11 June 1917. Rev. Timothy P Linehan, St. Mary’s Church pastor in Biddeford, performed the ceremony.

Children of Francis and Julia (Daley) Welch

Name Born Married Died
Francis W 1918 Emma Ricci 1977
Robert Anthony 1920 Margaret Hazelton 2007
Margaret Ann 1925 William O’Neill 2019

1920’s – Census & Death of Francis.

During the 1920 Census, the Welch family are living at 17 Clifford. Francis is a baker. Julia and one-year-old Francis are at home.

In 1929, disaster struck with Francis (senior) passing, leaving Julia a widow with three children, 11, 9, and 4 years old.

1930s – Census & Directory

The 1930 Census finds the widow Julia as the head of the household owning a home at 93 May Street, Biddeford. The house is valued at $3,500. She is working as a maid at a hospital. All the children attend school.

The 1936 Biddeford City Directory indicates that Julia is a clerk at 9 Washington and lived at 38 Amherst. Her 18-year-old son, Francis W, works as a Clerk at S L S.

1940 Census

The 1940 Census reports Julia and her family are renting at 38 Amherst. That appears odd—that she’d be renting where she seems to have owned the property during the 1930 Census. Also interesting, it appears that her mother and two sisters live upstairs at 38 Amherst. Julia is working as a clerk at a retail shoe & clothing store. Her sons, Francis and Robert, are living with her and are working as Clerks in the accountant’s office at a machine shop. Daughter Margaret is attending school.

1950 Census

The 1950 Census finds Julia still at 38 Amherst. Upstairs her daughter Nora Smith and grandson Anthony live.

Death/Burial

Julia died on 20 November 1973 at the age of 83. She is buried in the Welch/O’Neill plot at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Biddeford, Maine.

Welch – O’Neill Marker

Julia Welch Marker

[Photos are in the Public Domain.]

Events by Location

  • Maine, York County – Julia was born, lived, and died in Biddeford and Saco, Maine.

Known Conflicts

  • Birth 7 or 17 April 1890
  • Middle name Anne or Anna

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Determine if Julia’s sister Mary ever married.
  • Determine the date Anora married Joseph F Smith.
  • Determine death dates for sisters Mary & Anora.
  • Research into Julia’s parents may result in the determination of the three unknown children of her mother born before 1900.

Sources

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Chin-Chin in the News – 21 Apr 1920

Posted on December 4, 2022 by Don Taylor

Martinsburg Evening Journal (Martinsburg, WV)

Empire Theatre
Vaudeville/Chin-Chin
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

My grandmother was a vaudeville star. I am following her career and learning about her many performances. In October 1919, she joined the cast of the Charles Dillingham production of “Chin-Chin” “Chin-Chin” played in the US and Canada until June 1920. I monitor several newspaper services watching for new venues that the show played at while she was a cast member.

This week’s entry is from the Martinsburg Evening Journal dated 20 April 1920 via Newspapers.Com (/image/889875055).

This ad fills in a gap I had between April 20th and April 22nd (Cumberland, MD – Maryland Theatre) & (Frederick, MD – Frederick City Opera House).

New Venue Added:

April 21, 1920 – Winchester, WV – Empire Theatre

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